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Facilitating Accommodations

Incorporating inclusive teaching and learning practices for diverse learners limits the need for an accommodation. However, when a student with a disability is experiencing a barrier, faculty play an important role in ensuring accommodations for students that are registered with the Office of AccessAbility (OAS).

Sample Syllabus Statement

The OAS requests that all faculty include the following statement on all course syllabi:

Eastern Connecticut State University is committed to following the requirements of the Americans Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, the ADA Amendment Act of 2008, and Section 504 Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended in 1998. If you are a student with a disability and need accommodations, please contact the Office of Accessibility (OAS) at 860-465-0189 or accessability@easternct.edu. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive and must be communicated to faculty members through a Letter of Accommodation, which is created by the OAS.

For further guidance on creating accessible syllabi and resources that promote student engagement, refer to the following resources:

Letters of Accommodation

It is the student’s responsibility to register with the OAS prior to requesting an accommodation. If a student in your course is registered with the OAS with a documented disability and requires academic accommodations, you will receive a Letter of Accommodation (LOA) via your Eastern email account and/or your Accommodate Symplicity account. Please note that students may submit a semester request for accommodations at any time during the semester. When a student chooses to submit their semester request, it prompts a formal Letter of Accommodation (LOA) to be sent to the courses and faculty of the student’s choice.

If a faculty member or a student needs clarification on the process of providing or receiving accommodations, OAS staff is available to answer questions, discuss concerns, and problem-solve any issues related to providing accommodations and instructing students with disabilities. Without an official LOA, faculty are not required to provide accommodations.

Parameters and Communication

The OAS encourages and supports proactive communication between students with a disability and faculty. Sometimes initiating a conversation around roles and responsibilities between students with a disability and faculty can be difficult. The OAS is here to help prompt that process by proactively facilitating and connecting the faculty member and student, or by attaching supplemental forms related to specific accommodations or providing additional resources. Regardless of the accommodation, students should be informed of all responsibilities within the parameters of the essential requirements of the course. Clear communication and expectations between the student with disabilities and the faculty member is the key to a successful implementation.

Below are some of the most common types of accommodations that may require additional communication regarding the implementation of an accommodation while meeting all course requirements.

Accommodations and Expectations

  • Log in to view pending requests at Accommodate_Portal log-in 

    Faculty_exam_instructions.pdf 

    Students with the approved accommodation for extended time on exams are responsible for submitting an exam booking request a week in advance using the Accommodate portal for each timed exam/quiz administered in the classroom. If a student has not submitted a request, the faculty member may assume they are choosing not to utilize the accommodation. It is explained to students with this accommodation that this request must be submitted prior to the exam and it is not retroactive. When submitted, Faculty will receive the request via email and are responsible for approving it, as well as uploading the exam and any other supplemental materials, including special directions that would be otherwise provided in the classroom.

    Faculty may also elect to arrange the testing accommodation directly with the student. In this case, the OAS does not need to facilitate the exam process.

  • Students with an approved accommodation for extended time on timed tests and timed quizzes have the option to take exams at the OAS Testing Center. This process requires proactive communication between the student, faculty member, and OAS. Students and faculty should confer before students submit a test booking request to ensure it will be approved. Exam bookings should also be submitted at least one week (business days) prior to the exam date to allow ample for preparation. The OAS office hours are Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

    OAS Testing Center Exam Blocks: Mondays - Fridays at 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. 

    Exam Blocks during Finals: Monday - Friday at 8:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. 

    Faculty and students also have the choice to coordinate testing accommodations with each other, in which case, the student would not need to submit booking exam to take it at the OAS Testing Center.

     

  • Faculty faciliates exams on Blackboard for students with an approved accommodation for extended time on timed exams and quizzes. All faculty members have access to enable the time adjustment feature on Blackboard's platform. The OAS Testing Center does not host exams assigned on Blackboard. If you have any questions about this feature, please contact Eastern's CIT (Center for Instructional Technology). 

  • Disability Related Absence_Overview Form & Agreement

    The DRA supplemental form may be used as a guide to discuss parameters regarding absences for OAS Students with a Disability Related Absence Accommodation. The OAS does not monitor or excuse absences but may assist in the communication process between students and faculty.

  • Early Dismissal / Late Arrival Overview Agreement Form

    The EDLA supplemental form may be used as a guide to discuss parameters regarding early dismissal and/or late arrival for students with this approved accommodation. The OAS does not monitor or excuse early dismissals or late arrivals but may assist in the communication process between students and faculty.

    Students who are registered with the OAS and have this approved accommodation are encouraged to communicate with faculty to ensure they remain up to date with all information shared in class. In addition to discussing parameters to ensure accommodation implementation while meeting course requirements, this may take form in an email or a visit during office hours.

  • Students who are registered with the OAS and have this approved accommodation are encouraged to communicate with faculty to ensure they remain up to date with all information shared in class. It may be helpful to discuss parameters to ensure that the breaks remain within reason and do not impact the essential elements of the course.

  • At times a student with a disability with this accommodation may need to access course materials in an audio format. The OAS can provide guidance on this as needed. The OAS will acquire audio textbooks for students who are registered with the OAS and have this approved accommodation. Any other assigned readings in the form of a digital files, like PDFs, will also need to be auditorily accessible. Being mindful of selecting accessible materials is highly recommended. Visit our Digital Content and Accessibility web page to learn more.