How do I accommodate a student whose disability causes her to miss classes?
Determine to what extent class absences may fundamentally interfere with the student completing your course objectives and learning outcomes. In other words, consider if it is essential that all, most, or some classes be attended. The impact of absences depends upon the nature of the course; for example, missing classes in a science lab or an upper-division sociology course with regular group work may have a greater impact than missing classes in a lecture-only course. Consult with your campus disability resource office about note-taking services, exam accommodations (e.g., opportunities to reschedule missed exams), and if available, on-campus access assistance such as disabled parking and/or transportation (to reduce potential fatigue factors). It is important to note that you must not lower your academic expectations; ultimately, the student is responsible for gaining the knowledge and skills required in the class.
