Section 5: Types of Accommodations
A reasonable accommodation is any modification or adjustment that will enable a qualified student with a disability equal access to a course, program, facility, activity or service. Reasonable accommodations may include auxiliary aids, services, or modifications to facilities.
The goal is to give the student with a disability equal access to the learning environment. Individualized accommodations are not designed to give the student an advantage over other students, to alter a fundamental aspect of the course, nor to reduce academic rigor.
The Access Center determines reasonable accommodations as mandated under the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and/or services are determined on a case-by-case basis. The following is a list of potential accommodations which may be granted based on the students’ disability and how it impacts them in a postsecondary educational environment.
Testing Accommodations
Testing accommodations are available to eligible students who experience barriers related to timed assessments or other aspects of evaluations. The Access Center is committed to providing an equitable testing environment for students. Testing accommodations may include but are not limited to the following:
- Distraction-reduced space
- Extended time
- Assistive technology (e.g. CCTV, screen-reader software)
- Accessible formats (e.g. Word Doc, large print, braille)
- Computer/Microsoft Word for written exams
- Calculator
Please review the Accommodated Test Procedures in the Appendix.
Attendance Flexibility
Students that have been diagnosed with a chronic physical or mental health condition/disability with brief, periodic flare-ups that adversely impact course attendance could be eligible to receive attendance flexibility consideration. This flexibility is determined collaboratively between the Access Center and the instructor. It is the student’s responsibility to request this accommodation as early in the semester as possible by completing the “Request Attendance Flexibility” form located on the Access Center website. The accommodation determination is put in writing as early in the semester as possible, ideally within the first few weeks of the course. The accommodation must be reasonable, meaning it cannot compromise the essential requirements or learning outcomes of the course. Course requirements vary widely due to course structure and additional flexibility cannot always be guaranteed.
Please review the Accommodated Attendance Procedures in the Appendix.
Access to Lecture Content
Students who have trouble capturing learning content that is shared during class due to their disability can be approved for accommodations. The student’s Accessibility Coordinator will share with the various options with the student and then collaborate with the instructor, if needed, to coordinate access to lecture content.
Alternate Formats for Print Materials
Students with a documented condition/disability that prevents access to traditional print materials are eligible to receive printed course materials in accessible electronic versions. Students are responsible for notifying their instructor and the Access Center if course materials are not accessible. Students needing to request course textbooks should use the request form located on the homepage of our website, www.msudenver.edu/access. See the Appendix for alternate format procedures.
Assignment Deadline Extensions
The purpose of this accommodation is to allow for periodic consideration of providing additional time to complete an outside of class assignment/paper/project due to the severe adverse effects of the student’s disability. Assignment deadline extensions will be determined by the Access Center on a case-by-case basis which may include obtaining information from faculty about how not submitting assignments by the indicated deadline may be a fundamental alteration to the course. It is the student’s responsibility to complete the “Request Deadline Extension” form located on the Access Center website at least 2 business days prior to the deadline unless significant extenuating circumstances arise (e.g. hospitalization). The submission of this form does not guarantee an extension.
Please review the Accommodated Deadline Extension Procedures in the Appendix.
ASL Interpreting & CART Services
The Access Center will coordinate interpreting and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) services for Deaf and hard of hearing students registered with our office. Students needing interpreters or CART for meetings with faculty, advisors or other types of meetings with staff on campus should use the request form located on the homepage of our website, www.msudenver.edu/access.
Accessible Classroom Furniture
The Access Center is committed to ensuring students’ learning environments are accessible which could include the need for accessible classroom furniture (e.g. tables, chairs). The student will then be directed to use the request form located on the homepage of our website, www.msudenver.edu/access. Furniture requests usually take 1-2 business days to get placed into the classroom.
Priority Course Registration
To assist students in planning their schedule while taking disability issues into consideration, students may be eligible for priority course registration. This accommodation allows students the opportunity to register earlier than other students for upcoming semesters. Students are responsible for meeting with their academic advisor to plan for appropriate classes and registering for courses at or after their scheduled registration time. The Access Center has no ability to remove registration holds.
Note: This is not an exhaustive list of potential accommodations.
Note: Under ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act a postsecondary institution is not required to provide accommodations that would be considered personal services. The Access Center does not provide personal services (i.e. administering medicine and storing of medical supplies, personal aides and mobility aides, transportation to school.)
Back To Table of Contents