Disability Documentation and Disclosure

Students with disabilities who request or qualify for reasonable accommodations must submit the appropriate documentation and have it remain on file throughout their enrollment at the UCI Disability Services Center (DSC). This documentation is confidential. UCI-DSC is responsible for determining the appropriate accommodations after consultation with the student. In rare cases when adjustments in academic requirements may be appropriate, the Disability Services Center consults with the academic department or school for proper review.

Students are responsible for directly contacting their instructors during the first week of each course to identify themselves, the nature of their disability, and accommodation needs. Students are not expected or required to provide faculty with detailed documentation about their disabilities. It is, however, appropriate for faculty to request that the student provide verification that he/she is registered with DSC and of the required accommodations for the course.

The large majority of UCI students with disabilities have non-visible disabilities - learning disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, low vision, partial hearing loss, psychiatric disabilities such as major depression, and permanent medical conditions such as diabetes, multiple chemical sensitivities, Crohn’s Disease, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome, or carpal tunnel syndrome.

Some disabilities or the side effects of medication may result in marked fluctuations of behavior, performance, or stamina. It is not uncommon that a student with a disability such as this will need an accommodation on one occasion but will not need it at another time.

Students with disabilities who may need reasonable accommodations for any sort of visible or non-visible disability are invited to make an appointment with DSC.

Auxiliary Aids and Accommodations

University policy, State and Federal law require that students with disabilities be provided with effective and timely auxiliary aids and accommodations. For faculty, this means that when students with verified disabilities self-identify to you or request appropriate accommodations, you should immediately begin to work with them and the Disability Services Center (DSC), if necessary, to implement the aids or accommodations that will allow students to participate in all programs and activities on the same basis as students without disabilities.

DSC offers initial disability screenings to students who suspect their difficulty in the academic setting may be related to a disabling diagnosis. Assessment of Learning Disabilities, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD), Psychological Disabilities, and Acquired Brain Injuries are provided to students who need a comprehensive evaluation by a qualified licensed professional. The student is responsible for the expense of disability documentation and for providing documentation, which is appropriate and commensurate with the university's guidelines.

Following is a partial listing of services, auxiliary aids, and reasonable accommodations offered by UCI and DSC. All of these services are provided by DSC at no charge to the students. There must be a documented, disability-related need for provision of a service or accommodation. There are written procedures for the services and accommodations and it is the student's responsibility to contact DSC to discuss and review the procedures. UCI and DSC reserve the right to determine the most appropriate and effective disability accommodations after consultation with the student. The provision of any disability service or accommodation does not ensure or guarantee a certain level of success or achievement for the student on any test or in any course.

Early syllabus (to arrange readers or taped textbooks)
Disability management counseling
Advocacy for appropriate and reasonable accommodations
Note taking assistance
Readers, textbooks on tape, reading course handout material,
Enlarged print material
Part-time enrollment or reduced course load, extended time for completion of degree requirements if necessary
Document conversion (print material to large print, Braille, cassette tape, computer disk, scanning)
Tutoring (certain limits and procedures apply)
Testing accommodations (extended time, readers, taping of exams, computer access, large print, separate space, completing scantron answer sheet, writing assistance)
Special seating in classes
Consulting with students or professors about disability accommodations for courses
Screening interviews and referral for students suspected of having learning disabilities or Attention Deficit Disorder, or other types of disabilities (the student is responsible for providing or paying the cost of any documentation or assessment)

Testing Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities who request or qualify for reasonable accommodations must submit the appropriate documentation and have it remain on file throughout their enrollment at the UCI Disability Services Center (DSC). Testing accommodations may be appropriate for written exams, in-class writing assignments, pop quizzes, or oral exams.

It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Course/Clerkship Director of special accommodation needs 30 days prior to the examination. Depending on the disability-related needs of the student, testing accommodations may include:

Extended time
Reading or writing assistance, taped exam
Alternate format (convert to Braille, large print, cassette tape, converting an oral test to written format, reading responses into tape recorder)
Computer access
Accessible writing surface
Accessible test site, and accessible seating
Special equipment (tape recorder, CCTV, special lighting, magnifiers, earplugs)
Quiet test space or space with minimal distractions
Completing scantron answer sheet
Rest period

DSC can verify the types of testing accommodations appropriate to each student. Students and faculty should first discuss accommodation needs. Some faculty prefer to administer exams in their own office/department; if this is done, then faculty are responsible for all scheduling, space, or other accommodations needed, such as proctors, readers, computer access, quiet space. In these cases, the faculty is also responsible for ensuring that students receive the proper and fair accommodations.

While there are numerous testing accommodations that may be appropriate or legally required, there are some, which may be inappropriate, unfair or not legally required. This sometimes depends on how the class is tested and how the student with a disability can most effectively demonstrate their knowledge. Some testing arrangements not generally recommended by DSC as disability accommodations unless the method or procedure is offered to, or required of students without disabilities in class include:

Unlimited time for tests
Oral exams when other students in class have a written test
Different tests for students without disabilities
Clarification of test questions
Taking test at a different time or on a different day than the class
Take-home exams

For more information on disability laws, please refer to the publication “University of California Policies Applying to Campus Activities, Organizations, and Students - Section 140.00: Guidelines Applying to Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability” available on the Disability Services Center website.

Procedures for Accommodating Students with Disabilities

The student is to identify himself/herself to the course director at least 30 days in advance of the examination. No retroactive accommodations will be granted.
The course director is to contact the Associate Dean for Students to obtain verification of the student’s request.
The student is to contact DSC to obtain written documentation of his/her disability and to determine the appropriate accommodations.
The student is then responsible for informing the Associate Dean for Students and the course director of the determined accommodations.
The course director will make accommodations for the student. However, in certain cases, the course director may request that the Disability Service Center (DSC) administer and proctor exams in order to assure that the prescribed accommodations are received. If this is the case, the course director will so notify the student.
The student is responsible for insuring that accommodations letters are updated annually through the DSC.

The SOM exam schedule is available at the beginning at the academic year so you are able to submit your request(s) well before DSC deadlines; last minute testing accommodations are made at the discretion of the DSC. It is required that you schedule an exam when that same exam is being administered to the rest of the students. It is imperative to arrive at the DSC testing center promptly at your scheduled testing time.

Please alert the DSC when the exam is a National Board of Medical Examinations (NBME) web-based exam. Advise the DSC to contact the Director of Student Affairs to insure the DSC proctor is familiar with the NBME proctoring software. You will need to contact the Director of Student Affairs to insure that the name of the DSC proctor can be provided in the NBME system when ordering the exam. Also, confirm the DSC can provide a laptop computer for you.

The office also operates a Disabilities and Computing Lab that provides adapted computer technology including speech output, scanning, screen magnification, Braille printout, special software for learning disabled students, and Braille and Speak machines. The Lab has adapted technology for PCs and Macs. Staff members can refer you to other services on campus that may be helpful, and they can assist you with government and community agencies, as necessary.

All buildings at UCI are accessible to wheelchairs. Housing and dining facilities accommodate students in wheelchairs.

For specific information regarding special services for disabled students and campus accessibility, please refer to the brochure “Disability Services Center” available free from their office.

RELATED POLICIES, FORMS AND LINKS

Disability Services Center

Rev. 4/25/2019