FAQ

What Does My Son or Daughter Do When a Faculty Member or Instructor Doesn't Make Time for Them?

First and foremost, the student should be persistent in their attempts to make contact with their instructor. Face-to-face exchanges between students and instructors are the most fruitful. It is critical that communication between the student and instructor results in the provision of appropriate accommodations.

• This is best accomplished either before classes begin, or at the latest during the first week of classes. For example, students are encouraged to speak with their instructor on the first day of class regarding their specific accommodation needs.
  
  
• If the student has come to Disabilities Services for a Student Request Appointment (SRA) prior to the beginning of the term the instructor will have received an electronic copy of accommodations for the student.
  
  
• This introduces the student and their requests for accommodations early. Students will likely need to talk with instructors more than once a semester, so the first face-to-face meeting is very important.
  
  

If personal contact is not possible, another option is to leave written messages with the department secretary and leave voice-mail phone messages. Email is also increasingly effective as a way of communicating with instructors. It can be helpful to note days and times that attempts were made to contact the instructor, as well as when the instructor received the student's letter of verification.

The student can always try catching the instructor before or after class. All instructors should have published office hours in which they are available to meet with students. Counselors will advise students if difficulties arise, and may offer to meet with the student and instructor in some cases.

If the instructor's office is not physically accessible to your student, the instructor will make arrangements to meet them in an accessible location.

Students have a number of options open to them in the event that communication with instructors does not result in receiving accommodations. Again, students should stay in touch with our counselors to discuss all their options. Most importantly of all — never give up!

Parental Communications with Faculty
Since faculty members are legally prohibited from communicating with parents, we ask parents not to contact professors on the student's behalf. Parents can request meetings with the student and a Counselor if an issue arises that needs to be discussed by all three parties. It is our policy to inform students of all communications with professors, advisors, and parents.

In keeping with the law, Disabilities Services is also sensitive to the student-parent relationship, and we encourage students to communicate with parents directly.

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