Current Students > Self-Disclosure
You are responsible for disclosing the functional impact of your disability and requesting reasonable program modifications for your classes. Exactly which modifications are allowed is a matter of agreement between you and your professor. When the functional impact of your disability is not readily apparent, your instructor reserves the right to ask you for a letter of verification. This letter is written by your Disability Services coordinator and discusses the functional impact and the types of program modifications which may be considered reasonable. You don’t have to disclose the specific nature of your disability, i.e. diabetic retinopathy; rather, what your instructors should know is the impact of your disability, i.e. difficulties maintaining consistent visual focus.
1) Meet with your Disability Services coordinator and discuss the types of program modifications that may be considered reasonable.
2) Work with your coordinator on the specifics of using testing modifications, note-takers, and other modifications you may be requesting. You must make your modification requests in a timely manner. The amount of time necessary depends on the type of modification you are requesting. Work with your coordinator to write a letter of verification to provide to your instructors.
3) Email your professors before the start of the semester with the subject line: ‘Disability Program Modification Request.’ If you have trouble locating your professor’s email use the online directory or phone the department which the course is listed under. Remember that you can request program modifications at any point in the semester. However, it is strongly recommended that you contact your instructors before the beginning of every semester -- even if you think you may not use a program modification in that course.
4) In the body of the email state your full name, course, section and the dates and times you’re taking the class, or specify if it is an online-only course. Then state your reason for the email, and, if relevant, ask to set up a meeting to discuss your accommodations further. You should also attach the letter of verification to the email and copy the email to your Disability Services coordinator. This creates a record that you provided both notice and verification of disability to your instructor. Please feel free to create your own statement following the above guidelines or to use any of the Sample Disclosure emails as a starting place.
5) After you have met with your professors, be sure to request all program modifications in a timely way and follow up with your Disability Services coordinator at least once a semester.
6) Feel free to provide instructors with respectful reminders about the types of program modifications you are requesting. For example, a polite e-mail reminder about your test accommodations is often welcome.
7) If you encounter any problems with program modifications you should immediately alert your instructor and/or your Disability Services Coordinator. In more serious cases you may wish to use the Report Barriers form.
Here are some related links: