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Your Role and Responsibilities as a student
Who is in charge of my accommodation plan? Who will talk to my professors?
How will I self-advocate when I graduate from college? As a college student
with a disability understanding your role in requesting and receiving
accommodations is important. If you are transitioning to college, or preparing
to graduate, the information below will provide key information to assist in
answering these questions:
Students are responsible for immediately notifying the appropriate School
office of any special circumstances which may influence their performance, such
as changes in health status, personal difficulties or disabilities. Students
who do not notify promptly the School of changes or difficulties may not
request review of academic decisions on the basis of such circumstances.
Who is in charge of my
accommodation plan?
Accommodations are a shared responsibility between the student, faculty, and
the Disability Service Office (DSO). The student is responsible for self-identifying
and requesting that accommodations be put in place. The student is also
responsible for following the policies and procedures of the University and
School. Instructors are responsible for ensuring special accommodation
arrangements, providing copies of tests to the DSO when test proctoring is
requested by a student, etc. On occasions, the DSO may need instructor
assistance with finding a notetaker or tutor in the class. The DSO is
responsible for reviewing documentation to ensure appropriate accommodations
are identified, creating accommodation forms for the student, arranging for
contract services like a sign-language interpreter, and test proctoring. (These
are common examples of the types of responsibilities and are not limited to
just these items).
Who will talk to my
professors?
Approved accommodations are listed and described in the accommodation letter
provided to the student by the Disability Service Office Director. The student
is required to deliver this letter to faculty teaching their specific courses
each semester. Students are encouraged to discuss their needs with faculty as
early as possible in the semester so that sufficient time is available to
arrange for the requested accommodations. Specific diagnoses are not listed in
the accommodation letter and students are not required to share any information
about their disability with faculty members. Discussions about accommodations
should focus on how the approved accommodations will be implemented in the
specific course, however students can release additional disability related
information at their discretion.
How will I
self-advocate when I graduate from college?
It is important for students to recognize that self-advocacy and disability
disclosure are interrelated concerns upon entering the workforce. Self-advocacy
involves knowing when and how to approach others in order to negotiate desired
accommodations, so as to achieve mutual understanding, fulfillment, and
productivity. In the process, some degree of disclosure about oneself is
usually necessary, particularly if the accommodation(s) requested requires
further explanation. In other words, being a successful self-advocate requires
one to be not only literate about one’s needs, but also knowledgeable about how
to get them met in an appropriate manner.