At times, instructors may become aware of a student’s status as a person with a Disability before the student has been in contact with OAS.
In these cases, it is important to be aware that not all students with Disabilities may need or choose to pursue academic accommodations. A student’s status as a person with a Disability may not automatically necessitate the provision of accommodations. However, we welcome instructors to provide students with contact information for OAS.
When referring students to OAS
Please keep the following in mind:
- Instructors should not request or require that a student disclose their Disability. Students sometimes offer information about their Disability status, but it would be illegal for you to compel them to do so. If a student does disclose their Disability, you are required to maintain confidentiality.
- Instructors should not accept or receive medical documentation. If a student provides you with documentation, such as a doctor’s note, please redirect the student to submit it to OAS. Instructors should delete or destroy any copies of documentation they receive.
- Faculty should not create their own unofficial accommodations. If a student contacts you directly to request an accommodation or course alteration based on their Disability status, such as a reduced-distraction setting for exams or extended time on assignments, please refer the student to OAS.
- Instructors should not say “yes” or “no” to students’ questions about accommodations. Instead, the student should be directed to take their request through the appropriate channels by registering with the Office of Accessibility Services and meeting with an Accessibility Specialist.
Students can be referred to our webpage, where they can click on the appropriate link to learn more about the accommodation process at WVU.
For more questions about the accommodation process at WVU, check out our Faculty FAQ page.