Good morning BSU faculty and staff!

The 2013 fall semester has been a busy one, certainly not devoid of challenges and bumps along the way. The Office of Disability Services (ODS) would like to thank each and every one of you for your cooperation, patience, and willingness to work with us during this time of transition. Without your help and advocacy for students with disabilities, our students would potentially be missing out on a first-class educational experience. As we work our way towards the midpoint of the semester, faculty and staff have communicated to our office several questions as to our operations, policies, and more. As the number of BSU enrolled students who utilize the ODS rises, so must the awareness of the campus community as to the workings of the ODS. This email is meant to inform all faculty & staff about what services the ODS offers, how students receive services, and general questions.

FAQ’s

What does the ODS do?
The ODS provides academic accommodations for students with documented disabling conditions enrolled in courses and programs through Bemidji State University either in online or on-campus courses.

How does a student qualify for ODS services?
Students must self-identify and request information regarding disability services from the ODS. They must apply for ODS services by completing an informational intake form, an authorization for release of information form, and by submitting medical documentation. This documentation is then reviewed, and if applicable, appropriate and reasonable accommodations are granted.

What is this “Accommodation Letter” and what do I do with it?
Many instructors receive Accommodation Letters from students in their class. These students have met with ODS and accommodations have been approved based on the documentation that the student has submitted. Students must formally request accommodations, and must justify those accommodations with medical documentation. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate with the instructor as to the nature of the letter and make arrangements relative to the accommodations.

As an instructor, does the Accommodation Letter require me to change course requirements?
No. Think of accommodation letters as a means for students to “access” course material. For example, students who are visually disabled require modified “access” to course material in the form of Braille or enlarged text. This type of accommodation typically does not alter the core course requirements set by the instructor. This is also true of students who have visual or learning disabilities that require a longer time to read questions. If the instructor requires the student to demonstrate competency on a subject/topic, and the student has a reading-related disability, then extended time is usually granted. However, if a student has an anxiety related disability that directly affects public speaking, and in one of their courses they are required to speak in front of the class, they usually must comply with that requirement unless the instructor chooses to modify that assignment.

What do I do with an accommodation letter asking for a note-taker?
When you get a request for a note-taker, please ask your class as a whole if anyone would like to earn $75 per semester for providing the ODS with a copy of their notes. If a student approaches you interested in the job, please ask them to contact ODS as soon as they are able.

How do I get my tests to and from ODS for a student with extended testing time?
Prior to test day, instructors are encouraged to either drop off a hard copy of their exam in the ODS office or email that test directly to the disabilityservices@bemidjistate.edu email address. The exams are kept in a locked cabinet until the student signs in to take that exam. The student signs in, deposits all personal belongings outside of the testing room, and begins their exam under ODS supervision. When finished, the exam is collected, placed in a red envelope, and returned to the instructor by ODS as soon as possible.

Tips and Strategies

What do I do if I suspect a student has a disability?
Students will sometimes express a pattern of difficulty in a class, and the instructor may begin to wonder if a disability is involved. Do not ask them outright if they have a disability. Sometimes a student may have qualified for special education in high school and received services, but now chooses to move forward and approach academics without special accommodations. Please respect their choice. Below is a strategy I like to use to help discern if a student may or may not have a disability.

Step 1: Ask the student to visit with you to discuss their academic performance.
Step 2: Ask them what they believe is their particular challenge in class.
Step 3: Ask them if they have struggled with this issue in the past (high school).
Step 4: Ask them how they worked their way through it. (at this point, carefully listen for key words like “special education” “resource room” or any other words that may indicate they have received services for a disability in the past.)
Step 5: If the student does indicate they have received services in the past, please encourage them to contact ODS to discuss their potential options.
Step 6: If a student does not indicate having services in the past, but indicates a pattern of weakness in a particular area, encourage them to contact the ODS to discuss potential options.
Step 7: Provide them with the ODS contact information.

As a faculty or staff member, what are my legal obligations and what are the risks?
What are the legal rules in working with students who may or may not have a disability?

Listed below are a few DO’s and DO NOT’s:

DO:
ü Make sure all students know how to contact the ODS.
ü Remain sensitive to the perceived “stigma” that accompanies students who work with ODS and maintain confidentiality.
ü Individually and privately communicate with students who self-identify themselves or who submit an accommodation letter.

Do Not:
· Identify or single out students in your class as receiving services/accommodations.
· Ask someone outright if they have a disability.

Keep in Mind:
ü Students must self-advocate and self-identify disabilities.
ü Students are responsible for communicating with their instructors about their disabilities and/or accommodations.
ü It is the students’ responsibility to not “just hand over their accommodation form” but rather to communicate with their instructors about their specific need(s).
ü If at any time you have questions about how to handle a disability-related situation, please set up a time that the ODS can meet with you and discuss effective strategies and options available to you.

A goal this year for the ODS office is to regularly communicate with faculty and staff about pertinent issues, to address policies/procedures, and to communicate regularly to keep everyone up to speed and on the same page. We are working hard to facilitate student accommodations and to address the needs of faculty and staff. If something is not working, you have suggestions, or want to set up a meeting between Disability Services and yourself, have us meet with your department, or if you have any questions please feel free to contact the ODS office and we’ll be happy to assist you. We appreciate your support and look forward to continuing a great (and busy) semester.

Thank you,

Chris Hoffman, M.S.
Assistant Director of Disability Services
Sanford Hall 203
(218) 755-3883
choffman@bemidjistate.edu