Syllabus Statement: Provide a statement in your syllabus requesting that students inform you of any specific need for accommodation to ensure that those needs are met in a timely manner. If possible, this statement should be read aloud to the class to assure that those students with print disabilities hear the information. This approach also demonstrates to students that you are sensitive to and concerned about meeting the needs of all of the students you teach. It further affords students the opportunity to make their accommodation needs known to you as early as possible in the semester. Accommodations should begin after receiving notification from DSS and you have had communication with each student to discuss how the accommodations will be provided and any other issues particular to each class. An example of an appropriate statement in a syllabus is as follows:
Both in compliance with and in the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we would like to work with you if you have a disability that will impact the work in this course. If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss reasonable academic accommodations, please contact your instructor in a timely fashion. Accommodations are not retroactive; they begin after notification. You may also contact the Office of Disability Services for Students at 269-387-2116 (or at wmich.edu/disabilityservices).