Roles & Responsibilities
Roles and Responsibilities of AccessibleNU
AccessibleNU reviews and maintains documentation to confirm eligibility for services and determines reasonable accommodations based on the disability barriers in the educational setting as stated in documentation and the student's shared experience. AccessibleNU's roles also include:
- Notify instructors of approved accommodations upon student requests
- Provide self advocacy training for students related to their accommodations
- Collaborate to problem solve accommodation implementation concerns
- Support faculty and instructors with resources, consultations, and trainings
Roles and Responsibilities of the Faculty
Upon receiving accommodation notifications from AccessibleNU, faculty will collaborate with the student, and AccessibleNU as needed, to implement the approved accommodations. Faculty roles also include:
- Identify learning outcomes and essential functions of courses and programs
- Consult with AccessibleNU regarding any accommodation-related questions or concerns in a timely manner
- Maintain confidentiality related to student accommodations
- Apply the same grading criteria to students with disabilities as those without (e.g., a student's extra time shouldn't be "taken into consideration" when grading)
- Engage in a collaborative process with AccessibleNU to develop creative, reasonable modifications that do not interfere with essential course or program elements, as needed
If you are interested, please learn more about the roles and responsibilities of students in this shared process and/or the primary laws that govern reasonable accommodation at the postsecondary level.
Addressing Accommodation Concerns
If you have a question or concern related to a student’s accommodation, you should contact ANU as opposed to reaching out to the student. Some accommodations are more complex and may raise concerns about proper implementation. A brief discussion with ANU typically clears up any concerns.
If you are concerned that an accommodation fundamentally alters a course/program requirement, ANU will work with you to determine if there is a fundamental alteration and, if so, determine an alternative accommodation. To address fundamental alteration concerns in a timely manner, please contact ANU to initiate the discussion. The following topics will be helpful in coming to a solution:
- Details of your questions/concerns
- Name of the student(s)
- A copy of your course syllabus
- Learning outcomes for the course/program
- Possible alternative solutions
Once an initial agreement has been reached, ANU will share the implementation details or potential changes with the student to assure disability barrier removal is still occurring with this alternative. If the student has any concerns with the initial agreement, there may be need for further discussion. After gathering all relevant information from the student and the professor, ANU will make the final reasonable accommodation determination.