Flexibility Accommodations

Flexibility accommodations may include, but are not limited to:

• Flexibility in attendance
• Flexibility with assignment deadlines
• Flexibility to reschedule exam or quiz dates

Students approved for flexibility accommodations are expected to request flexibility in any course as early in the semester as possible using SDR’s Flexibility Accommodation Agreement Form. This is important because course instructors are not obligated to provide retroactive accommodations (meaning any time prior to receiving a student’s Academic Accommodation Letter and Flexibility Accommodation Agreement Form).

Students approved for flexibility accommodations are still expected to regularly attend class and complete all coursework.

Student Responsibilities

• Meet with your SDR disability specialist to discuss the need for flexibility accommodations, which are determined on a course-by-course basis
• Provide course instructors with an Academic Accommodation Letter and Flexibility Accommodation Agreement Form as early in the semester as possible to inform them of your need for the flexibility accommodation(s)
• Return the completed Flexibility Accommodation Agreement Form to SDR and retain a copy of the completed form upon doing so
• Communicate with course instructors regularly throughout the semester to keep them apprised of disability-related flexibility needs and requests
• Contact SDR as soon as possible if you:
  • Make changes to your class schedule
  • Are experiencing an exacerbation of disability-related symptoms that is causing a reliance on flexibility accommodations
  • Have concerns with any of the flexibility accommodations

• The Flexibility Accommodation Agreement Form necessitates careful analysis of how attendance, assignment deadlines, or exam dates are essential to the course learning objectives and pedagogical components

SDR Responsibilities

• Meet with students to discuss the need for flexibility accommodations
• Assist course instructors and students in determining potential flexibility as it relates to course essential requirements
• Provide Academic Accommodation Letters, including flexibility accommodations, and Flexibility Accommodation Agreement Forms to approved students
• Provide students and course instructors with a copy of completed Flexibility Accommodation Agreement Form as needed upon return to SDR
• Provide support and assistance to students and course instructors regarding flexibility accommodations

Faculty Responsibilities

• Upon receipt of an Academic Accommodation Letter with flexibility accommodations and Flexibility Accommodation Agreement Form from a student, identify reasonable parameters of flexibility as it relates to course essential requirements
• Ensure the completed Flexibility Accommodation Agreement Form is returned to SDR and maintain a copy of the completed form
• Respond to SDR staff if contacted about determining potential flexibility as it relates to course essential requirements
• Provide determined reasonable flexibility in the course
• Recognize the following:
  • flexibility accommodations are provided to students based on documented need
  • flexibility accommodations are not intended to fundamentally alter the essential elements of a course or be used for every class, every assignment, or every exam/quiz
  • flexibility accommodations do not cover non-disability related illnesses or other non-disability related reasons as to why a student missed classes, deadlines, or exams/quizzes (e.g., work, travel, extracurricular activities)
  • flexibility accommodations should be implemented upon receipt of an Academic Accommodation Letter and Flexibility Accommodation Agreement Form and do not need to be applied retroactively
• Contact SDR with concerns about a student’s use of flexibility accommodations