Faculty Information

Teachers College is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to students that have identified voluntarily as having a disability under the federal civil rights law, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  

Academic accommodations are adjustments to the way things are usually done that provide an equitable academic opportunity for students with disabilities. 

• Accommodations are designed to remove disability related barriers and provide access to courses and programs. 
• Accommodations must be reasonable and not alter the fundamental nature of the program or course.  
• Students are responsible for requesting academic accommodations each semester that they wish to receive.

• Notetaking assistance
• Exam accommodations
• Sign language interpreters
• Accessible documents and content
• Flexibility related to assignments, deadlines, attendance, etc.
• Use of assistive technology 
• Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART) 

Faculty typically receive a letter about a student’s accommodations when a student in their course is registered with OASID as a student with a disability.  Specific information about a student’s disability is kept confidential.  

• OASID can send these letters at any point in the semester. 
• OASID encourages faculty to reach out to the student directly upon receipt of this letter to discuss how these accommodations will be implemented within the scope of each course.
• While OASID bears the primary responsibility for facilitating these academic support services, we recognize that equitable access can only be achieved through a partnership between our Office, the student, and faculty members.

Faculty are an integral part of providing accommodations to students at Teachers College. Accommodations are determined on an individualized basis and are meant to allow a student with a disability equitable access to a course or academic program. 

 An accommodation should not compromise the essential elements of a course, and your input as the instructor is valued in this determination. 

 If you have concerns about recommended accommodations as they apply to your course, please contact OASID.

Students that disclose a disability:

The student should be directly referred to OASID by informing them that OASID can provide academic accommodations to students with disabilities that could help support them in your course.

• Give the student our contact information (oasid@tc.edu) and direct them to the OASID website to begin the registration process, including submitting medical/clinical documentation and an intake meeting with an OASID staff member.

Students that do not directly disclose a disability:

If a student is struggling and you suspect they may have a disability but have not disclosed it to you, do not suggest they might have a disability. Instead, we recommend that you provide the individual with information about the variety of resources available at TC. Students struggle academically for various reasons and may benefit from the services offered by campus offices.

• It is appropriate to privately inform the student about OASID, as well as other offices on campus, like Student Health and Wellness, that may be able to support them.
• Providing these resources allows the individual to seek services they believe may benefit them on their own to maintain their privacy. 
• The student will then decide whether to follow up and register with OASID. 
• Some students have a disability (such as a learning disability or a mental health condition) they may not be aware of. Others are aware they have a disability but choose not to disclose it.

NOTE: The student must voluntarily contact OASID, and it is ultimately at their discretion whether they would like to officially register as a student with a disability.