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Suggestions/recommendations for Instructors

Instructors should not make accommodations without first consulting with the Accessibility Services staff, nor should instructors accept or review medical or psychological reports if offered them by a student to support a request for accommodation. Students should be referred to Accessibility Services to meet with staff for a review of these documents, and to determine eligibility for services and accommodations.

It would be exceptionally useful if instructors would make an announcement in class and have a statement in your syllabus to the effect as follows:

“In accordance with federal law, it is University policy to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). If you believe that you have a physical, learning, or psychological disability that requires an academic accommodation, contact the Coordinator of Accessibility Services by phone at (505) 454-3252 or (505)454-3188, via e-mail at desquibel@nmhu.edu or visit Room 108 of the Felix Martinez Building on the main campus. If you need this document upon which this notice appears in an alternative format, you may also contact the Coordinator of Accessibility Services.

It is inappropriate to ask a student if they have a disability, nor should an instructor ask the student what’s “wrong” with them. It is also inappropriate to inquire about the details of the disability when presented with a Notification to Instructors/Faculty letter. You may privately ask the student how the disability will affect specific tasks required in your class.
Always make sure that your discussions with students are done in private, and be aware that many students are very uncomfortable in approaching instructors to discuss their special academic needs.

Instructors should know that accommodations are not retroactive. Instructors do not need to readminister tests or make adjustments to course activities/grades that have already occurred if the student makes a request late in the semester. Instructor must make accommodations from the date a “Notification to instructors” letter is received.

Specific modalities for working with specific disabilities (i.e learning disability, deaf, hard of hearing, blind or visually impaired, etc.) are available at the Office of Disability Services.