Faculty FAQ
Who can I contact when I have an CEADR related issue?
Mr. Mario Sheats, Interim Director
- Faculty concerns other than testing
- Medical Withdrawals
- Accommodation concerns for students other than the sensory impaired
- Special Parking
- CEADR Advisory Board
- ADA compliance and policy issues
- Student behavioral concerns
- Campus accessibility issue
- Grievances
- Note-taking requests & support
Mr. Eric Light, Accommodated Testing and Support Coordinator
- ADA compliant testing accommodations
- CEADR Faculty Portal Support
Mr. Micheal Evers, Sensory Impaired Technology Coordinator
- Visual and hearing impaired student concerns
- Integrating technology with Universal Design
Greta Washington, Secretary
- Absentee verifications
- Vendors
- CEADR Webmaster
What are my legal responsibilities when I have a student with a disability in my class?
Academic departments and individual faculty members are responsible for ensuring that
their programs and course content are accessible to qualified students with disabilities.
This responsibility includes physical access as well as necessary modifications in
the format or delivery of information.
What if a student's behavior disrupts class instruction?
Faculty has the right and the responsibility to secure a learning environment that
benefits all students. A student with a disability that affects behavior has the right
to reasonable accommodations to support his or her responsibility to behave in an
appropriate manner in the classroom. If the student's behavior is not appropriate,
faculty should contact the Dean of Students for assistance.
Can I ask a student to disclose his or her disability to me?
No. Requiring that a student disclose his or her disability to the instructor puts
the college at legal risk. Although most instructors are open to listening to students
who choose to disclose their disabilities-whether such information is solicited or
not-it is important that all instructors communicate respect for a student's privacy
regarding the specific nature of his or her disability. In that vein, comments such
as ,"What is wrong with you?" or "You look normal to me." are clearly inappropriate
and put the college at risk as they can be interpreted as discriminatory.
Is it acceptable to ask a student who is having obvious difficulties whether he or
she has a disability?
A direct inquiry about a possible disability is not recommended. The Americans with
Disabilities Act states that a public entity may not make unnecessary inquires into
the existence of a disability. These inquiries usually relate to hiring or pre-admission
screening, but when talking with students, such inquiries should also be avoided.
A direct inquiry such as this could be considered intrusive or insensitive. Treat
a student-of-concern as any student would be treated. Suggest a conference with the
student where concerns about the quality of his or her academic work can be privately
discussed. In that conference it would be appropriate to encourage the student to
seek any appropriate campus resources, such as, Counseling and Testing, Student Health
Center, Center for Academic Excellence, and Center for Educational Accessibility and
Disability Resources.
How can I refer a student to the Center for Educational Accessibility & Disability
Resources?
Making an announcement at the start of class and/or printing a statement in the syllabus
referring students with disabilities to Disability Services, is the best way to make
such a referral. Instructors may also encourage students to meet individually with
them to discuss their academic needs.
Are students with disabilities that need to digitally record a class lecture legally
entitled to do so?
Yes. However, you can require that all tapes/files be returned to you at the end of
the semester or that they be destroyed.
A student with a disability has requested to take an exam at the Testing Center. How
does the instructor know the exam will be safe and the student will not get an unfair
advantage?
The Testing Center has developed a systematic and secure procedure for getting exams
from the instructor and returning the exam back to the instructor once the student
has taken the exam. All tests are kept in a sealed security bag. Students are required
to put all materials into lockers before entering the testing rooms. Students are
told to use the restroom before they start testing. As students test, they are monitored.
Any inappropriate behaviors or misuse of exam materials are reported back to the instructor. Cheating is not tolerated.
Can I opt to proctor the test for the student with a disability instead of sending
them to the Testing Center?
Yes, but the instructor must provide the same accommodations the Testing Center would
provide. If the student is to get time and a half, then the instructor must allow
the time and a half. If the student is to test in a distraction reduced environment,
then the instructor must have the student test in a room where there are minimal distractions.
Testing the student with the rest of the class is not providing a minimal distraction
environment. The instructor who fails to provide the specific accommodation is out of compliance.
The student would have the right to file a grievance against the instructor.
What if the student requests accommodations after the fact?
Accommodations are not retroactive. If a student starts the class and takes a test
prior to providing the instructor the Letter of Accommodation, the instructor does
not have to go back and let the student re-test using approved accommodations.
What do I do if I suspect that a student has a disability?
Refer the student to our website. There is information about applying for services
as well as documentation requirements in our handbook.
How are professors notified about students needing academic accommodations?
Students with approved academic accommodations receive their accommodation letters
via email. The student is responsible for either hand delivering the letters or emailing
a copy of their letters to instructors.
How do I access the proctoring services of your department?
If the student is registered with our office, we can proctor an exam. Any exam proctored
by our office will be administered in our testing center. When a student makes a request
to utilize the testing center for a course assessment instructors are informed typically
within 24 hours of the scheduled time.
Should I accommodate a student if I have not received an accommodation letter?
No. You are not obligated to accommodate a student until you have received the accommodation
letter.
How do I provide extended time for an online course?
You can find the or you can call the Innovation in Learning Center at (251) 461-1888.
Where can I find additional online resources?
Resources are available in the CEADR faculty portal. You may also reach out to our
office with any questions or concerns.
The Center for Educational Accessibility & Disability Resources at University of South Alabama is committed to assisting faculty in any way possible to better facilitate a positive learning environment of all students.