Disability Services for Students
Taking appropriate steps to accommodate students with disabilities is an important faculty responsibility. The office of Disability Services for Students (DSS) will do everything possible to assist faculty in fulfilling that responsibility and in building a successful community of learning for every student.
DSS’ success, however, in meeting the needs of these students depends heavily on faculty assistance.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 mandate that the faculty provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities. These accommodations are based on the premise that students with disabilities need an equal opportunity to acquire information and demonstrate what they have learned; not have an advantage over others in the class. This does not mean lowering class standards, but it may mean having students learn and express knowledge in a different mode.
The University will also provide students with disabilities with access to University notices that is comparable to that provided to other students concerning all academic requirements. This means that print notices mailed out by faculty and academic departments or posted on classroom or department doors will need to be provided in an appropriate alternate format.
All students currently registered with DSS will provide each faculty member with an accommodation letter. This letter verifies that appropriate diagnostic documentation is on file and that the student has a substantiated disability requiring effective reasonable accommodations. Accommodations for which the student qualifies will also be included in the letter. Any student requesting accommodations without this letter should be directed to the DSS office to register.
Faculty members should make an announcement, at the beginning of the semester, inviting students with disabilities to schedule an appointment to discuss academic accommodations.
The DSS staff is available to serve as a resource in assisting with providing accommodations.
Additional information: http://www.ncsu.edu/equal_op/dss/, Disability Services for Students, 1900 Student Health Center, 919.515.7653 (Voice) or 919.515.8830 (TTY).