Accessibility and Disability Resources

Attendance Accommodation Guidance

Students affiliated with Accessibility and Disability Resources (ADR) may be eligible for an attendance accommodation in accordance with federal disability law. Due to the nature of the student’s disability, establishing individualized attendance expectations may be a reasonable accommodation. In some instances, modifying class attendance requirements may be a fundamental alteration of the course and therefore cannot be reasonably provided.a

Eligible students must request the accommodation each semester before the accommodation can begin. You will be notified of a student’s eligibility by receiving a Faculty Notification Letter.

How ADR Determines Attendance Accommodations

An attendance accommodation may be reasonable if the functional limitation of the student’s disability impacts their ability to attend class due to its episodic nature or intensive treatment regimen. To be eligible for this accommodation students must complete the formal process to receive accommodations through Accessibility and Disability Resources by providing verifying documentation of the necessity for the accommodation.

Verifying Disability Related Absences

A student’s diagnosis is considered private health information. In many cases students may not seek out medical care for each individual health crisis or flare-up. As faculty, you should not request medical documentation to verify student absences. Accessibility and Disability Resources can assist with verifying medically related class absences.

Completing the Attendance Accommodation Form

After a student has requested an attendance accommodation for your course, you will receive an email prompting you to complete an Attendance Accommodation Form. The purpose of this form is to communicate plans for providing the accommodation. The information provided applies to all students enrolled in the course section who have an attendance accommodation.

The link to the form will be on the letter with the accommodation.

If you receive a Faculty Notification Letter with wither of the following accommodations:

Modified Attendance
Exacerbation of disability-related symptoms might impact timeliness to class or ability to attend

A link will be provided for you to complete an Attendance Accommodation Form. By completing this form, eligible students are aware of your expectations. Information entered into the form will also be referenced in the event of any concerns about a student’s class attendance. Once completed, ADR will review and confirm the agreement. Both you and the student will receive email confirmation.

Important Questions to Consider

How do I determine if an attendance accommodation is appropriate for my course?

Is the course practical or experiential in nature?

How often does my course meet?

Is in class participation an essential component of the learning process or course grade?

How does establishing an attendance policy influence implementation of this accommodation?

Students are expected to attend class and as faculty, you have a right to establish attendance policies.

Please review the Information for Consideration of Attendance Accommodation on the Faculty Resources page of the ADR website prior to completing the Attendance Agreement Form.

Important note:

Please do not make any accommodations related to a student’s disability without having the Faculty Notification Letter from Accessibility and Disability Resources.

For assistance, contact ADR at 513-745-3280 or by emailing disabilityservices@xavier.edu.