Information for Faculty

Two federal laws prohibit colleges and universities from discriminating against students with disabilities. The first is Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which applies to institutions that receive federal assistance. The second law is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in employment, public service, public accommodations, transportation, and communications. These laws were not meant to put an undue burden on colleges and universities, but to provide equal opportunity to students with disabilities so that they may access their education. 

Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act describes a person with a disability as anyone who (1) has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activity; (2) has a record of such impairments; or (3) is regarded as having an impairment. Students are required to submit documentation to verify their eligibility for services. The documentation must specify a major life activity (such as walking, eating, writing, or learning) that has been substantially limited by a disability. 

Under ADA and 504 law, faculty are required to provide approved accommodations to students who have a disability. Reasonable accommodations are necessary to remove barriers for the student, not modify the curriculum or academic standards the university has put in place.

Accommodations are individualized and are determined during the interactive process between the student and Student Disability Services. This process takes into consideration several factors including the disability documentation, recommended accommodations, student interview, and previous accommodations received.

When the university, or a representative of the university such as a faculty member, refuses to provide a student with approved accommodations, or the student feels they have been subjected to discrimination based on disability, the student may file a formal grievance with the university, or a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), and/or lawsuits (ADA) against the University.

If a student has been approved for accommodations, the faculty will receive a Notification of Approved Accommodations email from Student Disability Services. This email will include a copy of the student’s Approved Accommodations Summary letter, ADA Test Intake form, and the Notification of Student Declining Accommodations form. It is the faculty’s responsibility to read and familiarize themselves with the email and letter. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the faculty to discuss and initiate their accommodations. When the student and faculty meet, the faculty will print the Approved Accommodations Summary, which both parties will sign. The faculty will keep the signed copy for their records. For online classes, this discussion can be completed through email. The faculty can choose to send the form to the student to sign and return, or they can write “spoke to student by email on --/--/--” on the student signature line.

Please note, accommodations are not retroactive, and this process must be done before accommodations can be implemented for the semester. Do not provide accommodations to a student if they have not met with you and signed the form. Additionally, students are not required to disclose the nature of their disability to faculty, only discuss the accommodations for which they have been approved. If the student chooses to disclose information about their disability, faculty are expected to respect the student’s right to privacy and confidentiality.

A student has the right to decline their testing accommodations and test in the regular classroom at any time. They can choose to do this for a single test/quiz, or for the whole semester. When a student chooses to decline their testing accommodations, the faculty is responsible for filling out and having the student sign the Notification of Student Declining Accommodations form. This form is sent with the student’s accommodation letter. The faculty will keep the form for their records. Please remember, the student may later request that the accommodations be reinstated.

A service animal is a dog, or miniature horse, that is trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.

• The service animal is not required to wear a vest, special harness or tag that identifies it as a service animal.
• The service animal must be under the control of its handler.
• Service animals are allowed in ALL public areas.
• Service animals are NOT required to register with Student Disability Services but are encouraged to do so.
• If you are not sure if an animal is a service animal, you are only allowed to ask two questions:
  1. Is the dog required because of a disability?
  2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

An assistance animal, often referred to as an emotional support animal, is an animal that provides comfort to an individual with a disability.

• Assistance animals are NOT allowed in university buildings outside of student housing.
• Assistance animals are required to be registered with Student Disability Services and Housing.

As a UAFS faculty, you have the following rights:

• Require student to initiate request for accommodations
• Require that a student meet you to discuss their accommodations and sign the Approved Accommodations Summary form before providing any requested accommodations
• Require students to take exams with you or your department as long as all accommodations are being provided
• Utilize the test proctoring services offered by SDS
• Require all students to follow the UAFS Code of Conduct (hyperlink to Student Handbook and Code of Conduct – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith – Modern Campus Catalog™)
• Question SDS regarding accommodations that you believe would result in a fundamental alteration to an essential component of the course

As a UAFS faculty, you do not have the right to:

• Deny a student reasonable accommodations listed on their Approved Accommodations Summary form
• Ask students questions about their disability including their diagnosis or nature of their disability
• Ask if an approved accommodation is necessary
• Request documentation of a disability

• Ensure instructional materials are in accessible formats, which includes captioned videos, text readable documents, etc.
• Include an ADA statement in your syllabus
• Meet with students to discuss their accommodations listed on the Approved Accommodations Summary that was emailed to you by SDS
• Provide accommodations in a timely manner
• Deliver all testing materials, including the ADA Test Intake form, to SDS by 2:00pm the business day prior to a scheduled test when using SDS test proctoring services
• Refer students to SDS if they self-identify as having a disability instead of providing accommodations to students who are not registered with SDS
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality of accommodation notifications and communications regarding disability
• Contact SDS with any questions or concerns about an approved accommodation or the accommodation process

• Extended time – 50% or 100%
• Quiet/private location – SDS testing room
• Test reader – Screen-reader or human reader
• Test scribe – speech to text software or human scribe
• Large print
• No scantrons
• No virtual testing (Smarter Proctor) – SDS will proctor instead
• Earplugs or noise-canceling headphones
• Hand fidget device
• Calculator – unless the purpose of the exam is to assess skills that can only be measured without the student’s use of a calculator
• Voice calculator
• Spelling dictionary
• Brailed tests

• Digital voice recorder – student may use a personal recording device, Smart Pen, cell phone, etc. to record lectures
• Lecture notes on file – Electronic or paper copies of PowerPoint slides/overheads provided to students in advance of class
• Large print
• Calculator
• Spellcheck/dictionary
• Hand fidget device
• Computer/electronic device for notetaking
• Preferential seating - sit at front of room, close to door, etc.
• Student may step out of class due to disability but will return
• Accessible desk/table/chair
• Student may occasionally miss class due to disability, will notify instructor
• Enlargement software/device
• Handouts in digital format
• Notetaker – another student in class will provide copies of their notes to students, will be arranged by SDS
• Sign language interpreter
• Assistive listening device
• Captioned videos
• Access to food/water at all times
• Brailed handouts

• Electronic books
• Brailed books
• Screen-reader
• Speech to text software
• Service animal
• Assisted listening device
• Housing accommodations – including private room, private bathroom, first floor room, ESA, personal equipment/furniture, etc.
• Sign language interpreter

• Faculty Handbook
• SDS Network Printer Instructions

• ADA Test Intake Form
• Student Declining Accommodations Form

Faculty are asked to include a statement about accommodations/disabilities in their syllabus. Below is a sample statement for reference. You are more than welcome to use this statement, use one provided by your department, or create your own. If a student contacts faculty about having a disability or needing accommodations, the faculty is encouraged to share Student Disability Services contact information with the student.

"In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), UAFS seeks to provide reasonable accommodations and services to students who have documented disabilities. Students who believe they are eligible to declare a disability for the purpose of requesting and receiving accommodations must register with Disability Services in Flanders 114. Students will be required to submit documentation of their disability."