Accommodations: What are they? How are they determined? How are they provided?
Accommodations are academic adjustments, resources and/or equipment that allow a Rice student with a disability to have equal access to academic programs, and to share in full participation with the Rice university community.
Accommodations are made on an individual basis and are based on the functional limitations posed by the disabling condition(s).
The accommodation process at Rice is guided by policy number 402, Access and Accommodation for Individuals with Disabilities
Accommodations may include, but are not limited to:
- Sign language interpreters
- Captioning services (CART)
- Extended time on examinations
- Distraction-reduced examinations
- Specialized software
- GENIO (note-taking)
- Bookshare (text to speech)
Accommodation letters are developed collaboratively by a Student Support Specialist of SDRC and the student with a disability using the documentation as an important piece of the process. These letters are for the student’s professors and indicate recommended accommodations. The nature of individual courses and course requirements varies, e.g. labs versus lectures. A disability may impact some classes differently than others, which requires an individualized plan.
Accommodations are not retroactive.
Students at Rice who need to request an accommodation are encouraged to refer to the Disability Documentation Guidelines. These guidelines help Rice students and their families know what information is needed to establish eligibility as a student with a disability that necessitates accommodations.