Syllabus Statement Rationale

The fundamental principles of nondiscrimination and accommodation in academic programs were set forth in Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Title II; and their implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 104 and 28ÝC.F.R. Part 35 respectively and PD 97-03. The aforementioned laws establish that students with disabilities may not, on the basis of their disabilities, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any University program or activity. The University must make sure that its academic requirements do not discriminate or have the effect of discriminating against persons with disabilities. Academic requirements that are justifiably essential to a student's program of instruction are not considered discriminatory. There are various types of disabilities (obvious and hidden), which affect students in different manners. Specific answers regarding what faculty must do as it pertains to equal access to their curriculum is determined by an individualized analysis of each student's need. The Disability Resource Center (DRC) will ensure that a student is entitled to receive accommodations, and perform the professional assessment of determining the specific accommodations. Fundamentally, faculty responsibility is to assure equal opportunity in their classes for all students with disabilities who are qualified to be enrolled and to protect students' confidentiality in the process. To this end, it is recommended that faculty include a statement on their syllabus regarding disability disclosure, accommodation request and evacuation or safety issue concern. The following statement is appropriate to include on a course syllabus and should be announced during the first class meeting.

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. My office location and hours are as follows…

Including the above statement on a course syllabus provides a three-prong effect:

• assists faculty in partially fulfilling their legal obligations as it pertains to students with disabilities,
• protects faculty against the possibility of discrimination, and
• provides students with information regarding disclosing disability needs.

Disability Resource Center
Administration Building 110
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0168
(408) 924-6000 (Main Office)
(408) 924-6542 (Deaf and HoH)
(408) 808-2123 (ATC)

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