Guidance for Faculty Members on Common Student Accommodations

The following information provides �鶹�ƽ�� faculty members with additional information and guidance regarding common accommodations that may be provided to a student in your course. If you have additional questions, please contact sas@wm.edu

In the Classroom

Flexibility with assignment deadlines

Reasonable flexibility of assignment deadlines may be appropriate for students with disabilities that have brief, periodic flare-ups of their disability resulting in interruptions that can interfere with their ability to complete and submit some assignments on time.

This accommodation is intended to provide flexibility on an occasional basis and is not meant to be applied automatically or to every assignment. To utilize this accommodation, students must communicate with the instructor within 24 hours when possible before the assignment due date. Students with flare up conditions may not be able to notify the faculty until closer to the deadline based on the nature of their disability.

Additional absences

Students are expected to make every effort to attend class. A reasonable modification of a course attendance policy may be appropriate for students with disabilities that have brief, periodic flare-ups of their disability that occasionally prevent the student from attending class.

This accommodation is intended to provide flexibility for occasional disability-related absences and is not designed to support a substantial number of missed classes. It applies only to disability-related absences and does not support absences for other reasons, such as non-disability-related illness (e.g., influenza, COVID-19, mononucleosis), family emergencies, planned vacations, interviews, or other personal obligations.

The number of allotted absences is determined based on a standard 16-week semester. If a course follows a non-standard course schedule (e.g., summer, winter terms), please contact sas@wm.edu to determine if an adjustment to this accommodation is needed.

Use of lecture capture software/device to assist with note taking (Genio)

Note-taking technology that includes audio recording provides equitable access for students whose disabilities limit their ability to take comprehensive notes during class. This accommodation may be appropriate for students with disabilities that affect learning, information processing, vision, hearing, or manual dexterity. Approval of this accommodation is determined on a case-by-case basis based on the student's disability-related functional limitations.

Genio is a note-taking platform that can be used on laptops, tablets, and compatible smart devices. Its features include audio recording and post-recording transcription to support note taking. The software does not include video recording. Students control the recording and may pause or stop it at any time.

We understand that occasionally instructors may have concerns about recording class sessions that include sensitive discussions, personal reflection, confidential information, or guest presenters. However, it is important to remember that the recording is approved specifically as a disability-related accommodation to support the student's note taking limitation and is not intended for any other purpose.

Students approved for this accommodation are instructed that they may not share, distribute, post, or otherwise disclose recordings or transcripts to others. All recordings and transcripts are for the student's personal educational use only and must be deleted at the conclusion of the semester.

If an instructor determines that a particular discussion is not appropriate for any student to document through notes or recordings, they may make a general announcement asking all students to refrain from taking notes and to discontinue the use of any recording devices during that portion of the class. However, if the discussion will be included in course materials, assignments, or assessments, students approved for this accommodation must have an equitable opportunity to capture that content for note-taking purposes.

Testing Accommodations

Reduced-Distraction Testing Environment

This means that the testing environment is reasonably quiet and has limited stimuli. Students with this accommodation may take tests/quizzes within the presence of other students if the testing environment is otherwise reasonably quiet and free of unnecessary distractions or stimuli. There should only be a handful of students in this same area and instructors or proctors present should take steps to reduce disruptions to test takers.

Private Testing Environment

This means that a student needs a testing environment where they are the only student in the room with very limited interruption.

The soundproof booth or an office in the Testing Center can provide an appropriate space for this accommodation.

Soundproof booths

This accommodation is approved for students who require a distraction-free testing environment where outside noise will not interrupt them during an exam. Complete silence is required to support their approved testing accommodations.

This means that students require a distraction-free testing environment where outside noise will not interrupt them during an exam. Complete silence is required to support their approved testing accommodations. If a student is specifically approved to test in a soundproof booth, they will be assigned to a soundproof booth; not a private office.

Extended Time for Exams/Quizzes/Timed Assignments

An accommodation of extended time provides an additional amount of time for a student to complete a test or quiz. Generally, time and a half is recommended (50% additional time), but double time (100% additional time) may also be granted based on individual student needs. As disability accommodations are provided on a case-by-case basis, and determined by individual student need, there may be circumstances when more than double time is approved. In these instances, SAS staff will work with the faculty on implementation.

Use of Technology (Computer, Auxiliary Aide)

The use of auxiliary aids is a quite common accommodation, for both classrooms and in a testing environment. Access to Auxiliary Aids is expected and mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Auxiliary Aids and services are tools or assistance provided to individuals with disabilities to enable effective communication. They include such accommodations such as the use of a computer/tablet for writing; speech-to-text software, which allows students to use speech recognition to type answers; text-to-speech software which reads accessible printed material aloud; live or closed captioning, which converts audio content of a video or other media to written text on a screen; Sign Language Interpreters, Assistive Listening Devices, and materials in alternative formats. Auxiliary Aids are often used to accommodate how a student accesses course content or generates graded work, generally they do not alter the substance of a test or an assignment.

A student may need to utilize a computer for written output . This accommodation may be provided if a student has a disability that impacts written language expression or processing, or a physical disability or injury that impacts the ability to write by hand. The student is only allowed to use word processing software, such as Microsoft Word, and students utilizing the testing center will be monitored by SAS testing proctors.