Classroom Situations

Suggestions on handling classroom situations that might arise with students who have disabilities

Requesting accommodations without a letter

Situation

A student approaches you after class or during office hours and asks to receive academic accommodations such has additional time for taking exams or additional time to turn in assignments beyond what is allowed on the syllabus.

Response

Ask the student if they are working with Student Disability Resources or a campus disability coordinator.

  • Yes, they are...
    • Ask the student for their academic accommodations letter
    • If they do not have a letter...
      • reassure the student that you want to help them, but that you need the academic accommodations letter to do so
      • suggest they contact their disability specialist or campus disability coordinator to obtain a letter
  • No, they are not...
    • reassure the student that you want to help them, but that they need to register with Student Disability Resources and obtain an academic accommodations letter
    • suggest that they contact the Student Disability Resources office on their campus to arrange an appointment
    • Accommodations should not be given unless you receive an official academic accommodations letter from Student Disability Resources or a campus disability coordinator.

Student could benefit from accommodations

Situation

You notice a student in class who seems to be having difficulties or otherwise struggling and you suspect a disability may be the cause of this.

Response

  • Talk privately with the student after class or during office hours
  • At the beginning of each semester, announce to the class that if anyone has special circumstances for which they need assistance, to speak with you after class or during office hours.

Disruptive in class

Situation

A student who has previously presented you with an academic accommodations letter is acting out and causing disturbances in class.

Response

All students must adhere to the student conduct code and a student with a disability should be treated no differently than any other student who is disruptive in class.

However, if you sense there is a medical reason for the student's action, consult the disability specialist or campus disability coordinator working with that student (there name is on the letter) to determine if there is a solution to the problem.