Faculty:
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 the Office of Disability Services (ODS) each semester. This office will provide letters for approved accommodations for each student determined eligible. These letters are provided to the instructor at the beginning of the semester or as soon as the forms are completed by ODS. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the instructor has received the accommodation letters.”
Points to keep in mind:
- Faculty members will assist in the implementation of academic accommodations.
- The Office of Disability Services at UNT Dallas determines what 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 ODS policies and procedures.
- It is the academic department and faculty members' responsibility to ensure the 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.
- Important note: Accommodations should not be provided to students who do not register with and have a formal accommodation letter from the UNT Dallas Office of Disability Services.
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, or sharing the student's disability with other faculty members, except when educationally necessary. Faculty should encourage students with disabilities to discuss disability-related accommodations in a confidential setting such as during office hours. ODS staff are available for consultation should questions and issues arise.
Training and Consultation
Faculty training or workshops on disabilities, the accommodation process, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are available upon request. Please use the ODS Speaker Request Form.
You may also contact us with any questions or concerns. We are here for you!
UNTDdisability@untdallas.edu | 972-338-1787