We are writing to provide you information that all employees, but especially teaching faculty, must know regarding OSU’s legal and policy responsibility to reasonably accommodate any qualified student who has a disability. Providing equal educational opportunity is an important and shared responsibility.
Please refer to OSU’s policies related to disability, and the Disability Access Services Faculty and Staff Guidelines for more in-depth information.
Online Training
We’re seeing a trend, with many faculty asking for in-depth training about students with disabilities and accommodation obligations. In addition, there has been a substantial increase in the number of universities requiring employee training about working with and accommodating people with disabilities.
Towards the goal of meeting our legal obligations and institutional aspirations, we offer a concise (30 minute) self-paced online training, designed to address many of the questions faculty have asked, as well as all of our responsibilities. The training can be completed at any time, though it should be completed as close to the beginning of the term as possible.
Register for and view the Disability Access Services Training.
Accommodation Process Changes [these became effective Fall Term 2015]
In response to the developing legal landscape, Disability Access Services (DAS) is changing how two common accommodation processes happen: flexibility in attendance and extension of deadlines.
Previously, a student with one of these accommodations had the responsibility to meet with faculty to fill out an agreement to determine how the accommodation would occur. We have concluded that we must regard this as an institutional responsibility not a student responsibility. Because of this, DAS is implementing a new process, called Disability Related Flexibility in
Attendance/Assignments.
Once a student is approved for this accommodation, DAS will email the faculty member an explanation of the accommodation and an agreement form with suggested guidelines. This agreement form should be returned to DAS within 3 days to keep the implementation process moving. The new process will provide opportunities for faculty input and discussion directly with DAS on specifics of each class. After an agreement form has been received, DAS will discuss with the student, and work with the faculty member towards a final signed agreement for all.
If you have questions about this specific accommodation process, please contact Marth Smith, Director of Disability Access Services at 7-4098 or martha.smith@oregonstate.edu
Thank you for your attention to understanding our obligations and implementing these process changes.
Angelo Gomez
Executive Director
Office of Equity and Inclusion
