Faculty Guide to Disability Accommodations

Faculty at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith play an important role in providing equal access for qualified students with disabilities. Student Disability Services works with students and faculty to coordinate approved accommodations while maintaining course expectations, academic standards, and essential requirements.

This guide explains the accommodation process, your responsibilities as a faculty member, student privacy expectations, and what to do after receiving a Notification of Approved Accommodations email from Student Disability Services.

What Federal Laws Apply to Disability Accommodations?

Two federal laws prohibit colleges and universities from discriminating against students with disabilities. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 applies to institutions that receive federal assistance. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in employment, public service, public accommodations, transportation, and communications.

These laws are intended to provide equal opportunity to students with disabilities so they may access their education.

What is a Disability?

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 describes a person with a disability as someone who:

has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
has a record of such an impairment.
is regarded as having such an impairment.

Students are required to submit documentation to verify eligibility for services. Documentation must specify a major life activity such as walking, eating, writing, learning, reading, concentrating, or communicating that has been substantially limited by a disability.

What Is a Disability Accommodation?

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, you are required to provide approved accommodations to students who have a disability.

Reasonable accommodations are intended to remove disability-related barriers for the student. They are not intended to modify the curriculum or lower academic standards.

How are Accommodations Determined?

Accommodations are individualized and determined through the interactive process between the student and Student Disability Services. This process may include:

disability documentation.
recommended accommodations.
student interview.
previous accommodations received.
student's disability-related needs in a specific course or setting.

You do not determine whether a student has a disability or whether they qualify for accommodations. Student Disability Services determines eligibility and approved accommodations.

What Should You do After Receiving an Accommodation Notice?

When a student has been approved for accommodations, you will receive a Notification of Approved Accommodations email from Student Disability Services. The email will include:

The student’s Approved Accommodations Summary.
ADA Test Intake form.
Notification of Student Declining Accommodations form.
Student Disability Services Faculty Handbook

You are responsible for reading the email and reviewing the Approved Accommodations Summary. The summary identifies the accommodations the student has been approved to use.

How do You and the Student Initiate Approved Accommodations?

The student is responsible for contacting you to discuss and initiate approved accommodations. When you meet with the student, you should:

print the Approved Accommodations Summary.
review how the accommodations will be implemented in the course.
have both parties sign the form.
keep the signed copy for your records.

For online courses, this discussion may take place by email. You may send the form to the student to sign and return or document the conversation by writing "Spoke to student by email on [date in --/--/-- format]" on the student signature line.

When do Accommodations Begin?

Accommodations are not retroactive. The required process must be completed 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 Approved Accommodations Summary. If a student asks to use accommodations but has not completed the required SDS process, contact Student Disability Services before proceeding.

Are Students Required to Disclose Their Disability to You?

No, students are not required to disclose the nature of their disability to you.

Discuss only the approved accommodations and how they will be implemented in the course. If a student chooses to share disability-related information, you are expected to respect the student's right to privacy and confidentiality.

What Should You do if an Accommodation Seems Unclear?

Do not deny, change, or refuse an approved accommodation on your own.

If an accommodation appears unclear, difficult to implement, or in conflict with an essential course requirement, academic standard, clinical requirement, safety concern, or course format, contact Student Disability Services before acting. SDS will work with you, the student, and appropriate university offices to review the concern and determine next steps.

What Happens if Approved Accommodations are not Provided?

Approved accommodations are part of the university's responsibility to provide equal access to qualified students with disabilities.

If approved accommodations are not provided or if a student believes they have been subjected to discrimination based on their disability, the student may file a formal grievance with the university or file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights.

What if a Student Declines Testing Accommodations?

A student has the right to decline testing accommodations and test in the regular classroom. A student may choose to do this for a single test or quiz or for the entire semester.

When a student declines testing accommodations, you are responsible for completing the Notification of Student Declining Accommodations form provided with the accommodation letter and having the student sign the form. Keep the completed form for your records.

A student who declines an accommodation may later request to use the approved accommodation.

What Should You Know About Service Animals?

A service animal is a dog or miniature horse that is trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. Here's what you should know:

A 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 public areas.
Service animals are not required to register with Student Disability Services, though students are encouraged to contact SDS if they have questions or need support.

If it is not clear whether an animal is a service animal, you may ask only two questions:

Is the dog required because of a disability?
What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

What Should You Know About Assistance Animals?

An assistance animal, often referred to as an emotional support animal, is an animal that provides comfort to an individual with a disability. Here's what you should know:

Assistance animals are not allowed in university buildings outside of student housing.
Assistance animals must be registered with Student Disability Services and Housing and Residential Life.

Contact Student Disability Services with any questions about animals in academic spaces.

Questions about accommodation notices, implementation, testing accommodations, student privacy, or service animals? Contact Student Disability Services at ADAFREEuafs or call 479-788-7577.