In an effort to foster better communication between students eligible for disability (ADA/504) accommodations and their instructors, the Office for Accessibility and Educational Opportunity has established an early self-identification policy for students who anticipate needing any type of classroom and/or test accommodation. Although most students discuss their accommodation needs with their professors at the beginning of each semester, other students wait until a short time before an exam or until they start having difficulty meeting their academic responsibilities. By encouraging open communication at the beginning of the term, students and faculty will have the opportunity to establish early and ongoing dialogue.

To help encourage this, we recommend that faculty members include the following statement on the course syllabus:

Academic accommodations are available for students registered with the Office for Accessibility and Educational Opportunity (AEO). Students in need of disability (ADA/504) accommodations should schedule an appointment with me early in the semester to discuss any accommodations for this course that have been approved by the Office for Accessibility and Educational Opportunity, as indicated in your AEO accommodation letter.

Initiating self-identification during the first weeks of the semester helps to ensure that if accommodations are used, prior planning and discussion have already taken place; if the student decides not to use the accommodations, the instructor is nonetheless aware of the possibility that accommodations may be requested at some point in the semester. In addition, promoting an ongoing, three-way dialogue among students eligible for accommodations, faculty, and the Office for Accessibility and Educational Opportunity may be quite beneficial for students in that many Vassar faculty members have had experience with student learning needs and concerns and may offer valuable tips and suggestions.