Academic advisors are integral to fulfilling the teaching and
learning mission of Butler University, and as such are valued
partners in our joint efforts to support and empower students with
disabilities. The office of Student Disability Services offers the
following questions and answers to concerns often shared by
academic advisors working with students with disabilities.
How do I advise a student with a disability?
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Students with disabilities have qualified for admission under
Butler University's regular admission requirements, and as such
will require the same support and services offered to any of your
advisees. If the student is registered with the office of Student
Disability Services and has given SDS written permission to do so,
advisors will receive a copy of the student's accommodation letter
each semester. This letter will document the accommodations the
student is eligible to receive including accommodations that may
impact class scheduling such as a reduced course load or the need
to schedule classes with regard to regular mealtimes.
Is a student required to divulge the nature of the disability?
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No, students are not required to tell advisors or
instructors the nature of their disability or to provide copies of
their disability documentation. Some students are comfortable
sharing with their advisors the functional limitations of their
disability; some students are not.
If a student says he or she is registered with our office,
but you have not received a copy of his or her accommodation
letter, please contact Michele Atterson in Student Disability
Services at 940-9308.
What are some guidelines regarding confidentiality of disability-related information?
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Any information, documentation, or issues related to the
student's disability including a student's accommodation letter
must be considered confidential. This information cannot be shared
with a third party without the student's written permission. You
should not expect to see diagnostic information for a particular
student. Any discussion that you have with a student about his or
her disability and/or accommodations should be in a private
setting.
What might be some disability-related reasons my advisee requires a reduced credit hour load?
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Typically, extended time for degree completion results from a
legitimate disability related need for reduced course loads. For
some students, reducing the number of credit hours attempted in a
given semester is an accommodation that gives them the "equal
access" guaranteed by the law. There are many reasons why students
with disabilities may need to request a reduced course load.
- Students with physical/medical disabilities may have to devote
an unusual amount of time or effort toward the activities of daily
living and may request a reduced course load to have adequate time
for studying, projects, term papers, etc.
- Students with chronic medical disabilities may request a lower
credit hour load in order to ensure they have time built into their
daily schedule for medical treatments, physician's appointments,
and clinic time.
- Students with sensory impairments may rely on alternate media
for processing their assignments and thus will require additional
time to complete course requirements.
- Students who have learning disabilities, traumatic brain injury
or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder may need to enroll in
fewer courses so they can focus their energies and attention and
work with tutors on coursework that directly impacts their
particular disability.
Not all students with disabilities need reduced credit hour
loads, nor do they necessarily require these reductions every
semester. There is no reason to grant an academic load below the
usual number of credit hours for full-time status if a student's
disability does not impact his/her academic courses.
What do I do if I suspect one of my advisees has a learning disability?
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If you learn that your advisee is experiencing academic
difficulty, and you suspect it may be due to an undiagnosed
disability such as a learning disability or Attention
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, you are encouraged to privately
refer him or her to the office of Student Disability Services,
Jordan Hall 136. You might ask the student if it would be helpful
to speak with someone to explore the possible reasons for the
academic challenges the student is experiencing but never attempt
to diagnose or imply that the student has a disability.
The student would then make an appointment with Student
Disability Services to discuss his or her academic difficulties by
calling our office at 940-9308 or stopping by our office, JH 136.
If warranted, we will suggest that the student pursue a full
evaluation with an outside professional. We do not test for
learning disabilities or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
at Butler University, but we do have a number of resources and
referrals we can share with the student. We may also refer the
student to campus resources such as the Learning Resource Center or
the Butler University Counseling Center.
As with other aspects of college life, it is ultimately up to
the student to contact SDS. Once the suggestion is made, he or she
is free to follow up or not.
What do I do if an advisee discloses that he or she has a disability but has not registered with Student Disability Services?
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Advisors are encouraged to
refer students to the office of Student Disability Services if any
aspect of a student's university experience is adversely affected
by a disability. However, students with disabilities cannot be
required to register with Student Disability Services.
Students who are experiencing
difficulties and who do not have a documented disability will need
to seek documentation in order to be eligible for accommodations
and services through the office of Student Disability Services. SDS
can help a student with the procedure for documenting a
disability.