Faculty and Staff FAQs
If you are an instructor or staff person working with disabled students you may have questions or concerns about how you can best meet their needs and what types of issues are important. Here are some of the questions that faculty and staff members ask us. If you need more information please read our Faculty Guide or contact us.
- What are the rights and responsibilities of a student with a disability?
- What are the rights and responsibilities of an instructor when working with students with disabilities?
- Why does an instructor have the responsibility to make reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities?
- How are appropriate accommodations for a student determined?
- If an instructor feels that a particular student may have a substantially limiting disability, where should he or she refer the student?
- What if a student with a disability is disruptive in class?
- What if a student with a disability is failing?
What are the rights and responsibilities of a student with a disability?
Students with disabilities have the right to equal access to courses, programs, activities, services, and facilities offered at LaGuardia Community College. Students are also entitled to reasonable accommodations. All information about the student's disability is to be kept confidential. Students have the responsibility to provide acceptable documentation of disabilities and to register with the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) if they would like to receive accommodations. If students deem it necessary to receive accommodations for a particular class, students have the responsibility to inform the instructor.
What are the rights and responsibilities of an instructor when working with students with disabilities?
An instructor has the right to confirm a student's request for accommodations and to ask for clarification about a specific accommodation with OSD. Instructors do not have the right to refuse to provide an accommodation or to review a student's documentation including diagnostic data. Instructors have a responsibility to work with OSD in providing reasonable accommodations, keep all records and communications with students confidential, and to refer a student to OSD who requests accommodations but is not currently registered with OSD. Instructors do not have to provide accommodations for students not registered with OSD.
Why does an instructor have the responsibility to provide reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities?
An instructor has the responsibility to provide reasonable accommodations because accommodations make it possible for a student with a disability to overcome barriers thereby enabling the student with an equitable chance to succeed in the class. The instructor also has a legal responsibility to provide appropriate accommodations. For more information go to the Americans With Disabilities Act website http://www.ada.gov/
How are appropriate accommodations for a student determined?
To determine appropriate accommodations for a student, the student must submit acceptable documentation to OSD. The Counselor reviews the information and determines appropriate accommodations based upon the substantial limitations of the student and the essential elements of the course.
If an instructor feels that a particular student may have a substantially limiting disability, where should he or she refer the student?
If an instructor feels that a particular student may have a substantially limiting disability, he or she should refer the student to OSD.
What if a student with a disability is disruptive in class?
A student with a disability who is disruptive in class should be treated as any student who is disruptive in class. If an instructor feels that there is a medical reason for the student's behavior, the instructor can discuss this with the student's Counselor in OSD to determine if there is a solution to the problem.
What if a student with a disability is failing?
It is important for instructors to remember that providing reasonable accommodations to a student with a disability does not guarantee success in the course. Students with disabilities may not master the course material, just like any other student. Students with disabilities have the same right as other students to fail as part of their educational experience.