Before Faculty Provide Adjustments

  • Student must be identified by the Office for Student Disability Resources as a student with a disability
  • Student must provide a RECENT accommodation letter outlining the accommodations needed
  • Students must fulfill the essential requirements of the course

Accommodations

Accommodations ensure access to course content while mitigating disability-related functional limitations that impact the ability to fully participate in a course or show mastery of content
Accommodations do not guarantee academic success; the student is still responsible for:

  • learning subject knowledge
  • demonstrating mastery of content
  • satisfying the essential requirements of courses
  • showing progression toward major
  • meeting the same demands required of all students

Student Disability Resources engages in an interactive process with each student and reviews requests for accommodations on an individualized, case-by-case basis. We may consider reasonable alternatives to accommodation requests, though significance is given to a student’s preference.

“Reasonable” Accommodations

An accommodation is considered "reasonable" if it does not require substantial change in the curriculum or alteration of any essential elements or functions of a course, program, service, or activity. Student Disability Resources may consider reasonable alternatives to accommodation requests, though significance is given to a student’s preference.

A reasonable accommodation provides a modification or adjustment that enables a qualified student with a disability to participate in courses, programs, facilities, activities, or services; such that that a qualified student with a disability has rights and privileges equal to students without disabilities.

Types of Accommodations

An academic accommodation minimizes or eliminates the impact of any disability that would unfairly restrict a student’s access to Penn State’s courses, programs, activities, or facilities. Examples include but are not limited to:

  • extension of time for tests
  • course substitution of nonessential requirements
  • priority registration

An auxiliary aid might include but are not limited to:

  • adaptive equipment
  • assistive technology
  • FM systems
  • electronic textbooks or books in alternative formats
  • computers for testing

A service may include but is not limited to:

  • a reader for tests
  • note taker for a course
  • test proctors
  • sign language interpreters
  • real-time captioning

A modification may include the removal of architectural barriers. 

Accommodation Letter

An accommodation letter is a letter written by OSDR staff. The letter is given to students who are registered with OSDR, considered to be individuals who are covered under the ADA, and are eligible for reasonable classroom accommodations at Penn State University.  Students should then provide or forward the letter to their semester faculty so that accommodation can be implemented.  

This letter will help professors know what accommodations are needed for this student and how to best assist this student in his educational pursuit.

For more information on accommodations, please visit the Penn State website at https://equity.psu.edu/offices/student-disability-resources/accommodati…;