Facts for Faculty from Student Disability Services
A Profile of Clemson Students with Disabilities
Typically students who receive services are students with invisible disabilities. For the last few semesters, that has
meant that almost 95 percent of students served by Student Disability Services (SDS) have no obvious or
discernible signs that foretell their needs.
Academic Accommodation Letters
Students with identified disabilities are apt to be in your classes this semester and to access
in-class accommodations they will present you with an Academic Accommodation Letter (AAL). This letter
stipulates the accommodations you are responsible for implementing to meet the identified needs. Needs listed in
the AAL are based in part on the medical or psychological documentation presented to the University, the
student’s stated needs, and the advice of the Disability Specialist. You and the student are to discuss how to
implement accommodations. Under the law, the student is under no obligation to discuss the nature of the
disability with you; only the in-class implications and needed accommodations.
Documentation
Students present documentation of the disability only to SDS. Please know that Clemson maintains an
exceptionally rigorous set of criteria for accommodations eligibility. Documentation is reviewed carefully and
accommodations are granted only when there is appropriate rationale.
Services Provided to Faculty
1. Consultation—The Student Disability Services (SDS) staff is always ready to provide consultation should
you have concerns about particular accommodations, are unsure how to implement an accommodation,
or are in need of materials or equipment to work with students.
2. Test Proctoring—The Test Proctoring Center is provided to help faculty members respond to requests
for extended time testing or testing in a reduced-distraction environment. The Test Proctoring Center is
located in the Academic Success Center Building, Suite 213. All administrative services for the Test
Proctoring Center are in the SDS office located in the Academic Success Center Building, Suite 239. The
process for using the center is as follows:
 The student will give you a Test Proctor Request form with their name filled in and signed.
 You and the student fill in the middle section with details for the testing environment - how
long, what can be used during the test, etc.
 You fill in how you will deliver the test to SDS. You can fax or email the form to us at 656-6849
or sds-l@clemson.edu or bring the test to the Academic Success Center Building, Suite 239.
 Make sure to tell us on the form how you want to get the test back. We can usually deliver the
next day or you can come pick it up or make other arrangements.
Know that if we catch a student violating the Clemson Academic Integrity Policy; we will notify you
AND the Office of Undergraduate Studies.
July 24 ,2012
3.
Note Taking—Many students qualify for note-taking services. You are required to provide note takers
only for students who have that as an accommodation on their AAL and who attend class and take some
notes on their own. We ask that you work with students to find someone in class who would be willing
to share their notes. In this process, be especially careful to not identify the student in any way.
Guidelines for finding note takers include the following:
 Please check with the student to clarify whether or not they want to interact directly with the
student who will be taking notes. If the SDS student is comfortable with meeting the note
taker, simply arrange for them to meet and set up a system for exchanging the notes. If the SDS
student is not comfortable with meeting the note taker, please make arrangements for notes to
be picked up in the departmental office or other environment that will allow the SDS student to
remain anonymous.
 Look on the SDS website for ideas on how to find or identify note takers.
http://www.clemson.edu/campus-life/campus-services/sds/forms.html
 We know that often you have classes full of students you don’t know. SDS can work with you to
find top quality note takers.
 At this time, we cannot pay note takers; it is totally a volunteer position. We will however,
provide documentation of the service for inclusion in a resume packet or graduate school
applications.
How Can You Help Students Access the Material in Your Class?
1. The most effective way to let students know that you are willing to help them in your class is to include a
syllabus statement that sends the message that you are approachable on this issue. The following has
been approved by Dean Murdoch for use on your syllabus:
 “Students with disabilities who need accommodations should make an appointment with me to
discuss specific needs within the first month of classes. Students should present an Academic
Accommodation Letter from Student Disability Services (SDS) when we meet. SDS is located in
the Academic Success Center Building, Suite 239 (phone number: 656-6848; email: sdsl@clemson.edu). Please be aware that accommodations are NOT retroactive and new Academic
Accommodation Letters (AALs) must be presented each semester.”
2. Familiarize yourself with the concepts of Universal Design in Learning, in Instruction, and in Assessment.
You may find the following websites helpful:
 www.udeducation.org
www.cast.org
www.washington.edu/doit/
3. Take the opportunity presented when the student brings you the AAL to discuss how the student learns.
Some are quite well informed and are pleased to share that information with you. If the student is more
reluctant or less well-informed, use the opportunity to draw them out and let them talk with you about
their school experiences to date. You’ll be amazed at how much they know even when they think they
don’t.
Thanks for your help in giving all students an equal opportunity to do well at Clemson. Please call on us if we
can help in any way.
Student Disability Services (SDS)
The Academic Success Center Building, Suite 239
656-6848 Phone
656-6849 Fax
sds-l@clemson.edu
On Facebook: SDS Clemson
Arlene Stewart, Ed.D., Director
Dede Norungolo, M.R.C., C.R.C, Disability Specialist
Francene Thomas, Test Proctoring Center Coordinator
Barbara Bottum, Access Specialist
Molly Sheils, Graduate Assistant
Chandra Sugalski, Graduate Assistant
Tambria Willingham, Graduate Assistant
July 24 ,2012