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Faculty Frequently Asked Questions Cont...
Q: Can a faculty member forbid a student with a disability to use a recorder in class?
A: No. An instructor is typically required to allow a student to record his/her course if recording the class is determined to be an appropriate accommodation for a student's disability. Tape recorders are specifically mentioned in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act as a means of providing full participation in educational programs and activities. Occasionally, classroom discussion reveals items of a personal nature about students. If open discussions tend to reveal personal information, it would be appropriate to ask the student with a disability to turn off the recorder during these discussions. Contact the SSD office with questions or concerns about recording lectures.
Q: May I fail a student with a disability?
A: Yes. It is possible to fail a student with a disability. The laws mandate access to education, not guaranteed academic success. When a faculty member has provided reasonable academic accommodations--all that is required to comply with the law--and the student does not meet the course requirements, a failing grade is both appropriate and lawful. The following is a compliance checklist that may be helpful:
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Stand by academic standards and freedoms, which include full and equitable access to academic programs.
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Provide verbal and written notice to your students of your willingness to accommodate. For example, "I encourage students with disabilities to discuss accommodations with me."
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Communicate clear and concise expectations for performance to your students. Distinguish between essential and non-essential components of the course.
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Respect requests for reasonable accommodations.
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Permit students to use auxiliary aides and technologies that ensure access(examples: note takers, sign language interpreters, readers, scribes, recorders/players, assistive listening devices).
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Assure that your course materials, whether printed or electronic, are accessible and available in alternative formats. The SSD office will expedite production of such alternate formats (examples: Braille, computer electronic text, large print, CDs/cassettes).
Q: Is it acceptable to ask a student who is having obvious difficulties whether he/she has a disability or to refer the student to the office that provides disability support services?
A: No. It is a civil rights violation to ask directly about a possible disability for a couple of reasons. First, the Americans with Disabilities Act states that a public entity may not make unnecessary inquiries 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 also be considered intrusive or insensitive. You may simply tell the student that you notice he/she is having academic difficulty and encourage him/her to come talk with you about gaining assistance, just as you would with any student.
Q: Is the information regarding a student's disability and his/her need for academic accommodations confidential?
A: Privacy of student information, including that regarding student's disabilities or accommodation needs, should generally be handled according to guidelines of FERPA, the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Personal information of this nature should only be shared with those people within the institution who have an educational need to know
Q: What are some examples of accommodations/services provided by the SSD office for different types of disabilities?
A:
- Deaf/ Hard of Hearing: closed/open captioning, FM loops, ASL interpreters, request for face-to-face contact to facilitate lip-reading
- Mobility: ortho chairs, stand/sit workstations, adjustable work tables/desks, testing, ergonomic equipment
- Speech/Language: scribes, literal interpreters
- Learning Disability: recording lectures, testing, assistive technology, recorded texts, notetaker, testing
- Blind/Visual: recording lectures, electronic notetaking, assistive technology, recorded texts, readers, scribes
- Chronic/Acute health: recording lectures, testing, notetaker, recorded texts
- Neurological/Nervous: recording lectures, testing, notetaker, recorded texts
- Psychological/Emotional: recording lectures, testing, notetaker, recorded texts
Q: Is it acceptable to ask a student who is having obvious difficulties whether he/she has a disability or to refer the student to the office that provides disability support services?
A: No. It is a civil rights violation to ask directly about a possible disability for a couple of reasons. First, the Americans with Disabilities Act states that a public entity may not make unnecessary inquiries 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 also be considered intrusive or insensitive. You may simply tell the student that you notice he/she is having academic difficulty and encourage him/her to come talk with you about gaining assistance, just as you would with any student.
Q: Is the information regarding a student's disability and his/her need for academic accommodations confidential?
A: Privacy of student information, including that regarding student's disabilities or accommodation needs, should generally be handled according to guidelines of FERPA, the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Personal information of this nature should only be shared with those people within the institution who have an educational need to know
Q: What if I have additional questions?
A: Contact Melissa Delikat (X6373), Beth Fetrow (X6333) or Sheryl Blaney (X6323) with any questions regarding students with disabilities.
For more information, try this link: http://www.spcollege.edu/disabilityawareness/workshop.htm
St. Petersburg College has put together a series of short seminars that will assist you in dealing effectively with our population of students with disabilities.
NOTE: Tutoring is NOT an academic adjustment or a reasonable academic accommodation as defined by Section 504 and the ADA. At PC this service is provided to all eligible students. Have interested students contact the Learning Center about obtaining a tutor or Melissa Delikat (X6373), Beth Fetrow (X6333), or Sheryl Blaney (X6323).
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