Accommodation Requests for Remote Learning

The Office of Accessibility, and leadership at The University of Akron, has been reviewing and assessing pandemic related accommodations. Specifically those in relation to the remote delivery of traditionally on-ground, in-person courses. Since the campus has transitioned back to the delivery of traditionally on-ground, in-person courses, and as the pandemic winds down, The University of Akron is moving back completely to regular operation and the options for remote and online classes are becoming more limited at the institution. We cannot guarantee that all courses can be designed and delivered in a remote format. The delivery method is determined by the instructor and academic department of record in conjunction with University leadership, and program design. Although student feedback might be considered during course and program design and implementation, the delivery method is not determined by the student.

Recommendations for students seeking remote learning options

Students unable to attend classes in-person due to disability-related concerns should speak with their academic advisor or, if no general education advisor is listed, speak to the chair or dean of their college to better understand the delivery and modality of their chosen academic program. To aid in this conversation we recommend the following:

Review remote course options and sections for their current schedule.
If a remote section exists but it is full, and there are no alternate courses available, students should email their academic advisor, and CC their assigned Disability Specialist, the course number, section, and instructor information so we can work together to assess options for advocacy or admittance to the course with the academic department. Students should note, that advocacy from the Office of Accessibility must be supported by disability documentation.
If no remote options exists for the course(s), students should evaluate options for an alternate course schedule that would provide remote access while continuing to meet their program requirements and support their matriculation through their academic program.

If on-ground, in-person courses are the main mode of delivery in a student’s chosen degree, students should consider this factor and determine if they are able to meet the requirements, including the mode of delivery of courses, and meet the requirements of the program.

Please note, the delivery method of the course might be synchronous or asynchronous depending on the nature and format of the course.
The delivery method is determined by the instructor and academic department of record in conjunction with University leadership, and program design. Although student feedback might be considered during this process, the delivery method is not determined by the student.

If the course cannot be delivered in a truly equivalent or equitable manner, the request for advocacy for remote learning will be denied due to not being a reasonable request.

In these instances, Office of Accessibility will assess other potential accommodations to provide access to on-ground, in-person courses and campus programming. Example: Provision of priority seating, attendance considerations, etc.
Students should consult with their academic advisor to modify their schedule if they cannot attend courses where remote access is not possible.

Eligibility Information for Students Seeking Advocacy for Remote Learning

When possible, and with supporting documentation, Office of Accessibility staff will work with the instructor, academic program, and student to explore if there is flexibility and resources to permit a student to enroll in on-ground, in-person courses but via virtual attendance.

Students must be aware that this consideration requires a robust interactive process between the student, instructor and/or academic program, and the Office of Accessibility. As a result, this type of academic advocacy will often be different than those that have been used when accessing traditional classroom accommodations and therefore students should initiate remote learning advocacy by meeting with a Disability Specialist at least one semester prior to the scheduled start date of the on-ground, in-person course(s) for which they are seeking an alternative delivery mode. The Disability Specialist will consult with the student, instructor, and academic department, as needed to determine what is required by the student to perform functional requirements of the course.
It should be noted that a typical classroom accommodation letter will not automatically be sent in the event advocacy for remote learning is being requested. Any formalized accommodation plan, for the independent classes, will only be considered and implemented after the student has gone through the above-mentioned steps, and flexibility of the delivery mode for the student is deemed to be warranted.

For students to be approved for advocacy for remote learning they would need to upload current, disability-related documentation of their disability(ies) to STARS completed by a qualified professional. The Office of Accessibility has specific guidelines available on our website or in Simmons Hall 105. The Office of Accessibility will not accept disability-related documentation from treatment professionals who are related, in any way, to the student requesting services. Students are encouraged to contact their Disability Specialist with questions or to discuss the process of submitting additional documentation.

The documentation must verify that they would experience a severe health consequences, including hospitalization or death, as a result of being in on campus spaces.
Difficulties with transportation cannot be a reasonable purpose for requesting remote learning accommodations.
In the event remote learning is approved for a course, students should be aware that in most cases they may need to navigate to campus for some in-person occurrences related to the course (i.e. testing services, group work, access to equipment, etc.)
When remote learning is being used by a student they will need to understand that The University of Akron, along with the Office of Accessibility, are not responsible for the provision and maintenance of appliances, equipment, and services like computers and internet service.