Faculty Guide to Accommodations
Instructors have a legal responsibility to provide approved accommodations for students. Accessibility is a legal requirement and should be considered throughout course design, planning, and delivery. If you have questions or concerns about implementing a student's approved accommodations, contact ASC for guidance and support.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which are enforced by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR), protect students' rights to reasonable accommodations and equal access to educational opportunities.
Contact ASC
Email: unoaccessibility@unomaha.edu
Phone: 402.554.2872
Student Disclosure and Communication
Students may choose to discuss disability-related needs with their instructors, but accommodations can only be implemented after they have been approved through the Accessibility Services Center (ASC). Faculty and instructional staff play an important role in creating a supportive environment while respecting student privacy and following established accommodation procedures.
Respond respectfully and supportively, and ask whether the student has connected with ASC. If the student has approved accommodations, they should provide their ASC notification letter, which outlines the accommodations that have been authorized for the course. Accommodations should only be implemented after the notification letter has been received.
No. Students are not required to disclose the nature of their disability to faculty or staff, and instructors should not request medical documentation or ask why a student needs specific accommodations. The ASC notification letter serves as verification of approved accommodations and is the only documentation instructors need to implement them.
Accommodation Implementation
Once a student provides an Accessibility Services Center (ASC) notification letter, instructors are responsible for implementing the approved accommodations in a timely manner. ASC determines eligibility and approves accommodations, while instructors are responsible for providing the accommodations outlined in the student's notification letter and contacting ASC when questions or concerns arise.
Instructors are only required to provide accommodations approved by ASC and listed in the student's most recent notification letter. If a requested accommodation is not included, refer the student to ASC for review. Accommodations are not retroactive and generally begin once the notification letter has been provided to the instructor.
Accommodation Scope and Concerns
Approved accommodations are intended to provide equitable access to course content and learning opportunities while maintaining essential academic requirements and standards. If you have concerns about the impact of an accommodation on your course, academic integrity, or learning outcomes, contact the Accessibility Services Center (ASC) for guidance before making any decisions regarding the accommodation.
Do not deny or modify an approved accommodation independently. Contact ASC to discuss your concerns. ASC will work with you to evaluate the accommodation, consider the essential requirements of the course, and determine appropriate next steps while maintaining compliance with disability laws and university policies.
Accommodations may be considered unreasonable if they fundamentally alter essential course requirements, compromise academic standards, or create an undue administrative burden.
Examples may include taking all exams from home when not aligned with course design, attending an in-person course exclusively through Zoom, submitting all coursework at the end of the semester, receiving blanket extensions for all assignments, excessive absences that prevent course completion, retroactive accommodations, replacing core assessments with alternative assignments, or creating a separate course section for a single student.
Questions about whether a request is reasonable should always be directed to ASC.
Implementing Accommodations in Practice
Implementing accommodations often requires communication, flexibility, and attention to confidentiality. Faculty should follow the accommodations outlined in a student's notification letter, maintain the privacy of accommodation-related information, and contact the Accessibility Services Center (ASC) whenever questions arise about implementation.
Some accommodations, such as attendance flexibility, may require collaboration between the instructor and student to determine how the accommodation can be implemented while maintaining essential course requirements and learning objectives. Approved accommodations are outlined in the student's notification letter and should be implemented as described. If you have questions about an accommodation or how it applies to your course, contact ASC for guidance.