Disability-Related Absences FAQ

Who Is Eligible for Disability-Related Absences?

This accommodation may be approved for students with chronic physical or mental health conditions that involve unpredictable flare-ups or episodic symptoms. It is intended to ensure that students are not penalized when a disability-related exacerbation requires them to be absent from class.

What Does the Disability-Related Absences Accommodation Allow?

This accommodation permits a student to be absent from class, as needed, due to unpredictable disability-related circumstances without penalty to in-class participation or attendance-based grading.

If a disability-related absence occurs on the day of a quiz, test, or exam, the student should be allowed to reschedule the assessment without penalty.

The accommodation allows a student to exceed the number of absences otherwise permitted in the course syllabus, up to two times the standard absence allowance for the course.

What Is Not Provided by Disability-Related Absences?

Disability-related absences do not permit the following:

• Unlimited or automatic excused absences. This accommodation is not intended to excuse all absences without limitation.
• Retroactive approval of absences when no attempt is made to communicate with the instructor.
• Excused absences for reasons unrelated to a disability, such as work obligations, personal matters, or travel.
• Waiving or eliminating missed in-class requirements. Any quizzes, labs, or activities missed due to an absence must be completed at an alternate time when feasible.
• Relief from responsibility for course content covered during the absence. Students remain responsible for reviewing and completing missed material.
• Modifying or removing essential course engagement requirements that apply to all students.

How Can Students Communicate the Need for a Disability-Related Absence?

When a student experiences an unpredictable disability-related circumstance that prevents them from attending class, the student should:

• Notify the instructor as soon as they become aware that they will be absent.
• Inform the instructor that the absence is related to the use of an approved accommodation.
• Ask about any important announcements, assignments, or course materials covered during the class session. When available, students may request access to posted slides or other shared materials.

Students are not required to disclose medical details, diagnoses, or specific symptoms when notifying instructors of a disability-related absence. A brief statement indicating use of an approved accommodation is sufficient.

Example of appropriate student communication:

“I am registered with Disability Services and have an approved accommodation for disability-related absences. I am writing to notify you that I was unable to attend class on (DATE) due to disability-related reasons. Please let me know if there were any important announcements or materials I should review.”

If a student needs additional support with communication, documentation, or coordination related to a disability-related absence, they may contact Disability Services for assistance.

Why Are Students Expected to Notify Instructors Before Missing Class?

Disability-related accommodations are intended to be applied proactively and cannot be implemented after the fact. For this reason, students are expected to inform their instructors in advance whenever a disability-related condition may prevent them from attending class.

The College also recognizes that certain disability-related circumstances may limit a student’s ability to communicate ahead of time. In these situations, students should notify their instructor as soon as it is reasonably possible and may contact Disability Services for guidance or support if needed.

Is an Instructor Required to Respond or Approve the Absence Before Class for It to Be Excused?

No. Students are not required to receive advance approval from an instructor in order for a disability-related absence to be excused. The student’s responsibility is to notify the instructor that they will be absent and that they are making use of an approved accommodation.

As long as the student communicates in good faith and uses the accommodation appropriately, Disability Services will support the student in ensuring that their accommodation needs are recognized and addressed, even if the instructor does not respond prior to class.

What If a Disability-Related Issue Occurs at the Last Minute and the Student Cannot Notify the Instructor Before Class?

In some situations, the nature of a disability may prevent a student from communicating prior to class. When this occurs, the student is expected to notify the instructor as soon as they are reasonably able to do so.

Faculty are encouraged to respond with understanding and provide reasonable flexibility in these circumstances, provided that doing so does not fundamentally alter essential course requirements or academic expectations.

If additional assistance is needed to support communication or clarify the use of the accommodation, students may contact Disability Services for guidance and support.

What Happens When an Extenuating Circumstance Prevents Timely Communication?

In rare or serious situations, such as hospitalization or a medical emergency, a student may be unable to notify an instructor in advance. In these circumstances, the student should contact Disability Services as soon as they are able so that appropriate support and guidance can be provided.

Disability Services can assist with communication, documentation, and coordination as needed to help ensure the student’s access needs are addressed while maintaining academic standards.

Why Doesn’t Disability Services Facilitate These Conversations as a Standard Practice Instead of Using Guidelines?

Facilitating individual discussions between every student and each instructor for every disability-related absence would not be practical or sustainable on an ongoing basis. Instead, Disability Services provides clear guidelines to ensure that students approved for this accommodation receive a consistent, baseline level of flexibility across courses.

These guidelines establish a minimum expectation for how disability-related absences should be handled, reducing delays and minimizing the need for students to repeatedly negotiate access with instructors. When a situation requires flexibility beyond the standard parameters, Disability Services remains available to support case-by-case consultation and facilitate additional discussion as needed.

Does the Disability-Related Absences Accommodation Allow Remote Access to Fully In-Person Courses?

No. Students enrolled in courses or programs designated as in person are expected to meet in-person attendance and participation requirements. Providing remote access to a fully in-person course is not a standard accommodation offered through Disability Services.

Disability Services is not able to approve accommodations that would fundamentally alter course learning objectives or essential requirements. Courses with significant in-person components—such as labs, hands-on instruction, or discussion-based formats—often cannot be meaningfully converted to a remote format, regardless of disability-related needs.

Students who are interested in remote or hybrid learning options should consult with their academic advisor to explore available course formats or program alternatives.

Can Disability-Related Absences Cover Extended or Prolonged Periods Away From Class?

No. Disability-related absence accommodations are not intended to excuse extended or ongoing absences that would fundamentally alter essential course requirements, learning objectives, or academic standards.

This accommodation is designed to address occasional, unpredictable disability-related absences. It does not provide a comprehensive solution for situations in which a student misses more than a week of classes consecutively, accumulates a significant number of absences over the term, or is unable to participate in multiple course activities or assessments due to medical or other circumstances.

In these situations, students and instructors may need to discuss whether it is feasible to make up missed work while maintaining the pace and expectations of the course, outside of the accommodation framework. Disability Services may be consulted to assist with these discussions when appropriate.

In some cases, reasonable adjustments may not be possible without fundamentally altering the course. If a student chooses to remain enrolled under those circumstances, their final grade may be affected. Students may also need to consider alternative options, such as course withdrawal, when extended absences prevent meaningful participation.