THE STUDENT’S PROCEDURE FOR USING THE FLEXIBILITY IN ATTENDANCE ACCOMMODATION

This accommodation may be implemented when students’ disabilities prevent them from attending classes requiring class participation, group activities, class presentations or attendance at events outside the classroom. Functional limits, such as, debilitating headaches and their after-effects, intestinal track problems or extreme fatigue may prevent students from attending class.

Disability does not take precedence over the instructor’s attendance and participation requirements. The student and instructor should attempt to find alternative activities or ways to make up assignments adversely affected by class absence. A reasonable accommodation allows flexibility and also maintains academic standards.

1. DSS recommends that students whose disability regularly interferes with class attendance consider enrolling in online classes, when feasible. Students taking on-campus classes, should consider contacting professors prior to enrollment to see if classroom participation is required.
2. Contact your disability specialist at the beginning of the semester to request this accommodation.
3. If your request is approved, you will receive a Verification of Accommodations letter signed by the Disability Specialist and the Flexibility in Attendance Worksheet.
4. Meet with each instructor privately to request the flexibility in attendance accommodation. Take the Verification letter and the Worksheet with you.

-Begin the meeting by stating that you have a disability that at times makes it impossible to attend class, and you want to discuss the possibility of using the flexibility in attendance accommodation.

It is not necessary to name your disability, but it is important to describe, if asked, how it affects you. You can refer to the description of the “functional limitations” in your verification letter.

-If asked for proof of the need for this accommodation, show the instructor your letter.

-The Worksheet attached to the letter can be used to structure the discussion regarding alternate activities that could substitute for the required activities.