Note: For faculty/staff looking to request accommodations due to their disability, please visit the Equal Opportunity and Civil Right Program's website for the procedure and forms to initiate the process.
what is a disability
While not an exhaustive list, these are common examples of what is typically considered a disability, versus what would not be considered. Instructors should expect that 10-15% of the students in their course may qualify for services through SDAC. They should also anticipate that many students will choose not to disclose their disability status nor request accommodations in any given course. Sometimes students may first disclose their disability status to faculty, rather than going through SDAC. Should this happen, it is important to immediately refer them to SDAC.
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Disability |
Not A Disability |
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Definition of a Disability
A disability is considered a condition that substantially limits one or more major life activities. These disabilities can be visible (i.e., mobility) or invisible (i.e, learning disability). The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) defines “major life activities” and includes “major bodily functions”.
Major life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, communicating, breathing, learning activities, and working.
Major bodily functions include, but are not limited to, functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions.
Possible learning activities affected by disability may include but are not limited to:
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reading |
writing (composition) |
writing (spelling) |
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math (quantitative reasoning) |
processing speed |
managing distractions |
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listening |
concentration |
memory, planning/organization |
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time management |
attending classes regularly |
timely submission of assignments |
accommodation process
Student Process
How Students Apply for and are Considered for SDAC Services
Students must request the applicable accommodations for the faculty ‘Notification of Accommodation’ letters for each course and each semester. Students are advised to follow up with each instructor individually after the letters are sent.
Faculty/Instructor Process
- ‘Notification of Accommodation’ letters are emailed to the Instructor of record and Teaching Assistants (TAs) listed in SIS. Although ideally these would go out on the first day of courses, they may be sent throughout the semester.
- Accommodations are NOT retroactive.
- Instructors should provide only those accommodations listed as approved in the SDAC Notification of Accommodation Letter.
- Implementation of accommodations needs to be timely but reasonable.
- For example, implementation of testing accommodations is not expected if notification is less than 24 hours before the assessment.
- Instructors should submit proctoring instructions at the beginning of the semester via the SDAC Faculty Portal if your students need to schedule/take your quiz/exam/final with the SDAC Testing Center. Link to exam proctoring page
- Some accommodations may not be applicable for all course designs/formats. NOTE: Accommodations that may fundamentally alter a course or lower standards require a collaborative review by SDAC, the instructor, and other university representatives to ensure accommodations are not denied unilaterally.
- Instructors are encouraged to use a variety of formats to confirm understanding of course expectations and accommodation implementation (i.e., email confirmation with additional information, meeting/conversation with student, Canvas pages dedicated to accommodations).
- All students, regardless of disability, must abide by the University’s Standards of Conduct.
- Confidentiality of all disability-related information, as defined under FERPA, should be assured.
- Faculty should be familiar with the UVA Policy on Discrimination and Harassment.
If faculty elect to provide an accommodation that is not supported by a Notification of Accommodation letter from SDAC, make clear in an email the voluntary nature of the accommodation. Moreover, understand that faculty may be establishing that it would be a reasonable accommodation for the course for this -- and other students.
Guide for Instructors: Student Accommodations
Confidentiality/Disclosure of Disability
- Students with disabilities are admitted to the University under the same requirements and process as students without disabilities.
- A student’s decision to disclose their disability is voluntary, and students should be directed to SDAC to determine the student’s eligibility to receive accommodations.
- Instructors are advised against asking for documentation of a student’s disability, as instructors are not responsible for interpreting, evaluating, or responding to disability documentation
- Instructors must keep disability-related information confidential at all times. Do not discuss a student's disability status with others, verbally, via email, or in any other form. Avoid talking about disabilities and accommodations around those who do not have an educational need to know. UVA FERPA
- Do not assume that students registered with SDAC are aware of other students’ disability status.
- SDAC will release information related to a disability only with the permission of the student, as permitted by FERPA, or as necessary to coordinate with other University offices to facilitate an accommodation or the accommodation process.