Modification of Course Attendance Policy

Your accommodations include asking faculty to consider modifying the course attendance policy should you miss class due to an unexpected issue related to your disability. In an effort to ensure students who have this accommodation understand how this accommodation is provisioned as well as its limitations, you are responsible for understanding the information presented below.

This accommodation is NOT retroactive and does NOT begin until you and your instructor discuss how this accommodation would work in that class. Therefore, it is vital for you to schedule an appointment with each of your instructors as soon as possible after your accommodation letter has been emailed to your instructors. The ODA has created guidance to help guide the conversation. Contact the ODA if you would like assistance in discussing this accommodation with faculty.
Absences must be due to the limitations associated with the documented disability for which you are receiving accommodations.
Discuss EACH of the following items with each of your instructors:
- What does the instructor consider to be a reasonable amount of absences in this class?
- What is the instructor's preferred method of being contacted and what does he/she consider timely notification of your absence?
- What is the time table to turn in missed assignments and exams/quizzes, if applicable?
An attendance accommodation does not allow you to be excused from class for all disability-related absences. Instead, it allows you a reasonable number of disability-related absences.
 The instructor determines how many absences are reasonable in his/her class based on criteria outlined in the Modification of Course Attendance Guidance (pdf) on the ODA website. The ODA can assist the instructor and student in determining what a reasonable number of absences would be.
An attendance accommodation does not cover frequent absences or being absent for long periods of time (even if these are disability-related).
This accommodation may not be permissible where class attendance or participation is considered to be an essential component of the course by the instructor (i.e., in-class group projects, presentations, labs, etc.). Assistance determining with is essential can be provided by the ODA.
You are responsible to contact your instructor, in the manner specified by the instructor, within the time frame established by you and your instructor during your initial discussion. In case of hospitalization, you should have a designated friend or family member responsible for contacting instructors. If unable to do so, contact ODA for further instruction.
 If no contact is made with the instructor regarding absences, at his/her discretion, absences may not be covered under this accommodation.
You are responsible for getting the course material when absent and arranging timely make-up of assignments/exams as previously discussed with the instructor.
Please use the Modification of Course Attendance Guidance (pdf) Form during your discussion to establish parameters for each course and review full details of this accommodation (which were provided to you initially via email) on the ODA webpage.

If you have any questions, please contact our office immediately.