In Deborah’s case, her audiologist provided comprehensive medical information that verified her substantial hearing loss. The documentation described her limitations, supporting her request for sign language interpreting and note-taking services as accommodations.
Determining a student’s eligibility to receive accommodations must be done by the campus office designated with the responsibility, the DSO. It is done based on a formal diagnostic assessment provided by properly credentialed professionals and is evaluated according to the institution’s guidelines.
Faculty have neither the obligation nor the right to review a student’s
medical documentation. In fact, faculty members have no legal right to ask
for that kind of information. If a student hands you his or her documentation,
you should hand it back and inform the student that only the DSO can evaluate
diagnostic information.
Why should a faculty member go through the DSO to provide disability-related accommodations for a student?
Who pays for the diagnostic work to determine eligibility for disability-related accommodations?
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