A Guide for Faculty and Staff Working with Students with Disabilities
The purpose and governance structure of the University of Wisconsin dictate that faculty play a key role in the accommodation process. Faculty Document 1071 reaffirms that “[d]isability should not be the basis for exclusion from educational programs. All students are entitled to an accessible, accommodating, and supportive teaching and learning environment.” Faculty and staff work directly with students with disabilities. They may also utilize the Access and Accommodation Resource Coordinator (AARC) network. An AARC is a departmental representative who has received additional training in disability-related issues. This guide provides information that is helpful to both the AARC and faculty/staff members who teach and employ students with disabilities.
Section I: Legal Information
and Institutional Policies
A. The legal requirements pertaining to reasonable
accommodations.
B. University and UW System policies pertaining
to reasonable accommodations.
Section II: The Accommodation
Process
A. Evaluating the need for an accommodation.
B. Identifying appropriate, reasonable, and
effective accommodations.
C. Receiving and maintaining confidential
student records.
D. Facilitating access to applicable appeals
procedures.
E. Campus resources and school, college or
departmental program evaluation.
Section III: Disability Types This section provides information regarding different types of disabilities and the impact they may have on learning and participating in university life.
Section IV: Campus Coordination The UW campus employs a multi-layered disability infrastructure model rather than a “one-stop shopping center” model that would provide services solely through a centralized disability services office. Key partners, including Legal and Executive Affairs, the Equity and Diversity Resource Center, Facilities Planning and Management and the Division of Information Technology, bring together their respective expertise to develop a comprehensive disability-support structure for students, faculty, staff and visitors in the UW Madison community.
Addtional Electronic Resources