Information

A college must provide the accommodation. A college is required to provide reasonable accommodations for a student’s known disability so that the student has an equal opportunity to participate in the courses, activities, or programs. The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) ruled that a college may not charge students for necessary accommodations.

Personal liability. An individual faculty member who fails to provide an accommodation to a student with a documented disability may be held personally liable.

Academic freedom. Academic freedom does not permit instructors to decide if they will provide special aids and services for students with documented disabilities in the classroom.

Expense of accommodation is not undue hardship. Providing an auxiliary aid or incurring an expense to ensure access would not constitute undue hardship to a college. In determining what constitutes an undue hardship, the OCR views the entire financial resources of a college or university rather than any single department.

Classroom must be accessible. A classroom’s location must be changed to provide accessibility for a student with a mobility disability. A college does not need to make every classroom accessible, but must provide for the participation of students with disabilities when "viewed in its entirety."

Extended time. Extended time is a reasonable accommodation for a student whose documentation specifically requires it. A college is required to ensure that the student is provided additional time to complete tests and/or course work in order to provide an equal opportunity for that student.

Altered form of exam. The form of an exam must be altered if the testing procedure puts a student with a disability at a disadvantage based on the student’s documented disability. There may be an exception when the purpose of the test is to measure a particular skill.

Accommodation must be documented. A college may refuse to grant a student’s request for an accommodation that is not specifically recommended in the student’s documentation.

Handouts in alternate format. If a student with a visual disability is enrolled in a class, all handouts must be provided in an appropriate alternate format and made available to students on the same day they are distributed to students without disabilities.

Diagnostic information confidential. Faculty/staff do not have the right to access diagnostic information regarding a student’s disability. Faculty/staff need only know the accommodations that are necessary to provide an equal opportunity for the student.

Personal services and aids. A college is not required to provide personal services such as attendant care or personal aids such as wheelchairs or eyeglasses.

References: Thompson, Ann and Bethea, Leslie. (1996). A Desk Reference Guide for Faculty Staff and College Students with Disabilities. Mississippi State University - Project PAACS.