Administering Accommodations

Faculty & Staff

Students requiring accommodations are directed to electronically submit Letters of Approved Accommodations (LOAAs) to their teachers via the DSP's online platform. When possible, this should occur at the beginning of each quarter, prior to the first use of the accommodations. These notification letters serve as conversation starters between teachers, students, and the DSP office, helping to ensure students' needs are appropriately met.

Expand the following items for information on ways to administer particular accommodations. For complete details please refer to the DSP Student Handbook.

  • DSP Testing Center

    The Disability Services Program provides a space in the DSP Testing Center to help faculty with administering testing accommodations. To ensure this process functions successfully, instructors must coordinate with both the DSP and their students. For details on faculty responsibilities in this process, see Faculty Responsibilities for Testing.

  • Canvas: Adding Extended Time on Tests/Exams

    For timed tests and exams in Canvas, please remember to add extended time for students with this accommodation, including those taking the exam at the DSP Testing Center. If a student is beginning the exam earlier than the rest of the class, you must make sure they are able to access the exam at their scheduled start time.

    The Office of Teaching and Learning (OTL) provides a step-by-step guide on How to Add Extended Time in Canvas.

  • Modified Attendance Procedures

    Instructors have discretion to determine how or whether to modify class attendance policy based on their assessment of the course's core requirements. Each request should be considered on a case-by-case basis, and instructors must work with both the student and the DSP, as applicable, to complete a Modified Attendance Plan (MAP) form. This involves a comprehensive examination of the essential course requirements, academic standards, and educational experiences or outcomes to determine the impact of this accommodation. Generally, one or two excused absences, in addition to those permitted in the syllabus, will not constitute a fundamental alteration to a course.

    If, based on this analysis, the instructor determines that a modification in attendance may alter an essential course requirement, academic standard or educational experience or outcome, the instructor must consult with the DSP to determine what course-specific adjustments may be applicable.

    If a student accrues excessive absences, even pursuant to a DSP approved accommodation, the instructor should consider submitting a referral through Student Outreach and Support (SOS) so the student may explore options such as reduced course load, course withdrawal, or a Medical Leave of Absence.

  • Peer Notetakers

    If a student's LOAA includes the peer notetaker accommodation, the instructor must make an announcement to the class—either in person or by email, and without identifying the student—soliciting a notetaker. It is helpful to mention that the notetaker will receive a $40 stipend to the DU bookstore. (Due to its scholarship status, most athletes are not eligible to receive the stipend, but they are still welcome to act as notetakers.)

    Once a notetaker has been designated, the instructor should introduce them to the student (at the student's discretion) so they may coordinate a plan for note delivery. Alternatively, the instructor should coordinate the provision on the notes to the students. Finally, the instructor should ensure both the student and notetaker fill out a Classroom Note-Taker Agreement and submit it to the DSP. Submission of this agreement is necessary before a stipend is issued to the notetaker.

  • Per Assignment Extensions Procedures

    Instructors have the discretion to determine how or whether to modify due dates for particular assignments based on the their assessment of the course's core requirements. Each request should be considered on a case-by-case basis, and instructors must work with both the student and the DSP, as applicable, to complete a Per Assignment Extension Plan (PAEP) form. This involves a comprehensive examination of the essential course requirements, academic standards, and educational experiences or outcomes to determine the impact of this accommodation.

    If, based on this analysis, the instructor determines that an assignment extension may alter an essential course requirement, academic standard or educations experience or outcome, the instructor must consult with the DSP to determine what course-specific adjustments may be reasonable.

    If a student requires excessive extensions, even pursuant to a DSP approved accommodation, the instructor should consider submitting a referral through Student Outreach and Support (SOS) so the student may explore options such as a reduced course load, course withdrawal, or a Medical Leave of Absence.

  • Alternate Format Text

    Students with an alternate format text (AFT) accommodation require textbooks and other printed course materials in non-standard formats. Instructors should ensure all book lists have been submitted to the DU bookstore by the required deadline, which allows students to search for books and submit requests for AFT to the DSP.

    Instructors must also ensure that PDFs and other electronic documents distributed in Canvas have searchable text. To convert a scanned PDF, open the document in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC (part of Adobe Creative Cloud, available to all benefited staff and faculty) and select "Edit PDF" from the menu on the right. Choose "Scanned Documents" and ensure "Recognize Text" is selected. This will automatically convert the scanned image to a text recognized PDF compatible with screen readers. The document must then be "Saved As" to maintain the text recognition.

    Instructors of students with vision loss should contact the DSP for additional information and assistance after completing the steps above.

  • Video Captions

    All video and audio content made available in the course must be captioned or be accompanied by a transcript. For videos that don't already have captions, submit requests a minimum of two weeks in advance using the Video Captions Request Form. Consult the Assistive Technology Specialist or Office of Teaching and Learning for more guidance.

  • Sign Language Interpreters

    DSP will coordinate sign language interpreters for classrooms. The role of interpreters is facilitation of communication between the student and instructor. They should not be asked to run errands, proctor exams or discuss the student's personal issues. They should not participate in the class in any way independent of the student or express personal opinions. Instructors should contact DSP with any questions.

  • Live Captioning (CART)

    DSP coordinates live captioning, commonly called Communication Access Real-time Translation or CART, by contracting with stenographers who transcribe classroom conversation for students with hearing loss. The role of the CART provider is to facilitate classroom communication between the student, their classmates and the instructor. It is not appropriate for them to caption video content, run errands, proctor exams or discuss the student's personal issues. The CART provider should not participate in the class in any way independent of the student or express personal opinions. Instructors should contact DSP with any questions.