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Q: Who is a person with a
disability?
A: The
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act define a person with a disability as someone who: a) has a
physical and/or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life
activity; b) has a record of such an impairment; or c) is regarded as having
such an impairment. Major life activities include, but are not limited to:
performing manual tasks, caring for oneself, walking, seeing, hearing,
speaking, breathing, and learning. A person may have a visible disability
(e.g.: a person who is blind, Deaf, or a wheelchair-user) or a hidden
disability (e.g.: a person who has a learning disorder, psychological disorder,
or some type of chronic health impairment, such as epilepsy, diabetes,
arthritis, cancer, cardiac problems, or HIV/AIDS).
Q: Am I legally required to honor
a student’s request for accommodations if s/he presents official
paperwork to me from the DSS office?
A: The ADA and the
Rehabilitation Act protect Trinity students with disabilities from
discrimination at the post-secondary level. These laws function together to
guarantee both physical and programmatic access to Trinity classes and
events. The University is required to provide reasonable accommodations to
qualified individuals. The accommodations outlined in the accommodation
letter have been negotiated between the student and the DSS Coordinator. If
you believe the requested accommodations are unreasonable for your class,
please contact the DSS Coordinator to discuss your concerns.
Q: I have a student in a class who
claims to have a disability and has requested accommodations. I have not
received official paperwork documenting that s/he is registered with DSS. Do
I need to accommodate?
A:
Without an official notice from the DSS office, you are not required legally
to accommodate the student. First, ask the student if s/he has registered
with DSS. If the student has not done so, refer the student to DSS to follow
the appropriate procedures. Even if the student claims to already be
registered with DSS, s/he must present you with the appropriate notification.
Until you receive this notification, it is not appropriate to provide the
requested accommodations.
Q: What is my role in
accommodating students who request note takers?
A:
Trinity recruits fellow classmates as note takers. The request for note
takers is included in the accommodation letter from DSS. It is the
responsibility of the faculty member to make the class aware of the
opportunity and to refer them to DSS. It is the responsibility of DSS to
select the actual note taker. The letter includes a general announcement that
you may read to the class, send via e-mail, or post on Blackboard to alert
the class to the opportunity. There are also copies of application
instructions for interested students. These can also be sent via e-mail or
posted online. Interested students should come to DSS to apply, and the DSS
Coordinator will select the most qualified student. If there are no students
who apply in a timely manner, the DSS Coordinator will contact you to remind
the class of the opportunity again.
Q: I have a student who has
requested an accommodation for exams (extra time, separate location, etc.).
How do I arrange for these accommodations?
A:
Students who request testing accommodations for exams are instructed to
maintain good communication with each professor. Extra time may entail the
student beginning the exam before class, finishing the exam after class, or
completing the exam at a different time altogether. This is to be negotiated
between the student and the professor. The student must make the request in a
timely manner (generally at least two days in advance). Students understand
that next-day or same-day requests may or may not be honored.
Trinity
does not have a designated testing center on campus for students with
disabilities, but normally professors have been successful in determining an
alternate location. Possibilities include a departmental seminar room,
conference room, or an empty classroom. The Honor Code allows for greater
flexibility in testing accommodations, as professors may decide to allow
students to take exams without a proctor or in locations outside of the
department.
If a
student needs a scribe for an exam, DSS can assist with these arrangements.
If you are having difficulty making alternate testing arrangements, please
contact the DSS Coordinator.
Q: Should I evaluate students with
disabilities any differently than I do the rest of the class?
A: All
students, including those with disabilities, should be evaluated at the same
level. The requested accommodations are not in place to give the student an
extra advantage or to raise or lower academic expectations. Accommodations
are designed to “level the playing field” and compensate for any
deficits to the educational environment experienced by the student.
Accommodations may present an alternative manner in which a student
participates in your class or gains access to information.
Q: Does Trinity offer on-campus
testing to diagnose learning disorders, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder (AD/HD), or psychological disorders?
A: No.
Trinity does not offer diagnostic testing. However, DSS does have screening
tools available to students who have concerns about AD/HD. DSS also has a
list of off-campus diagnosticians to whom we frequently refer students for
professional assessment.
Q: How does Trinity accommodate
students with temporary impairments (broken legs, hands, etc.)?
A:
Temporary conditions are not legally covered under the federal laws. However,
DSS will work with students to ensure that the campus is accessible as
possible. Students with mobility concerns may work with off-campus vendors to
rent a golf cart or scooter to maneuver around campus. The Department of
Campus Safety and DSS are not equipped to transport students to and from
class. Students with temporary writing difficulties may work with DSS and
their professors to ensure that they still receive class notes and are able
to complete tests and quizzes.
Should
you have any additional questions, please contact the Coordinator of
Disability Services for Students at 210-999-7411 or dss@trinity.edu. We look forward to working
with you!
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