Students requesting accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office and present appropriate documentation of a disability. Documentation must be current, in most cases within three (3) years of the date of the request, and must be submitted by a qualified practitioner. All reports should be formally prepared on letterhead, typed, dated, signed, and otherwise legible.
Documentation of a student’s disability should include :
a diagnostic statement of disability, including the date of the most recent evaluation;
the current impact of (or limitations imposed by) the student’s disability;
treatments, medications, devices or services currently prescribed or used to minimize the impact of the condition; and
the expected duration, stability or progression of the disability.
In addition to the basic documentation listed above, recommendations from the treating professional are welcome and will be given consideration in evaluating a request. Recommendations should:
Provide a clear description of the recommended accommodation.
Connect the recommended accommodation to the impact of the disability.
Provide possible alternatives to the recommended accommodation.
Include a statement of the level of need for (or consequences of not receiving) the recommended accommodation.
The Director of Disability Services will verify the disability and determine how the functional limitations claimed will affect academic work. This is accomplished through discussion with the student and review of the documentation. Students with insufficient documentation may be referred outside of the University for complete assessment before an accommodation is granted. Costs for assessment are the responsibility of the student.
After the disability and its functional limitations are verified, the Director of Disability Services will provide the student with information about the various reasonable accommodations that address the student’s functional limitations. Reasonable accommodations depend upon the nature and degree of severity of the documented disability. No one particular accommodation must be granted if the University determines that it is not reasonable, is unduly burdensome, and/or that other suitable accommodations are available.
The student and the Director of Disability Services will complete an Accommodations Request Form for each course in which the student is requesting an accommodation. The student is required to present the Accommodations Request Form to the instructor(s) of the course in which the accommodation is requested. The student and the instructor(s) will discuss the accommodation requested and decide how it will best be accomplished. The instructor(s) must sign the Accommodations Request Form, and the student must return it to the Disability Services Office before an accommodation will be approved.
The Disability Services Office (DSO, herein) is located on the bottom level of the Eberly Library
My son/daughter is diagnosed with a disability. What services are offered at the university level?
A variety of accommodations are available to assist students experiencing a disability. Reasonable accommodations are based on documentation and are addressed on a case-by-case basis through consultation with the DSO. If a student has a diagnosed disability and will be requesting accommodations, current documentation of the disability can be sent to Courtney Balban.
My son registered with the DSO and received formal accommodations, but his instructors claim they are not aware of his condition. Why haven’t they been told?
Unlike common practices in the high school setting, instructors of classes are not informed of student diagnoses. Students are provided accommodation forms from the DSO that indicate the reasonable accommodations being afforded; the disability, however, is not revealed. Confidentiality is preserved, and self-advocacy is encouraged.
I thought I didn’t need the accommodations I received in high school. Now, I am struggling midway through the first semester. Is it too late to register with the DSO?
No. Though we do encourage connecting with the DSO as early as possible, accommodations can still be granted during a semester. We often encourage students to register with the office even if accommodations will not initially be requested; that way, if something like this happens, the request process becomes expedited since documentation is already on file.
I think I have test anxiety. Can I receive accommodations?
Most students experience a degree of anxiety when being tested. However, accommodations are afforded to students with documented, diagnosed conditions. In the absences of a diagnosed disability, the student would be referred to the counseling center. Off-site evaluation of the condition could also be explored for a possible diagnosis.
My daughter is really struggling and is claiming she may have a learning disability. She was never tested for a learning disability in high school. What can she do now?
The University does not provide diagnostic services. Therefore, diagnostic services through a medical or psychological professional would be the responsibility of the student or family. Should you decide to pursue an evaluation, you may want to consult your health insurance provider to see what services may be covered.
I registered with the DSO and received accommodations during the first semester. But my instructor during the second semester is unaware of the accommodations. Why so?
Since schedules and instructors change each semester, students must obtain new accommodation forms each semester if they wish to continue utilizing accommodations. Students are encouraged to obtain these forms within the first two weeks of each semester.
