Information for Faculty

Federal laws define disability as a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as walking, hearing, seeing, learning, and working. Individuals with disabilities must be qualified for an educational program or job in order to be eligible for "reasonable accommodations" that ensure equal opportunity.

RPI notifies all incoming freshmen, transfer and graduate students that if they have a physical, psychological or learning related disability (such as dyslexia or attention deficit disorder) they should contact Disabled Student Services. Students must provide documentation to DSS to substantiate any special assistance they request. It is important to note that student disability information should be treated confidentially, on a "need-to-know" basis.

If a student requests assistance such as extra time to take exams, or other disability related requests, they should also present to you a memorandum from Disability Services for Students verifying their request. This assures you that their disability has been documented and their request is consistent with federal equal opportunity regulations. If a student does not have a memo authorizing assistance, you should refer them to Disabled Student Services in the Dean of Students Office.

If you have any questions about providing assistance to a student with a disability, contact Debra Hamilton, Disability Services for Students, at 276-2746 or dss@rpi.edu.

Most students with disabilities at RPI have a learning related disability [link to LD & ADD] such as dyslexia or attention deficit. You might find it helpful to consult Teaching Tips for LD Students [link] or Why is extra time necessary? [link]

Two federal laws, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, require that all institutions of higher education provide reasonable accommodations to qualified students with disabilities.

In the classroom, examples of reasonable accommodations might include special seating, sign language interpreters, FM assistive listening systems, adapted laboratory or computer equipment, large print exams, notetakers, a non-distracting test area, and extra test time. Because people with similar disabilities may require different kinds of assistance, each student's needs must be treated individually.