The Luther Process

Requests by students for accommodations are made for reasons of disability or health issues through the Disability Services office in the Center for Academic Enrichment (CAE). 

Requests for accommodation are made to Disability Services. The request process has two required steps:

1. Submission of the request in written form.  This should include the reason(s) for the request and the specific needs that should be accommodated. 
2. Submission of documentation by an appropriate professional, e.g. physician, supporting the condition and providing support for the request. 

When the request and documentation have been received, a letter of accommodation is given to the students to distribute to the appropriate faculty / staff.  This letter confirms the student’s connection with Disability Services and indicates which accommodations they are eligible to receive for each specific course.  If you feel the request jeopardizes the integrity of the course, please contact the Disability Services office.

As an instructor you will rarely know the specifics of a student’s disability.  In rare cases a student may ask to meet with you to discuss their disability, but in most cases, a student will notify you that they are working with Disability Services by providing you with an Accommodation Letter which lists the student's accommodations they are eligible to receive as a result of their documented disability (but not the specifics of the disability).

If you have questions or concerns about a student you are working with, you can call Disability Services or CAE at ext. 1270.  Disability Services will not be able to tell you what a student's disability is, but they can provide you with some guidance for working with the student.

Faculty Rights and Responsibilities

As a faculty member you have the right to:

• Maintain the fundamental nature of course content
• Maintain the academic standards of your classroom and/or program
• Require students to demonstrate knowledge of essential course material
• Verify that a student has a documented disability with the Disability Services office 
• Ask a student who requests an accommodation to provide an Accommodation Letter
• Discuss an accommodation with the student and Disabilty Services if it seems unreasonable

Faculty members have a responsibility to:

• Include the ADA statement on each course syllabus
• Provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids for students with disabilities
• Ensure that all activities related to the experience of the course area are accessible to all students
• Implement best practices to reach a wide range of learners
• Direct students to the necessary resources such as Disability Services and CAE
• Work with Disability Services and the student to ensure they are accommodated in a timely manner
• As part of the process of identifying potential accommodations, Disability Services may ask for information concerning the essential elements of your course or program
• Discuss with Disability Services any concerns related to an accommodation or arrangements that have been requested by a student
• Maintain confidentiality