The Importance of "Declaring" the Disability:

An important element of the "reasonable accommodations" section of the ADA is that:

The student has the right to decide if they want to declare their disability

• Only after the student has declared a disability to the appropriate individual (Disabilities Services at Ferris State University) is the instructor responsible for providing accommodations.
  
  
• No declaration, no accommodation.
  
  
• It is up to the student to decide in which class(es) to declare a disability.
  
  
• It is important to note that all student work and grades up until the time he/she declares the disability ARE VALID, and do count towards the final grade. The declaration of a disability does not "wipe out" any past failing grades, etc.
  
  
• Disabilities Services staff do have the right to ask for and/or require appropriate documentation and verification of the disabling condition, such as a doctor's letter (for physical disabilities), and/or a psychological assessment report (for learning disabilities or mental illness).