Student Responsibilities When Requesting Disability Accommodations

• Self identify to the Coordinator of Disability Services, provide documentation of the disability that meets standards set by the Board of Regents and participate in the intake interview. Please be aware that all documentation of ADD, Learning Disability, Psychological Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders and Acquired Brain Injuries will be sent by our office to the Regents' Center for Learning Disorders for review and approval by their psychologists after the student signs a release of information form. This approval process usually takes two weeks.
• Once approved for accommodations, bring a copy of your class schedule to the Coordinator each semester as soon as soon as you are registered. This tells me you want accommodations next semester and tells me to prepare your Accommodation Letters.
• Pick up your Accommodation Letters from the Coordinator each semester on the first day of class and identify yourself to your professors during the first week of class so they have a fair chance to assist you. Give them the Accommodation Letter. Discuss your accommodations. If you need test accommodations, decide together if it works best for you to take your tests with the professor or with me. Have each professor sign the Accommodation Acknowledgement Form page telling us if we are providing test accommodations or if the professor is providing them. Return the signed form as soon as possible. I will not schedule tests without a signed form.
• If you are taking tests with our office, you must schedule the test date and time with the Coordinator at least 48 hours in advance. Notify me immediately if the test schedule changes. Our policy is that you should schedule to take your tests on the same day as the class, as close to the same time as possible without missing any other class lectures. I cannot give you a test on a different day than the class unless you have the professor contact me and tell me it is OK. I will always contact the professor the day before and request the test, but I can't do it if you have not scheduled the test with me. If you are on my test schedule, I will call you the day before and remind you of your test time. Come on time for tests. Chronic lateness or missed appointments mean you may not receive your accommodations. These behaviors are unprofessional and show a lack of respect for the Coordinator's time and schedule.
• Do not cheat on your tests. If you take your tests at a different time than your classmates you must not discuss any test content with other students until everyone has taken the test. Honor code violations are taken seriously and will be reported immediately to the professor and the Office of Student Conduct.
• Understand that students with disabilities have to meet all the same academic and admissions standards. Accommodations are not a guarantee of success. The purpose of accommodations is to make sure you have access to the academic material and access to demonstrate that you mastered the material. Accommodations are not a substitute for appropriate medical treatment, medication or counseling.
• Understand that your attendance in class is very important, even if you have significant medical issues. The Coordinator of Disability Services cannot override professors' class policies regarding attendance or make up work or missed tests. I cannot tell a professor that they must give you more absences or excuse your past absences. Students with disabilities must meet the attendance requirements of class. Read your class syllabus carefully and make sure you understand the attendance, missed test and make up work policy. Talk to the professor about it. At some point in every class, no matter how valid the reason for the absences, a student has missed too much to be able to successfully complete the class. That point is at the professor's discretion. If you are having disability related problems that cause you to miss class frequently, please keep your professors and the Coordinator informed. The Coordinator does not assume your responsibility of notifying your professor of your absences. It is best to inform the professor via email in advance if you will be absent and to get medical verification at the time of your absences. The Harris McDew Health Clinic on campus can help you get medical attention and it is free. The worst thing you can do is to simply stop attending class…. The consequences to your academics and financial aid can be serious and long lasting. You have these options:
  • Dropping classes: You have until the midpoint of the semester to drop any class for any reason and receive a W grade and you strongly need to consider that and discuss it with your professor if you are failing or have too many absences at midsemester. There are limits on how many times a student is allowed to do this.
  • Appealing to Withdraw after midsemester: Appealing to Withdraw from school means you are pulling out of all your classes because of a significant illness or emergency that keeps you from finishing. If you have significant medical issues after midsemester, you can appeal to Academic Affairs to withdraw from the semester, but you must have good written verification about why you need to withdraw and you must withdraw from all your classes. Appealing to withdraw does not guarantee that the appeal will be approved. Do not wait until the last day of class to appeal to withdraw.
  • Incompletes: If you have successfully completed almost all your class requirements and are passing, but cannot quite finish the last test or project because of medical issues, you can ask the Professor to consider giving you an Incomplete. Incompletes are also at the Professor's discretion, but this can give you extra time to complete the class requirements. Incompletes are not appropriate if you are not passing the class.
  • Dropping classes and withdrawing can impact your financial aid adversely: You should check with financial aid before making any decision. Financial Aid does have an appeal process if you lose aid because of a significant illness or emergency. Dropping classes and withdrawing can also impact your on campus housing and your Vocational Rehabilitation Services if you are taking less than a fulltime load of 12 hours. Academic Affairs can set limits regarding the number of times a student can drop classes or withdraw.
  • Retaking classes: If you receive poor grades, you have the option to retake a limited number of hours during your academic career here at SSU and having your new grade replace your old grade in the GPA calculation. The old grade still shows up on your transcript, but is no longer figured into GPA calculations.
• Maintain regular communication with professors and with the Coordinator. Notify me if problems or questions occur. I want to help, but I am not psychic...talk to me so I can help.I will work hard to help you, but I cannot work harder for you than you work for yourself. Make sure I have your up-to-date phone numbers, email and mailing addresses. Check your email and voice mail frequently for messages from me.
• Respect the privacy and dignity of other students who receive accommodations if you see them as you are coming and going from our office by not gossiping about them. Treat others as you want to be treated.