Rights

  • Classroom Behavior: All University students must adhere to the University code of conduct regardless of whether they have a disability. Infractions of this code should be directed to the Office of Student Affairs, located in 73 Tremont, 12th floor.
  • Challenge Accommodations: Reasonable accommodations are based upon the student’s diagnostic documentation, functional limitations caused by the disability, and individual circumstances. In some situations the requested accommodations may not be appropriate for the course. A faculty member has the right to challenge an accommodation request if he/she believes the student is not qualified, the accommodation would result in a fundamental alteration of the program, or the accommodation would impose an undue administrative burden.

Responsibilities

  • Shared Responsibility: As employees of the University who have compliance obligations under federal laws, it is the responsibility of faculty members to assume a shared responsibility in providing reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities.
  • Referral: If a faculty member is notified by a student that he/she has a disability or if the student brings a medical statement to the instructor, it is the faculty member’s responsibility to refer that student to the Office of Disability Services. If an instructor notices that a student is not performing up to standards and suspects there might be a disability impacting their learning, he/she may also refer the student. However, the instructor should not make assumptions about whether a disability exists, and should not discriminate against the student on the basis of any perceived disability.
  • Disability Accommodation Letter: Faculty should receive a letter from the Office of Disability Services verifying the student is eligible for accommodation(s) based on a disability. Faculty are not to provide academic adjustments unless they receive a letter from the Office of Disability Services certifying the student is qualified to receive services and the nature of the accommodations.
  • Syllabus Statement: Each course syllabus should contain a statement to ensure that Suffolk is in compliance with the law and that students are aware of the services provided to them.

Confidentiality

Students with disabilities are protected under FERPA and the Americans with Disabilities Act civil rights laws. At no time should faculty make any statements or implications that the student is any different from the general student population. Faculty should also not share knowledge of a student’s disability with any other faculty or staff unless verbal permission is received from the student to do so.