Accommodations for Graduate Students with Disabilities

Student Disability Resources (SDR) assists with the process of determining reasonable accommodations for allstudents with disabilities (temporary or permanent, visible or hidden) at Penn State, including graduate students. Anystudent seeking accommodations is encouraged to do so as soon as possible to determine reasonable accommodations in a timely manner.

Student Disability Specialists for Graduate Students

To demonstrate their commitment to supporting graduate students, Student Disability Resources recently initiated a graduate school liaison model to provide services tailored specifically toward the complex needs of graduate students with disabilities, and to better support graduate department heads, faculty, and staff. These specialists can be found below:

• Susan Anderson, team lead (sma17@psu.edu or 814-863-1807)
• Cheryl Anderson, doctoral student liaison (cha3@psu.edu or 814-863-1801)
• Kathryn Costley, master’s student liaison (kaa6072@psu.edu or 814-863-1807)

These designated disability specialists work closely with the SDR executive director to articulate and enact graduate student reasonable accommodations while partnering with faculty and staff in the Penn State J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School. This team approach assists faculty and staff in implementing accessible educational environments, including the classroom, research settings, graduate assistantships, and unique components of graduate programming. Graduate students currently being advised by other specialists can request to be advised by a graduate student liaison. Please contact Leah Zimmerman, SDR executive director.

These graduate roles are newly developed and evolving as SDR is committed to graduate students and those supporting them. All three SDR graduate team members are open to discussing the needs of students, faculty, departments, and staff, and coordinating efforts with the Fox Graduate School. Susan, Cheryl, and Kathryn welcome your suggestions and recommendations for improvements as we navigate the graduate landscape.

Types of Accommodations for Graduate Students

Graduate students are engaged in several different types of activities throughout their education, and Student DisabilityResources can assist with providing accommodations across all aspects of work during a graduate education. You can review the different areas in which SDR can provide accommodations below.

Please note that determining reasonable accommodations is an involved, interactive process between the multiple parties. Examples shown below only capture a small snapshot of some types of accommodations that may be provided depending on a student’s needs, and they are by no means comprehensive or what may fit a particular student.

Graduate Assistantships

Student Disability Resources can provide accommodations when financial support is given to graduate students engagedin teaching, research, or other assistantship-associated work. Accommodations for graduate students engaged in a graduate assistantship is determined by Student Disability Resources in consultation with the graduate student’s supervisor and/or graduate program.

If a student who receives accommodations from SDR is failing to make sufficient academic progress, decisions about ongoing funding support would include the graduate program, SDR, and the Office of General Counsel.

Examples include

• accessible furniture for office or workspace,
• assistive technology,
• alternate devices or assistance performing lab or clinical tasks, and
• change in work schedule.

Coursework

Student Disability Resources can provide accommodations for coursework required by graduate programs. This includesall aspects of coursework, from lectures to assignments and exams. The process begins with providing faculty with anaccommodation letter from Student Disability Resources.

Please note that accommodations are not retroactive. For example, you cannot ask to retake an exam, redo anassignment, etc. from the past after providing faculty with an accommodation letter; accommodations may only beprovided for all future coursework. This emphasizes the need for the student to begin the registration and interactive process as soon as possible.

Examples include

• extended time on exams,
• notetaking assistance,
• assistive technology,
• captioning,
• classroom accessibility, and
• flexibility (assignment due dates, absences, rescheduling exams).

Lab, Fieldwork, and Clinical Work

Accommodations can be determined by Student Disability Resources in consultation with site supervisors and/or the student’s graduate program.

Examples include

• accessible lab, field, or clinical sites;
• assistive technology (speech-to-text commands, tactile markings, large print displays, magnification lenses, or digital zoom capability);
• modified equipment or lab procedures (accessible lab instrumentation, adjustable desks/stool);
• flexible scheduling for labs or clinical rotations; and
• recording discussion, or using paper/pen to take notes.

Qualifying/Comprehensive Exams

Accommodations for major exams required by graduate programs are determined by Student Disability Resources in consultation with the graduate program and/or associated committees.

Examples for written and/or oral components include

• flexibility for extended time for the completion of the written portion of the comprehensive exam beyond thestandard (i.e., two additional days—48 hours—to complete the written exam);
• structured notes for use during exam;
• recording discussion, or using paper/pen to take notes;
• permission to have oral Q&A questions written out by the examining committee in real time (e.g., student's useof iPad or another device); and
• closed format (e.g., private meeting) rather than public.

Thesis/Dissertation

Accommodations for thesis and dissertation work required by graduate programs is determined by Student DisabilityResources in consultation with the graduate program and/or associated committees.

Examples of support/accommodations include

• additional or more frequent drafts for feedback and review (i.e., research, thesis, proposal defense, dissertationdefense, timelines for due dates, etc.);
• greater frequency of committee reviews or scheduled supervisory meetings (i.e., biweekly, monthly);
• guidelines, expectations, and conduct for committee/supervisory relationship and communications;
• preparation of a structured agenda for defense;
• opportunity to take breaks during defense;
• receipt of both oral and written feedback;
• flexibility with deadlines/benchmarks; and
• assistance with Academic Improvement Plan by department, if indicated.

Registration Process

The registration process is as follows:

1. Contact Student Disability Resources to schedule an intro appointment. The student must initiate services to begin the process.
2. Complete the Student Disability Resources online intro and provide documentation. Documentation is necessary to substantiate disability status and establish federal protection. SDR can assist with identifying resources for obtaining a diagnosis, if necessary.
3. Engage in interactive process to determine reasonable accommodations for specific graduate program component (see “Types of Accommodations,” above). This can occur at any point during a program, but accommodations cannot be provided retroactively.

Issues with Accommodations and Discrimination Complaints

If you encounter conflict or issues with being provided reasonable accommodations, please contact your disability specialist or Student Disabilities Resources. They can assist with providing further consultation, education, and mediation of conflicts arising around accommodations. You can also direct others to directly contact SDR about any questions around providing reasonable accommodations.

Penn State's stance on intolerance and nondiscrimination is established in University Policy AD91. Students who believe they have been discriminated against may contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access.