Faculty Role in Working with Students Who Have Documented Disabilities

Please include in your syllabus a statement about the Office of Disability Services: 

.“Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Office of Disability Services (ODS) each semester. This office will provide letters for approved accommodations for each student determined eligible. These forms should be provided to the instructor at the beginning of the semester or as soon as forms are completed by ODS.  It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the instructor has received the accommodation forms. ” 

Faculty members will assist in the implementation of academic accommodations. 
The University of North Texas at Dallas determines through Disability Services that academic accommodations are necessary to support a student with a disability.
 It is the responsibility of the Office of Disability Services to determine whether a student should receive accommodations.
It is the student's responsibility to submit accommodation requests in a timely matter and to follow Disability Services’ policies and procedures.
It is the academic department and faculty members' responsibility to ensure academic accommodations are provided.
 By law, the university is required to provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids for students who meet eligibility criteria.
All disability related information must be kept confidential.

Having a disability is a very personal matter and should be addressed confidentially with the student and/or ODS staff. The accommodation letter presented to faculty outlines accommodations only and does not refer to the type of disability diagnosis. Some students may choose to divulge their disability in greater detail but this choice is strictly up to the student. Keep in mind that many disabilities are not visible and erroneous assumptions can be made. Great care should be taken to not reveal a student with a disability by way of announcements, speaking about the student's disability in such a way that the conversation can be overheard, sharing the student's disability with other faculty members except when educationally necessary etc. Faculty should encourage students with disabilities to discuss disability related accommodations in a confidential setting during office hours or otherwise. Disability Services staff are available for consultation should questions and issues arise.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Accommodations should NOT be provided to students who do not provide an accommodations letter from Disability Services.

Faculty training or workshops on disabilities, the accommodation process, and the ADA is available upon request. Please contact Office of Disability Services at UNTDdisability@untdallas.edu or call 972-338-1777 to arrange a consultation.

The Disability Services Office is located in the Student Center, Suite 1104  and is open the following hours:

Monday: 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Tuesday:  10 am - 7:00 pm
Wednesday: 10:00 am - 7:00 pm 
Thursday:  8:30 am - 5:30 pm 
Friday:  8:30 am - 5:00 pm 

The phone number is (972) 338-1777.