Accessibility Services for Faculty & Staff

Research consistently shows that extended time benefits all students to some extent, but it is essential for students who may experience cognitive processing delays, anxiety, attention deficits, or other documented conditions that impact test-taking. It ensures that students can access and demonstrate their knowledge without being limited by the challenges related to disability.

Fairness and equity are often used interchangeably but have important differences. Fairness means ensuring everyone is treated justly, while equity recognizes that individuals may need different levels of support to reach the same outcomes. At Miami Law, we are committed to providing tailored resources and accommodations that meet each student's unique needs to ensure equal access and opportunity for all.

Accommodations are designed to mitigate the impact of a disability, not to give preferential treatment. Without accommodation, students with disabilities are at a systemic disadvantage.

Accommodations ensure that students have equal access to learning by removing barriers, not by changing course expectations or compromising academic standards. They are designed to support how students engage with their education, not what they are expected to learn.

Accommodations are grounded in federal law (ADA and Section 504), and providing them is not only ethical but legally required.

Accessibility Services, operating under the Office of Belonging, is committed to maintaining student privacy when discussing accommodations and strictly adheres to confidentiality requirements outlined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Information regarding students who receive disability services is confidential and protected. The Office will not release details about an individual's disability or related records to third parties. Requests for such disclosures will typically be denied.

Exceptions may apply when consultations with subject matter experts are necessary to determine appropriate accommodations. In such cases, Accessibility Services will first inform the student and obtain their written consent before sharing any information beyond the specific accommodations already approved or pending approval. Our priority remains preserving each student's right to privacy while ensuring they receive the necessary support.

Services primarily manages accommodations. Most accommodations, such as those involving testing or note-taking, are implemented directly by Accessibility Services as they do not typically require faculty or other staff members to be involved.

When accommodations require direct faculty involvement, such as adjustments to classroom participation, assignment formats, or instructional methods, Accessibility Services engages in thoughtful collaboration with the student, faculty member, and other relevant parties. These accommodations are not granted automatically; they are carefully reviewed and finalized only after consultation to ensure feasibility and uphold academic integrity, while still honoring the student’s rights and needs.

Accessibility Services serves as a liaison between students registered with the office and faculty and staff. While students may choose to disclose their disability or condition to faculty or staff, faculty and staff should refrain from making decisions regarding accommodations, deadline extensions, academic standards, or course-related exceptions based on that disclosure alone. Any student disclosing a disability or making a request related to it should be referred to Accessibility Services for appropriate guidance and support.

Accessibility Services will occasionally communicate with faculty as needed, particularly in cases such as rescheduling exams outside of standard procedures or when clarification is required to implement approved accommodations. If issues arise during testing, such as academic integrity concerns, behavioral disruptions, or procedural complications, the Director of Accessibility Services will report the matter to the Dean of Students and the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs for further guidance on how to proceed.