My step-daughter broke her hand during the semester and will need to wear a cast for 6-8 weeks. Can she be accommodated on a temporary basis?
Possibly, given that sufficient documentation from the treating medical professional is provided to the DSO. Temporary accommodations are afforded on a case by case basis. Timeline for the temporary disability should be included in the documentation.
How do the responsibilities of working with students with disabilities of Higher Education institutions differ from those of high schools?
The responsibilities towards students with disabilities in Higher Education institutions are very different from those of high schools. High schools are required under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) to identify the educational needs of students with a disability and provide a free and appropriate education.
This responsibility is not required of Higher Education institutions. Higher Education institutions are required to provide appropriate academic accommodations to ensure that a student with a disability is not discriminated against. The student is responsible for disclosing his or her disability to the institution and making specific accommodation requests.
Instructor FAQs
What are the rights and responsibilities of a student with a disability?
Students with disabilities have the right to equal access to courses, programs, activities, services, and facilities offered at Waynesburg University. Students are also entitled to reasonable accommodations. All information about the student’s disability is to be kept confidential. Students have the responsibility to provide acceptable documentation of disabilities and to register with the Disability Services Office (DSO) if they would like to receive accommodations. If it is determined necessary for a student to receive accommodations for a particular class, students have the responsibility to inform the instructor, to deliver the accommodations letters that verify their approved accommodations, and to participate in the discussions about how their needs can be met.
What are the rights and responsibilities of an instructor when working with students with disabilities?
An instructor has the right to confirm a student’s request for accommodations and to ask for clarification about a specific accommodation with DSO. Instructors do not have the right to refuse to provide an accommodation or to review a student’s documentation including diagnostic data. Instructors have a responsibility to work with DSO in providing reasonable accommodations, keep all records and communications with students confidential, and to refer a student to DSO who requests accommodations but is not currently registered. Instructors do not have to provide accommodations for students not registered with DSO.
Why does an instructor have the responsibility to make reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities?
An instructor has the responsibility to make reasonable accommodations because accommodations make it possible for a student with a disability to overcome barriers enabling the student to communicate what he or she knows in the same way that glasses do not strengthen vision but help a person to see. The instructor also has a legal responsibility to provide appropriate accommodations. For more information go to the Americans With Disabilities Act website www.ada.gov.
One of my students disclosed their disability to me and I want to learn about how best to interact with them. Where should I look?
An instructor can always contact the DSO with any questions regarding how best to interact with and instruct a student with a specific disability. However, we can never disclose the specifics of a student’s diagnosis or challenges. Students are free to self-disclose to you as they feel comfortable. The DSO also has a document entitled “Teaching and Interacting with Students with Disabilities” that may be helpful. Please contact the DSO to obtain this guide.
How are appropriate accommodations for a student determined?
To determine appropriate accommodations for a student, the student must submit acceptable documentation to DSO. The DSO reviews the information and determines appropriate accommodations based upon the substantial limitations of the student and the essential elements of the course.
What if a student with a disability is disruptive in class?
A student with a disability who is disruptive in class should be treated as an instructor would treat any student who is disruptive in class. If an instructor feels that there is a disability-related reason for the student’s behavior, the instructor can discuss this with the DSO to determine if there is a solution to the problem or strategies for addressing the behavior.
What if a student with a disability is failing?
It is important for instructors to remember that providing reasonable accommodations to a student with a disability does not guarantee success in the course. Students with disabilities may not master the course material, just like any other student. Students with disabilities have the same right as other students to fail as part of their educational experience.
I have a student who requested testing/classroom accommodations that I don’t know how to meet. What do I do now?
Please refer to the Common Accommodations Instructor Guide, available in the DSO.
What actions can I take as an instructor to make my class more accessible to students with disabilities?
The DSO can provide several guides and informational documents to help you design accessible courses and classroom materials. Please contact the DSO for more information.