Request for Services

The Office of Student Disability Services (SDS) is the place to start for students with disabilities who wish to apply for accommodations. Christian Brothers University has a clearly articulated procedure as to who holds the documentation of disability, what steps students must take to declare their need for disability-related accommodations, and how that information is communicated to faculty. Many students feel they don't need to go through the Office of SDS. Their first instinct is to advocate for themselves and work directly with faculty to negotiate accommodations. However, following the CBU Accommodation Procedure will assure that students are accommodated appropriately and will lessen the probability of violating the student's civil rights.

Accommodating Students with Disabilities

Faculty members should refer all students requesting disability related accommodations to the Office of Student Disability Services. If a student requests a disability-related accommodation from you, ask if the student has registered with the Student Disability Services Office, located in the Thomas Center. If the Student has not registered, refer the student to the Office of Student Disability Services. Tell the student that you will be happy to cooperated when provided the proper accommodation form issued and signed by the SDS Director. All students seen in the Office of Student Disability Services will be given a copy of the Accommodation Procedure for the Students with Disabilities.

There are two forms which will be used by the SDS office to assist you in providing accommodations for the student:

  • A Course Accommodation Form if the student's documentation has been received and verified by an outside evaluator or by the CBU Accommodation Committee.

  • A Provisional Accommodation Plan Form if the student's documentation has not yet been received or if it is still in the evaluation process. This provision will have an expiration date beyond which the faculty member is no longer required to provide accommodations. Once the documentation and requested accommodations are approved, the student will return with a Course Accommodation Request.


Suggestions For Faculty To Accommodate Students With Disabilities

  1. Request that students register with the Office of Student Disability Services.
  2. Provide students with a detailed course syllabus.
  3. Clearly spell out expectations before course begins (i.e., grading, materials to be covered, and due dates).
  4. Start each lecture with an outline of material to be covered that period.
  5. Speak directly with students and use gestures and natural expressions to convey further meaning.
  6. Present new or technical vocabulary in written form.
  7. Give assignments both orally and in written form to avoid confusion.
  8. If possible, select a textbook with an accompanying study guide for optional student use.
  9. Provide adequate opportunities for questions and answers, including review sessions.

The faculty member must provide the approved accommodations in some mutually agreeable form unless the accommodation will compromise the academic integrity of the course. Please contact the Director of Student Disability Services if there are any concerns regarding the accommodation.

Can Faculty Be "Too Accommodating?"

Faculty members who work directly with students, discuss the disability, (possibly) look over the documentation, and agree to accommodation may be establishing themselves as the "gatekeepers" without meaning to do so. If the faculty member agrees to provide accommodation "x" and not accommodation "y" and later the student maintains that he/she was not appropriately accommodated, it is the faculty member's decision that is subject to question and the faculty member who could conceivably be held responsible for violating this student's civil rights.

The faculty member who agrees to provide accommodations with institution authorization for a student with one disability (for example, LD) but is less familiar and comfortable with another disability (for example, ADD) and sends that student back through channels for official documentation could be opening himself/herself up for charges of discrimination, intimidation, or harassment.

Faculty members who conscientiously try to make life easier for the student by allowing the student to bring the documentations directly to them may gain access to confidential information to which they should not be privy. For all these reasons, it would be best for faculty not to be drawn into the decision-making regarding accommodation.