Environmental and mobility access accommodations can be coordinated for students on a case-by-case basis. Examples of environmental accommodations include:

• Preferential seating
• Occasional breaks during class
• Wheelchair accessible classroom/Lab/Activity space
• Wheelchair accessible desk/workstation
• Alternative seating
• Modified requirements for classroom participation
• Flexibility in attendance

Flexibility in Attendance

The "flexibility in attendance" accommodation requires the instructor's input to determine “reasonableness”.  Attendance is an important factor in student success.  Some students with chronic medical conditions, however, are not able to always adhere to a course’s attendance requirements.   Also, flexibility in attendance is a particularly important accommodation for some veterans, who are often dealing with complex medical issues requiring VA appointments whose timing they have no control over.  However, there are limits to flexibility, and there may be classes for which this accommodation is not reasonable.  Students are encouraged by the ODS to reach out to faculty members BEFORE the beginning of the semester, if possible, to discuss whether or not flexibility in attendance can be accommodated, and if so, what the limitations and logistics are.  Please contact the ODS if you have any questions or concerns about implementing this accommodation in your class.

Chemical Sensitivity

There are students on campus who experience debilitating reactions (such as migraines) to chemical exposure, including those found in commonly used personal products.  This will be noted in the Comment section of an Accommodation Agreement, and request that the instructor make an announcement to their class requesting that students refrain from wearing scented lotions, perfumes, colognes, and other body and hair care products to protect the health of chemically sensitive students.

Tips for Implementing Environmental Accommodations

• Contact the ODS as soon as possible to discuss appropriate and available accommodations.
• If you have a schedule and/or room change, please notify the ODS in advance or as soon as possible so that the office may coordinate any required accommodation arrangements.