Appalachian State University
Rights and Responsibilities
TO ASSURE EDUCATIONAL ACCESS FOR STUDENTS WITH
DISABILITIES
Consistent with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) of 1990, it is the policy of Appalachian State University that "no qualified individual with a
disability in the United States shall be excluded from, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to
discrimination under any program or activity that receives federal financial assistance.”
Examples of accommodations and auxiliary aids include, but are not limited to: interpreters, note takers,
extra time for exams, exams in alternate format (i.e. Braille, audiotape, electronic format, and enlarged
print).
Educational access is the provision of classroom accommodations, auxiliary aids and services to ensure
equal educational opportunities for all students regardless of disability. Creating equal educational
opportunities is a collaborative effort between the student, the faculty member and Office of Disability
Services (ODS).
Contact Information:
Office of Disability Services
Suite 003 Anne Belk Hall
ASU Box 32158
Boone, NC 28608
828-262-3056 (office)
828-262-7804 (fax)
www.ods.appstate.edu
Maranda R. Maxey, Director
maxeymr@appstate.edu
Courtney K. McWhorter, Assistant Director
mcwhorterck@appstate.edu
The Office of Disability Services (ODS) assists eligible students and employees who have documented
disabilities by determining and coordinating reasonable academic and/or workplace accommodations.
Individuals seeking reasonable accommodations are responsible for providing the ODS with current,
comprehensive documentation to support the request for reasonable accommodations. Documentation of
a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis Due to the confidential nature of such
documentation; individuals eligible for reasonable accommodations are responsible for showing a copy
of their Accommodation Plan to their instructors or supervisors and explaining the impact of the
requested accommodation(s) within the University classroom, program, place of employment, or
campus-wide activity.
Appalachian State University
Student Rights and Responsibilities
Students have the RIGHT to:
Students have the RESPONSIBILITY to:
Accommodations
Accommodations
Request reasonable accommodations due to a
disability to the Office of Disability Services
(ODS).
Submit documentation meeting university
guidelines substantiating the need for reasonable
accommodations. Reasonable accommodations
are determined by current documentation of a
substantially limiting disability and outlined via
the student’s Accommodation Plan. ODS is the
only office designated to review disability
documentation and determine eligibility for
reasonable accommodations.
Meet with instructors to discuss approved
reasonable accommodations via their
Accommodation Plan and any other concerns.
Receive reasonable accommodations in a timely
manner.
Grievance resolution related to the determination
of eligibility for reasonable accommodations
and/or the provision of disability-related services
and/or accommodations through ODS and are
entitled to prompt and equitable resolution of their
complaints through the Office of Equity, Diversity
and Compliance (www.edc.appstate.edu).
Confidentiality
Share only their Accommodation Plan and not
details of the disability with instructors.
Expect all disability-related information to be
treated confidentially
Share their Accommodation Plan with
professors and discuss how to gain access to the
approved reasonable accommodations in
advance. For example, students and professor
will need to discuss and determined if approved
alternate testing accommodations will be given
by the professor or in the Alternate Testing
Program.
Meet course/program technical and performance
standards and be evaluated in the same manner
as other students.
Notify faculty and ODS if accommodation(s) is
no longer needed. For example, a student
decides not to use extended time on a final
exam.
Notify faculty and ODS immediately when an
accommodation is not being provided.
Follow established policies and procedures in
order to gain access to approved reasonable
accommodations.
Confidentiality
Meet with instructors to confidentially discuss
approved reasonable accommodations via their
Accommodation Plan and any other concerns.
Appalachian State University
Faculty Rights and Responsibilities
Faculty have the RIGHT to:
Faculty have the RESPONSIBILITY to:
Accommodations
Accommodations
Expect the student to initiate accommodation
requests.
Establish and communicate essential course
requirement and objectives.
Request verification of a student’s eligibility for
requested accommodations. Verification will be in
the form of an Accommodation Plan prepared by
the Office of Disability Services (ODS).
Provide accommodations only to students who
are registered with ODS and been approved for
reasonable accommodations.
Expect all students to meet course/program
technical and performance standards and be
evaluated in the same manner.
Confidentiality
View a student’s Accommodation Plan. Faculty do
not have the right to ask students if they have a
disability or about the nature of a disclosed
disability. However, if students choose to disclose
their disability, this information must be treated
confidentially.
Use a syllabus statement and class
announcements to invite students to disclose
their needs.
Ensure that class materials are accessible (e.g.
be ready for a request for alternate format,
closed caption videos, etc.).
Confidentiality
Treat and protect all disability-related
information as confidential medical information.
For example, keep printed items such as emails
or conversations regarding student disabilityrelated information private.
Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University (ASU) Rights and Responsibilities
ASU has the RIGHT to:
ASU has the RESPONSIBILITY to:
Documentation
Documentation
Request documentation meeting university
guidelines substantiating the need for reasonable
accommodations for an individual with a
disability.
Collect, evaluate and securely house disability
documentation within the Office of Disability
Services (ODS).
Accommodations
Expect students and faculty to work cooperatively
with ODS to facilitate accommodations.
Deny unreasonable academic accommodations,
adjustments, and/or auxiliary services.
Accommodations cannot impose undue hardship
to, or fundamentally alter, a program or activity of
the college.
Not provide reasonable accommodations/services
until appropriate documentation has been provided
and the student has completed registration with
ODS.
Confidentiality
Communicate relevant information,
accommodations, services/assistance to university
officials on a need to know basis.
Determine eligibility for services and prepare
Accommodations Plans.
Accommodations
Determine and coordinate reasonable
accommodations in collaboration with the
instructor and student.
Confidentiality
Treat and protect all disability-related
information as confidential medical information.
Meet with the student privately in an accessible
location to discuss disability-related needs.