Faculty FAQ

DSO may notify instructors regarding student with disabilities prior to the first day of classes in the event the classroom environment may be impacted.  For example:

• Students requiring service personnel such as an interpreter, classroom assistant, etc
• Students utilizing specialized equipment or software
• Students with disabilities that may be impacted by certain instructional methods

Notifications will be made by email from efcdso and will be dependent upon student enrollment date and/or student request to DSO.  In communicating with instructors DSO will, in most cases, focus on the accommodation approved as opposed to information about the student’s specific disability.

When documentation is received, it is evaluated by a review committee of rehabilitation specialists in order to determine accommodations for the student in each course.  Letters directed to each individual faculty member are prepared by DSO and made available to the student for delivery to their instructor.  This notification is the responsibility of the student requesting the accommodations.  In some cases, an instructor signature is required on the form to be returned to DSO.  In that case, an instructor copy is also provided for your records.

Classroom accommodations are specific and determined each semester based on course content and the student’s need for services.  Documentation should be submitted directly to the Disability Services Office, not to the instructor. 

The college is legally obligated to provide “reasonable and appropriate” accommodations to students with disabilities.  If faculty members have questions about authorized accommodations, they should consult with Disability Services.  Denying an accommodation or confronting a student regarding a service or accommodation authorized by DSO could result in legal liability for the faculty/staff member.  DSO is your best resource for your questions and concerns.

For students with obvious physical disabilities, faculty/staff should accommodate the immediate need if possible. 

For example:  A student using a wheelchair may need wider aisles between desks.  Students with a visual or hearing impairment may require preferential seating. 

However, because granting accommodations without authorization may expose the faculty member and/or institution to legal liabilities, all students requesting academic accommodations should be referred to the Disability Services Office.

DSO has been designated as the college’s determining body for authorizing services and accommodations for students with disabilities.  The DSO staff includes Rehabilitation Specialists experienced in evaluating medical and psychological documentation for a variety of disabilities and matching the students’ needs with available technology, personnel and services.  Disability Services is also able to ensure that consistent services are provided to all students.

DSO offers a variety of individualized classroom accommodations based on documentation of need.  Services may include:

• American Sign Language Interpreters
• Computer-Aided Real Time Translation (CART) services
• Testing Accommodations
• Assistive Technology

However, all accommodations are determined on an individual basis depending on type and current status of disabling condition, onset of the disability, student expertise in utilizing assistive technology, fundamental nature of the course and physical environment of the classroom.

While the Disability Services Office is in place to authorize accommodations, faculty members have the “bottom-line” responsibility for test administration. Instructors may choose to work with DSO to provide testing accommodations on their own or request that DSO facilitate the testing process.

Yes, any Eastfield employee may refer individuals to the DSO.  However, not all students experiencing academic difficulties have disabilities.  Therefore, faculty members should refrain from suggesting a diagnosis or labeling the student with a disability.  While the college does not provide diagnostic testing, DSO acts as a referral source to outside agencies which may be able to provide testing and documentation of need.