Q. CONFIDENTIALITY: Is it acceptable to ask a student who is having obvious difficulties whether he has a disability or to refer the student to the office that provides disability support services?

A. No. It is not a good idea to ask directly about a possible disability for a couple of reasons. First, the Americans with Disabilities Act states that a public entity may not make unnecessary inquiries into the existence of a disability. These inquiries usually relate to hiring or pre-admission screening, but when talking with students such inquiries should also be avoided. A direct inquiry such as this could also be considered intrusive or insensitive.

You may simply tell the student that you notice she is having academic difficulty and encourage her to come in and talk with you about gaining assistance, just as you would with any student.  For example, you could say to a student: "I noticed that you seemed to have difficulty organizing your paper. You might consider using some of the special support services we have on campus such as the Learning Center, The English Lab, and The Center for Students with Disabilities."

Q. QUALIFIED STUDENTS: How do I know a student is qualified to receive disability-related accommodations?

A. Students who wish to exercise their right to disability-related accommodations must register with the Center for Students with Disabilities.  They must provide documentation from an appropriate professional about their educational limitations before services are rendered. Once a student is registered, faculty must provide the academic accommodations that CSD determines reasonable.   The student or appropriate DSPS office will provide faculty with a letter which documents the need for academic accommodation.

Students who will be using a computer to complete your tests will provide you with a blue verification form from the High Tech Center.  If your test does not require a computer, they will give you a green form from the Instructional Assistance Center.