Dartmouth College is committed to providing access to programs for all students. There are many ways in which faculty can assist students in the classroom who have learning, physical, or psychiatric disabilities.
A specific learning disability may affect, mildly or severely, one or more areas of academic performance while leaving other areas relatively unaffected. Specific difficulties are frequently encountered with foreign languages, mathematics, reading and with certain examination formats regardless of subject area. A student may experience severe difficulties in one area, yet attain a high level of achievement in another. A student may, for example, experience enormous difficulty in foreign language courses, especially in drill sessions, while excelling in mathematics. The learning disabled student at Dartmouth most often reveals his or her disability through poor performance (and associated frustration and anxiety) in spite of high motivation and many hours of study.
Some students, especially those with hidden disabilities such as learning disabilities, epilepsy, hearing loss or depression, may be hesitant to approach faculty members to discuss their disabilities openly. The statement below may help to bring about better communication between students and faculty on disability-related matters. To facilitate this open dialogue, please make the following announcement in your class and include it on your course syllabus:
"Students with disabilities enrolled in this course
and who may need disability-related classroom accommodations are encouraged to
make an appointment to see me before the end of the second week of the term.
All discussions will remain confidential, although the Student Accessibility
Services office may be consulted to discuss appropriate implementation of any
accommodation requested."
When meeting with you, the students should be able to show you a completed "Accommodations/Consent Form," which lists academic accommodations recommended for the student by Student Accessibility Services. This form serves as verification that the student is registered for disabilities services. On the reverse side of the disability registration form is a copy of the handout that students receive outlining information and advice for arranging accommodations.
If a student does not present a disability registration form, please refer the student to the Student Accessibility Services department in Collis 301. In the absence of this form, we ask that you consult with Student Accessibility Services before acting on any accommodations the student requests.
If you are working with any student and suspect there may be reasons for an accommodation, or have any other questions about working with students with disabilities, please contact Student Accessibility Services.
If you are a faculty member, especially visiting faculty, who is on campus for the upcoming academic year and are not aware of Dartmouth's disabilities policies, please contact your department chair or Ward Newmeyer, the Director of Student Accessibility Services for more information.
Address: 6173 Collis Center, Suite 301, Hanover, NH 03755
E-mail: student.accessibility.services@dartmouth.edu
Phone: (603) 646-9900
Fax: (603) 646-1629
