Procedures for Responding to Requests for Accommodations Required under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)

Academic Accommodations (Students)

A student with a disability may require an academic accommodation or modification of policies or practices in order to complete academic requirements. Auxiliary aids may also be required to ensure effective communication. Academic accommodations, including the need for auxiliary aids, are determined on an individual basis and may include the following examples:

  • extended time to complete exams or course/degree requirements;
  • provision of sign language interpreters for classroom lecture;
  • provision of an assistant in a classroom or laboratory situation;
  • assistive technology access, audio texts, and Braille or large print materials;
  • provision of qualified readers and/or writers for exams;
  • adapted computer hardware and/or software in computer classes or lab settings;
  • reassignment of classes to accessible locations; and
  • alternate format for exams.

Note: The above is not intended to be a comprehensive list of academic accommodations but is only a listing of some common examples. In all cases the accommodation should be provided in a timely manner.

Procedures For Requesting And Providing Academic Accommodations​

Each student who is eligible for ADA accommodations and is registered with the Disability Services office may request academic accommodations. Whenever possible, requests should be made as soon as the student knows his or her schedule. The student's documentation will be reviewed in relationship to relevant information (course syllabi where available) to determine an effective and reasonable accommodation plan for each course (see definitions of effective and reasonable). Disability Services or the student will then notify the course instructor of requested accommodations.

Instructors with questions concerning the requested accommodation(s) should consult with the Disability Services office. Service providers within Disability Services have access to documentation pertaining to the student's disability and are most qualified to recommend academic accommodations. Once a request for accommodation has been made, instructors are required to contact the Office of Disability Services and indicate whether the requested accommodations will be provided or do not seem suitable to the particular classroom situation. Instructors have FIVE working days after the date on which they receive a request for accommodation to contact Disability Services regarding possible changes in accommodations. Failure to notify Disability Services within five working days will ordinarily mean that the requested accommodations are accepted. Additionally, because accommodation is an evolving and on-going process, discussions may need to recur throughout the semester.

Many accommodations can be provided at low cost or no cost to the provider. Also, many related services are provided by Disability Services. If, however, an expense is incurred in regard to an accommodation for a student in a classroom or laboratory situation and the accommodation is not provided by Disability Services, then the academic department offering the course will be responsible for funding the accommodation. If the academic department has insufficient funds to meet the accommodation request, funding should be requested from the next level (Department Head or Dean), following the chain of command to the Provost and Chancellor if necessary. Accommodations must be provided. Delays in obtaining funds cannot deter access to the student. 

If Disability Services, the student, and the instructor cannot agree about accommodations to be granted within five working days after Disability Services is contacted by the instructor, the accommodations will be regarded as in dispute. When disputes arise regarding specific requests for academic accommodations, "Procedures for Resolving Academic Accommodation Requests that are in Dispute" is invoked. If an acceptable resolution is not provided by these procedures, the student may appeal through the campus formal discrimination grievance process. In addition, a student may at any time file a claim with the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education (OCR).

Resolving Academic Accommodation Requests That Are In Dispute

It is important that accommodation issues be resolved before course performance is significantly affected. To effect a timely resolution of requests that are in dispute, the following procedures will be used:

Step One: Within THREE working days of a recognition that accommodations are in dispute, the department head or chair or the departmental designee may be asked to make a suggestion about accommodations based on a knowledge of departmental practices. After such a request has been made, the department head or chair or designee will have FIVE working days to communicate the recommendation to all parties.

Step Two: If the suggestion arising from Step One does not produce a mutually acceptable resolution, or if there is no suggestion arising from Step One, any of the parties may, within THREE working days of the end of Step One, request a resolution by the Executive Director for Equal Opportunity. The Executive Director or designee, working in consultation with the affected student and instructor, the Disability Services office, appropriate academic administrators, and the ADA Compliance Officer, will make a decision about the resolution of the situation within TEN working days of receipt of a request.

NOTE: In order to ensure that a student’s ability to succeed in a course is not irretrievably and unlawfully compromised during the period when the accommodation request is under consideration, accommodations requested by Disability Services will be in effect during Step One and Step Two. Instructors who do not provide requested accommodations during this period will be considered to be in violation of University policy, and appropriate disciplinary measures, consistent with applicable union contractual provisions, may be invoked.

The student has a right (and must be so informed) to advice from the Disability Services office at all times during this process. A representative from Disability Services may accompany the student to any meetings in which the student is involved.

Accommodations Involving Structural Modifications 

When accessible space is required for a program offered in an inaccessible location, the following procedure should be followed:

Efforts should be made to relocate the activity to an accessible location within the Major Budgetary Unit (MBU) responsible for the program. If accessible space cannot be found within the MBU, then the chief administrator of the MBU or his or her designee should contact the ADA Compliance Officer for further review and assistance. The Director of Disability Services must also be notified to provide support to the affected student(s).

The ADA Compliance Officer will consult with the Division of Facilities Planning to formulate a recommended course of action and to prepare a cost estimate if appropriate. The recommendation will be shared with the chief administrator(s) of the MBU(s) involved.

Funding requests for structural modifications or costs associated with relocating the inaccessible program or activity should be made through the chain of command to the appropriate Vice Chancellor or Deputy Chancellor. If resources are identified in this process, the proposal will be implemented. If resources are not identified, the proposal is submitted by the ADA Compliance Officer, in consultation with the appropriate Vice Chancellor or Deputy Chancellor, to the Architectural Access Board (AAB) for its review and comments.

If the proposal is approved and can be accomplished with AAB funding, the project will be implemented. If University wide resources must be used to fund the project, the AAB will submit its review and recommendation to the Chancellor's Executive Management Team for disposition. The recommendation is finalized by the Chancellor.

Definitions

In the context of providing academic accommodations, the terms ”effective” and “reasonable” will mean the following:

Effective:

  • Accommodations are consistent with the student’s documentation and are relevant to the identified disability;
  • Accommodations result in testing the student’s learning, not the student’s disability; and
  • Accommodations are consistent with the student’s educational experiences regarding his/her disability.

Reasonable:

  • Accommodations are consistent with course content and stated objectives, and do not alter course and program requirements;
  • Accommodations are consistent with established legal remedies; and
  • Accommodations do not (by themselves) increase the probability of earning a higher or lower grade in the course.

Resources

  • ADA Compliance Officer, Christine Wilda, 340 Whitmore Administration Building
  • Architectural Access Board, Administration and Finance, 340 Whitmore Administration Building, 413.545.1581
  • Disability Services, 233 Whitmore Administration Building, (V/TTY): 413.545.0892, www.umass.edu/disability