Common Accommodation Questions

Instructors should be aware that students may request accommodations at any point in the semester. If a student contacts you mid-semester, follow the same process for accommodations that is used at any other time. Accommodations are necessary as soon as the student discusses the desire to use them.

Some students attempt to meet the standards of the class without accommodations. If the student decides accommodations are necessary, he or she will then approach faculty members. Additionally, some students may be diagnosed or otherwise not report their disability until midway through the semester.

Accommodations are not retroactive. The student may not redo past exams or assignments.

Please refer to our "Frequently Requested Accommodations" page.

If a student brings medical documentation to you but does not have approved accommodations in Banner, encourage them to contact the Center for Accessibility and Disability Resources.

The student should be informed that faculty are willing to work with any academic accommodations that are approved by the Center for Accessibility and Disability Resources. However, faculty and staff do not determine eligibility for accommodations. Please do not accept medical documentation or requests to implement desired accommodations.

Yes. The testing centers are available to students who need to reschedule their exams due to unforeseen circumstances, including:

1. Emergencies
2. Illness
3. Scheduling conflicts
4. Athletic events/commitments
5. Other prior agreements with their instructor
6. The instructor should complete the Rescheduled Exam Request (RER) Form. This form and the process can be found on our Testing Centers page.

Students are not required to tell faculty the nature of their disability. This is up to the student’s discretion.

Students have the right to keep this information private. If a student is asked about their disability in an inappropriate manner, it may be considered discriminatory. We suggest asking the student how they best learn and if there is anything you can reasonably do to support the student. If they choose, the student may be able to provide information on the functional impact of their disability. The answers should help you work with the student.

Instructors are only required to be informed that a student is registered through the Center for Accessibility and Disability Resources and is approved for the accommodations outlined in Banner. For clarification about the student's approved accommodations or guidance as to whether a question is appropriate to ask, contact the Center for Accessibility and Disability Resources.

Faculty are not obligated to arrange accommodations until a student specifically requests it.

Some eligible students may choose to use accommodations in some, but not all of their classes, or may initially attempt to navigate a class without accommodations. It is necessary that they speak with each instructor individually.

Although a majority of students use testing accommodations for course exams, accommodations may still apply to pop quizzes and, in some circumstances, lab work. If students anticipate a need for accommodations for pop quizzes or labs, they will need to make arrangements with their instructor ahead of time.

Some accommodation options for pop quizzes may be:

1. To offer extended time to the whole class
2. To give the quiz at the end of class and allow students with extended time to stay after
3. To give the student access to a computer to compose answers to essay questions for lab requirements.

Approved accommodations for students are visible via Banner Self Service- Faculty and Staff.

Within Banner Self-Service

1. To sign in, use the same username and password that are used for MySLU.
2. Select "student accommodations"
3. Click the student's name to see a column that lists any accommodations.

If you have questions about accommodations for a specific student, contact the Center for Accessibility and Disability Resources.

Please visit this Canvas page for more information.

The Center for Accessibility and Disability Resources at Saint Louis University provides temporary academic accommodations for students with temporary illnesses and injuries. The following examples are common temporary illnesses and injuries disclosed through the center that are given temporarily approved academic accommodations:

• Bone fractures
• Muscle tears/injuries
• Concussions
• Surgery
• Temporary side effects due to medication
• Recovery stage with potential setbacks and/or prolonged conditions

Temporary illnesses such as infectious mononucleosis (mono)(only if symptoms are continuous after three months from infection)Temporary academic accommodations are approved for a certain amount of time given the estimated recovery/prognosis of the temporary condition. If the temporary condition/symptoms are continuing beyond what was assigned in previous documentation, new documentation is needed to extend the temporary academic accommodations.

Center for Accessibility and Disability Resources staff will notify the student’s professors about the temporary academic accommodations once they have been approved. It will then be the student’s responsibility to connect and communicate with their professors about the temporary academic accommodations and how they will work in the course.

Temporary Illness and Injury: A Quick Reference Guide