Instructor stands at a podium facing the class while holder a clicker in one hand, and speaking into a microphone.
Instructor Rights
As a WSU instructor, you have the following rights:
- Require the student to initiate a request for accommodations.
- Require a faculty notification letter before providing any requested accommodations.
- Question Access Center or Compliance and Civil Rights regarding accommodations that you believe would fundamentally alter an essential component of the course.
- Request a meeting with a student’s Access Advisor/Coordinator to learn more about implementing requested accommodations.
- Request a student meet with you to discuss their flexible assignment deadline and/or flexible attendance accommodations at the beginning of the semester or as soon as the instructor receives them. However, the expectation is that students will reach out to complete these.
- Request students to take an exam with you/the department if it meets the accommodation requirement and applicable college policies and there is a need for the student to do it with the professor and/or within the department.
Limitations to Instructor Rights
On the other hand, it is not your right to:
- Deny a student reasonable accommodation(s) listed in the Faculty Notification Letter (FNL).
- Ask students questions about their disability, including their diagnosis or the nature of their disability.
- Ask if the accommodation is necessary.
- Request documentation of a disability directly from a student.
Instructor Responsibilities
- Meet with students with approved accommodations to discuss the implementation of such approved accommodations when necessary (e.g., flexible assignment deadlines or flexible attendance considerations).
- Ensure instructional materials are in accessible formats, which include captioned videos, text-readable documents, etc. For additional information, see Classroom Material Recommendations
- Finalize textbooks and reading lists in a timely manner to allow time for books to be put in an accessible format.
- Include a statement in the syllabus as to how students can receive accommodations. See the University Syllabus for language and information about accessible formatting.
- Announce to your class how you prefer to communicate with students with disabilities regarding their accommodations at the beginning of the semester.
- Meet with students with approved accommodations to discuss the implementation of such approved accommodations.
- Provide accommodations in a timely manner.
- Instead of providing accommodations to students who self-identify as having a disability but are not registered with Access Center, refer them to the Access Center.
- Maintain appropriate confidentiality of accommodation notifications and communications regarding disability.
- Contact the Access Center with any questions or concerns about an approved accommodation, or how to best work with a student with a particular disability.