Disability and Access Services (DAS) is responsible for ensuring that students with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. This includes, but is not limited to, academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and services.
This office is not responsible for advocating for the personal preferences of students. The goal of the accommodation process is to properly balance the interests of the student with those of the Institute.
This process attempts to ensure that student requests are considered in a manner which is both expedient and effective. The need for accommodations depends upon the student’s disability and academic program, and because those factors may change during the course of a student’s education at MIT, the student accommodation may be subject to review and adjustment from time to time.
The determination of what specific accommodations will be provided is based upon an evaluation of the individual student’s documentation, personal experience, and academic requirements.
Reasonable requests are determined on the basis of:
- Legitimate documentation of a student’s disability by a relevant professional
- Communication with the student and faculty member(s)
- The student’s past academic accommodations history
- Accepted practices of service providers in higher education
- Legal precedent
Accommodations that are determined to have a negative impact on the academic integrity of the educational program (e.g. those that would fundamentally alter the program of study) will not be honored.
Student Responsibilities
A student with a disability has certain rights under Section 504, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Amended Act of 2008 (ADAA), including the right to reasonable accommodations that reduce the effects of a disability on accessing programs and services at MIT. With this right comes the responsibility to follow certain procedures developed by the Institute to ensure that reasonable requests for accommodations are addressed in an effective and timely manner. It is the student’s responsibility to clearly identify who is arranging the logistics of the accommodations (i.e. the instructor, department, TA, or the DAS).
Students must request accommodations so that DAS is afforded a reasonable amount of time to review and evaluate the request and provide the necessary accommodations. Additional details are available for specific accommodations including alternative exams, materials in alternative formats, note taking, and instructional modifications. If difficulties arise in obtaining accommodations or there are concerns related to this process, it is the student’s responsibility to contact DAS and the relevant faculty member/instructor immediately.
Please note that the accommodations listed here does not represent an exhaustive listing. DAS staff members are available to discuss any specific accommodations that are not on the list.
Extended Time: As a standard practice, an allocation of time-and-one-half may be given as the extended period.
Under certain circumstances it may be appropriate to increase the allotted amount of exam time, for example in cases where the student’s accommodation requires the use of technology aids, scribes or readers; or when the student’s documentation clearly supports the need for an extraordinary amount of extended time.
In courses and/or programs in which student performance within a prescribed time period is considered to be an essential academic requirement, the Institute has established that, as a general rule, students do not have the right to untimed exams or to an unlimited amount of time for exams.
Scribes: Scribes are instructed to write verbatim as dictated by the student with the disability. Scribes must protect the integrity of the exam and not use their own words, interpretations, provide prompts, or suggest answers to the student.
To request the assistance of a scribe, you are responsible for completing the Exam Accommodation Form [link] at least two weeks prior to the exam, allowing DAS staff, the faculty member or the academic department reasonable time to provide the necessary accommodation(s).
Distraction Reduced Setting: To request a distraction reduced test setting, you are responsible for completing the Exam Accommodation Form [link] at least two weeks prior to the exam, allowing DAS staff, the faculty member or the academic department reasonable time to identify an appropriate location.
DAS employs a peer note taking system. The Disability and Access Services accommodation letter, delivered by the student, through written notification, will inform the instructor that a student may need assistance in selecting a note taker.
Requesting Academic Accommodations
Accommodations may include, but are not limited to: additional time on exams, accessing the exam through an alternative medium, note takers in class, and materials in an alternative format.
Students must provide DAS staff with documentation that:
- Identifies the disability and its functional limitations
- Specifies the requested accommodation(s)
The student must make an appointment with DAS staff to review the documentation provided and assist in determining appropriate accommodations. At that time, the student must complete the reasonable accommodation request form, which is required to begin receiving accommodations. DAS will provide assistance in completing forms if requested.
DAS will prepare an accommodation letter outlining the accommodations for which the student has been approved. The letters are prepared for specified faculty members/instructors who have been identified by the student. This letter will be based on the student’s documentation and their completed form.
The student must make an appointment with each faculty member/instructor during office hours to provide them with the accommodation letter and discuss their accommodation needs. Students are strongly encouraged to interact directly with faculty/instructor regarding their accommodation needs. DAS has identified an individual within each academic department who serves as a logistical coordinator/DAS liaison; assisting students and faculty with the implementation of accommodations. Students must deliver an accommodation letter to the Department Logistical Coordinator.
If issues or problems arise during the planning stages of providing accommodations, the student and faculty member/logistical coordinator must contact the DAS staff immediately to resolve the problem.
Students must follow all accommodation procedures in order to acquire auxiliary aids and academic adjustments. The staff of DAS are available to explain the procedures and assist students as needed.
If at any time students feel their accommodation requests are not being fulfilled properly, the student should notify DAS immediately. If necessary, students may also file formal complaints through the appropriate grievance procedures.
DAS will make every reasonable effort to fulfill accommodation requests made by students, as well as direct students to appropriate resources and services on and off the MIT Campus. However, instances may arise when certain accommodation requests cannot be fulfilled due to their nature. For example, the Institute generally will not provide untimed exams, personal attendants, individually prescribed devices, typists, readers or tutors for personal use or study (beyond the Institute’s program), or other devices or services of a personal nature.
Confidentiality
The knowledge of a student’s disability is confidential. Information is provided at the student’s request or with a signed consent on a “need to know” basis only. This typically means that DAS will share information related to the student’s accommodations request for reasons directly related to the request or for personal safety. Please contact the DAS staff if further clarification is needed.
Requesting Your Approved Accommodations
Students must submit their request for approved accommodations each semester in a timely manner.