{"id":142,"date":"2017-11-07T11:46:50","date_gmt":"2017-11-07T16:46:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/disability-resource-center\/?page_id=142"},"modified":"2026-02-09T14:39:45","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T19:39:45","slug":"faculty-resources","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/disability-resource-center\/faculty-resources\/","title":{"rendered":"Faculty Resources"},"content":{"rendered":"

Working Together: Faculty and Students with Disabilities<\/h2>\n

The mission of the Disability Resource Center (DRC) is to unite the 糖心vlog community in an effort to provide students with disabilities the excellence and equity in education to which they are legally entitled. Support from faculty is integral to the achievement of this mission.<\/p>\n

It is our hope that sharing this information with you will promote collaboration between the DRC and faculty, as well as provide you with some strategies to see that all of our students are encouraged to meet their full potential.<\/p>\n

Faculty FAQs<\/h2>\n

<\/a>
\n

One of my students asked about their IEP or 504? What does that mean?<\/div>
\n

A student may approach you and will refer to an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan, as part of their education in high school. If a student mentions either of these documents, please refer the student to the DRC. You are not required to ask about their affiliation with the DRC and should refer them to contact us directly for more information. A sample conversation to assist faculty refer students to the DRC is included below. Feel free to modify to fit the specific communication method and your comfort level, as needed.<\/p>\n

Hi Student:<\/p>\n

I\u2019m glad you mentioned your IEP\/ 504 to me. You\u2019ll need to register with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) to establish accommodations at Montclair. The DRC provides a variety of accommodations and support for registered students. Please visit their website to begin the application process. They are located in Cole Hall, Room 331 if you\u2019d like to speak with one of the staff directly. Once you complete your registration with the DRC, they will provide you with an accommodation plan for your courses.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

Why is the DRC necessary? I prefer to work with students directly regarding accommodations.<\/div>
\n

Although it may seem simpler to just accommodate students directly without the involvement of the DRC, that approach can be risky. The DRC exists to ensure an accessible, inclusive environment at 糖心vlog. Our staff are trained to understand a wide spectrum of diagnoses and access needs, to read supporting documentation from providers, and to understand the ever-evolving nature of the laws and regulations surrounding disability accommodations. Our work ensures an equitable experience for all students with disabilities on the 糖心vlog campus.<\/p>\n

If faculty provide an accommodation without proper documentation, other students can challenge your treatment as preferential. Also, by providing an unsubstantiated accommodation, you may set a pattern under which a student can claim to be \u201cconsidered as having a disability\u201d under the law. Therefore, when students approach faculty about disability issues, we strongly recommend you refer them to our office.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

I'm not sure how to accommodate a student. Can I discuss it with my colleagues or Department administration?<\/div>
\n

If you have questions about a student’s accommodations, we encourage you to reach out to the DRC for support – we are here to assist!<\/p>\n

Section 504 and the ADA are very specific regarding confidentiality issues. Students voluntarily affiliate themselves with the DRC, and we take our responsibility to protect their confidentiality seriously. The law permits dissemination of disability-related information on a \u201cneed-to-know\u201d basis only. Therefore, when we alert faculty, we are permitted to disclose only the existence, not the nature, of a disability and what accommodations are necessary to equalize access to learning for that student. Asking intrusive questions of the student, discussing the student\u2019s disability or access needs with others, or requesting\/requiring supporting documentation, no matter how well-intentioned, is a violation of federal law.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

How do students register with the DRC?<\/div>
\n

Students must self-identify to begin the registration process. The DRC uses an online database called AIM to administer accommodations. Students complete an online application and provide supporting documentation. Documentation is then reviewed and a DRC staff member is assigned as their Counselor. The student is contacted via email to schedule an intake appointment to discuss their academic accommodation plan further. During that meeting, the assigned DRC Counselor develops the accommodation plan and reviews the steps to notify faculty and request\/schedule specific accommodations (e.g., additional testing time, deadline extensions, etc.). Accommodations are not active until the student requests the Accommodation Notice in AIM.<\/p>\n

As a faculty member, you are not required to review or receive documentation to determine accommodations. Instead, a referral to the DRC is appropriate. The referral should occur in a private, confidential setting (e.g., email or during office hours) and can recommend the DRC as a support service. A sample email is included below. Feel free to adapt as applicable and appropriate:<\/p>\n

Dear Student:<\/p>\n

Thank you for your email regarding accommodations in this course. The Disability Resource Center (DRC) provides a variety of accommodations and support for registered students. Given the concerns in your email, I recommend registering with the DRC for further assistance. I included the link to the DRC website to begin the application process below: https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/disability-resource-center\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Feel free to contact the DRC with any questions.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

What are examples of accommodations?<\/div>
\n

The DRC provides a variety of academic and student life-related accommodations in accordance with supporting documentation and an interactive meeting. All accommodations must be requested by the student and provide supporting documentation and\/or forms. Accommodations are modifications made to minimize the discriminatory effects on learning for students with disabilities. The request must be reasonable, appropriate, and timely. Such an accommodation is not meant to decrease the standards for academic performance. Rather, the accommodation makes it possible for the student to learn the material and for the instructor to fairly assess the student\u2019s mastery of the material.<\/p>\n

Examples of Accommodations Include:<\/strong><\/p>\n