Office of Disability Servics
Faculty Support
Introduction | Notifying Professors | Accessibility Information
The Office of Disability Services (ODS) in the Academic Resource Center exists to help ensure that all students at the University of Miami have equal access to the programs and services of the University of Miami according to law. In addition to providing auxiliary aids and services to students with documented disabilities, ODS also provides information about disability services to the University as a whole.
What are the federal laws or statutes which regulate the provision of services to post-secondary students with disabilities?
Regulations regarding the provision of auxiliary aids and services to university students are found in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, and the guidelines interpreting these statutes.
The ADA definition of an individual with a disability is: a person who a) has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of the person's major life activities, b) has a record of such an impairment, or c) is regarded as having such an impairment.
What types of conditions are considered "disabilities" under these laws?
The ADA applies to persons who have impairments which substantially limit major life activities such as seeing, hearing, speaking, walking, breathing, performing manual tasks, learning, caring for oneself, working as well as operations of major bodily functions such as functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circular, endocrine, and reproductive functions.
How do students register with the Office of Disability Services?
Students with disabilities who anticipate the need for special accommodations and auxiliary aids and services should schedule an appointment with the Office of Disability Services to discuss the nature of the disability, the documentation requirements, and possible accommodations.
The student must provide current and complete documentation of the disability to ODS. There are specific Documentation Requirements of each type of disability. These guidelines are available from ODS. No accommodations can be provided until all documentation is complete.
When complete documentation has been reviewed, ODS schedules an appointment with the student to discuss recommendations and accommodations which may be appropriate. At this time, ODS may make referrals to other campus and community resources. The accommodations and recommendations are based on the documentation and the individual needs of the student. The law requires that each student be considered individually and on a case-by-case basis.
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On the first day of class each semester, "Letters to Professors" are available to students registered with ODS. These letters list the accommodations required for that individual student in class. ODS recommends that students deliver the letters to their instructors so that they have the opportunity to discuss their needs in person. Students are asked to meet with their instructors within the first two week of the semester during office hours or after class. While a letter is provided for each class, students may choose not to disclose a disability in certain courses. Students cannot be required to disclose a disability, but they must contact ODS if they wish to request an accommodation. Students should also give their letters to their instructors at least two weeks before they intend to use an accommodation.
Information pertaining to a disability is confidential and may not be released without the express authorization of the individual. For this reason, instructor letters generally state the accommodations required, but not the nature of the disability. All faculty and staff who are in possession of information pertaining to a student's disability or accommodations must maintain the information in a confidential manner.
If an instructor has a question or a concern about providing an accommodation, whom may he/she contact?
Instructors are encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Services with any question or concern about providing an accommodation. Contact information is provided in the Letter to Professors. ODS may be reached by phone at (305) 284-2374 during regular office hours.
Must an instructor send students to the ODS office to receive testing accommodations?
No. An instructor may provide the specified testing accommodations directly. Some instructors prefer to provide both extra-time accommodations and distraction-reduced testing space in their campus offices or in a departmental conference room. It is necessary, however, to ensure that the specified extra time is allowed and that distractions are reduced.
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If a faculty or staff member has a personal disability concern, whom should he/she contact?
The Office of Equality Administration at (305) 284-3064 can answer questions for faculty and staff with personal concerns about disability.
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Introduction
What is the Office of Disability Services?The Office of Disability Services (ODS) in the Academic Resource Center exists to help ensure that all students at the University of Miami have equal access to the programs and services of the University of Miami according to law. In addition to providing auxiliary aids and services to students with documented disabilities, ODS also provides information about disability services to the University as a whole.
What are the federal laws or statutes which regulate the provision of services to post-secondary students with disabilities?
Regulations regarding the provision of auxiliary aids and services to university students are found in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, and the guidelines interpreting these statutes.
The ADA definition of an individual with a disability is: a person who a) has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of the person's major life activities, b) has a record of such an impairment, or c) is regarded as having such an impairment.
What types of conditions are considered "disabilities" under these laws?
The ADA applies to persons who have impairments which substantially limit major life activities such as seeing, hearing, speaking, walking, breathing, performing manual tasks, learning, caring for oneself, working as well as operations of major bodily functions such as functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circular, endocrine, and reproductive functions.
How do students register with the Office of Disability Services?
Students with disabilities who anticipate the need for special accommodations and auxiliary aids and services should schedule an appointment with the Office of Disability Services to discuss the nature of the disability, the documentation requirements, and possible accommodations.
The student must provide current and complete documentation of the disability to ODS. There are specific Documentation Requirements of each type of disability. These guidelines are available from ODS. No accommodations can be provided until all documentation is complete.
When complete documentation has been reviewed, ODS schedules an appointment with the student to discuss recommendations and accommodations which may be appropriate. At this time, ODS may make referrals to other campus and community resources. The accommodations and recommendations are based on the documentation and the individual needs of the student. The law requires that each student be considered individually and on a case-by-case basis.
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Notifying Professors
How is an instructor notified if a student in his/her class requires a special accommodation due to disability?On the first day of class each semester, "Letters to Professors" are available to students registered with ODS. These letters list the accommodations required for that individual student in class. ODS recommends that students deliver the letters to their instructors so that they have the opportunity to discuss their needs in person. Students are asked to meet with their instructors within the first two week of the semester during office hours or after class. While a letter is provided for each class, students may choose not to disclose a disability in certain courses. Students cannot be required to disclose a disability, but they must contact ODS if they wish to request an accommodation. Students should also give their letters to their instructors at least two weeks before they intend to use an accommodation.
Information pertaining to a disability is confidential and may not be released without the express authorization of the individual. For this reason, instructor letters generally state the accommodations required, but not the nature of the disability. All faculty and staff who are in possession of information pertaining to a student's disability or accommodations must maintain the information in a confidential manner.
If an instructor has a question or a concern about providing an accommodation, whom may he/she contact?
Instructors are encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Services with any question or concern about providing an accommodation. Contact information is provided in the Letter to Professors. ODS may be reached by phone at (305) 284-2374 during regular office hours.
Must an instructor send students to the ODS office to receive testing accommodations?
No. An instructor may provide the specified testing accommodations directly. Some instructors prefer to provide both extra-time accommodations and distraction-reduced testing space in their campus offices or in a departmental conference room. It is necessary, however, to ensure that the specified extra time is allowed and that distractions are reduced.
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Accessibility Information
The University of Miami is an institutional member of the Association for Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD). The Office of Disability Services is also a member of the South Florida Consortium of Disability Services Providers. ODS can provide information to faculty, staff and students regarding sources on disability issues.If a faculty or staff member has a personal disability concern, whom should he/she contact?
The Office of Equality Administration at (305) 284-3064 can answer questions for faculty and staff with personal concerns about disability.
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