Off Campus Academic Accommodations

Study Abroad

The office of Student Disability Services (SDS) and the Center for Global Education (CGE) provide joint support for students with disabilities who are interested in participating in an off-campus study program. SDS works with any SDS student to plan for potential academic accommodations or other disability-related needs abroad, regardless of disability diagnosis.
Students need to be aware that disability laws differ outside the USA so level of accessibility and accommodations vary among programs and countries; flexibility may be needed. In some situations, transportation, technology, architecture, and overall infrastructure may be inaccessible to people with certain types of disabilities. For this reason, students need to disclose to SDS their disability-related needs as early as possible in the application process.  This allows adequate time to assess needs, determine possibilities, and identify locations that are conducive to the student’s disability-related needs, and make any necessary advance arrangements. While students with disabilities are expected to take an active role in initiating a discussion about their intention to participate in an off-campus study program, assistance is available in helping students determine program fit, course selection, and ways in which personal needs might be addressed.Additionally, traveling abroad with prescription medication can require considerable planning well ahead of time.  Some countries have specific guidelines that must be followed in order to lawfully bring medications into the country.  It can require advance planning and communication with both clinicians and insurance companies to ensure a student has enough medication to last the duration of their program abroad.  For guidance on these processes, it is especially important that students consider engaging in discussion with SDS as soon as possible ahead of a study abroad program.Each student’s situation is unique and must be reviewed on an individualized basis in order to help ensure a successful experience.  It is important for students to engage in an honest self-assessment regarding the disability, to anticipate any potential issues that could occur, and to develop a plan for managing the disability while away from campus. Without appropriate advance planning, there is increased potential for a problematic experience. Interested students with disabilities should follow the process below:

• Register for services through Student Disability Services (SDS) in Jordan Hall 136 if not already registered.
• Plan early and communicate individualized needs to SDS so staff can assist throughout the entire application process.
• Attend orientation and informational sessions hosted by CGE in order to fully research and explore options.  Start gathering information about how disability-related needs will interface with the resources available in particular locations and programs.
• Participate in individualized planning meetings with staff members from CGE, SDS, and other relevant members of the university community. These meetings are vital in that they assist students in identifying potential areas of concerns and allow for broad discussion between the student and individuals who are experienced in facilitating off-campus services and accommodations for students with disabilities. Meeting(s) will be arranged by SDS after the student provides notification about intent to participate in an off-campus study program.

Students may be asked to sign a written release allowing disclosure of disability-related information to relevant third parties as needed. Depending on the circumstances, this could include sharing information with individuals abroad. Students should be prepared to discuss medical and physical needs, level of support needed, as well as medications that will be needed abroad, so a determination can be made as to whether or not those needs can be adequately met outside the USA.

Internship Accommodation Procedures

Butler University is committed to providing equitable access to individuals with disabilities, including in off campus academic ventures such as an internship, practicum, clinical rotation, or student teaching site. The internship/practicum accommodation procedures are designed to set out a clear process for students to request reasonable accommodations for practicums/field placements and internships (i.e., practicum experiences tied to a specific course/program as well as internships that count for Butler academic credit). If a student is participating in an internship/practicum that is not Butler affiliated, Student Disability Services staff can assist in coaching the student how to disclose disability status and/or request accommodations.

SDS approved classroom accommodations do not automatically transfer to an internship, practicum, clinical rotation, or student teaching site. Sites do not receive student accommodation letters and are not automatically informed of a student’s disability status.

Additionally, some accommodations that are appropriate in a classroom setting may not be appropriate in an internship setting. Accommodations at sites are determined in collaboration with the Butler on-campus coordinator of the internship, practicum, clinical rotation, or student teaching site, and may vary based on setting, work requirements, etc. to ensure fidelity of essential experience functions and/or technical standards.

Students are encouraged to reach out to SDS to set up internship, practicum, clinical rotation, or student teaching accommodations as soon as the need arises or is anticipated. There is no deadline to request internship/practicum accommodations, but accommodations are not retroactive.

Accommodations for internships (LSB, CCOM, LAS, etc.)

• Should a student feel they need accommodations at their internship site, the student should contact Student Disability Services to determine the best course of action. Students can contact SDS by email at sds@butler.edu, by phone at (317)940-9308, or in person by visiting Jordan Hall 136 to initiate this process.
• If appropriate, the student may be required to sign a release, allowing SDS to be in communication with their Butler affiliated internship coordinator.
• SDS can coach the student how to request accommodations in the internship placement.
• An internship site may require that students submit documentation of their disability. If a student needs a copy of their disability documentation, please contact SDS.
•  Additionally, if a student needs accommodations in an academic course that corresponds with their internship, students can seek out academic accommodations through Student Disability Services. SDS will then engage in the interactive process with the faculty member to determine reasonable accommodations in this course.

Accommodations for clinical placements (pharmacy, PA, etc.), student teaching, or practicums

• If a student needs an accommodation in a clinical placement, practicum, or student teaching, the student is responsible for initiating the process of requesting these accommodations with SDS. Students can contact SDS at sds@butler.edu, (317)940-9308, or visit Jordan Hall 136 to initiate this process.
• The student will then be required to sign a release, allowing SDS to be in communication with their academic program director and/or their clinical or student teaching site.
• As with all disability related accommodations, internship accommodations will be determined on an individual, case-by-case basis depending on:

1.  The extent to which the submitted documentation supports the need for an accommodation, and
2.  The individual requirements, fundamental nature, and essential elements associated with the internship.

In some cases, SDS and the student’s Butler internship coordinator may suggest that all relevant campus entities convene with the on-ground internship/practicum supervisor to discuss the logistics of accommodations in the field.

SDS, the on-campus internship coordinator, and the student will all consider the following questions to equitably assess the student’s accommodation request. SDS will assist in determining the answers to the following questions:

• What are the goals or essential functions of the internship? What does it look like to successfully complete the internship?
• With the student’s requested accommodation, can the student meet the goals or essential elements of the internship?
• Are there specific technical standards the student is required to meet in the internship experience? What accommodations might provide access for the student to showcase mastery of these standards without compromising the essential elements of the internship?
• How is the student’s learning assessed in the internship?
• Did the student sign a contract or agreement with the internship site? If so, what does the contract require? If there is a class associated with the internship, what does the syllabus require?
• How does the student’s work in the internship impact the work, experience, or health and safety of others?

Through this interactive process, SDS, the student, and other relevant entities will come to an agreement on reasonable and appropriate accommodations for the setting in question. Depending on the individual circumstances, SDS may issue an internship-specific accommodation letter, with student permission, to Butler internship coordinators as well as non-Butler on-site supervisors.

Once accommodations are put in place at an internship, practicum, clinical rotation, or student teaching site, it is the student’s responsibility to reach out to SDS if an adjustment to their accommodations is needed.

Please contact Student Disability Services at sds@butler.edu, (317)940-9308, or visit Jordan Hall 136 with any questions.

More information to come.

More information to come.

Process for Obtaining Accommodations at IUPUI

Students enrolled in the Engineering Dual Degree Program (EDDP) are considered visiting students at IUPUI when taking classes on IUPUI’s campus. Students must register with IUPUI’s Adaptive Educational Services (AES) office should they need accommodations in classes taught on IUPUI’s campus. Accommodations approved by Butler’s Student Disability Services (SDS) office DO NOT automatically apply to classes held at IUPUI’s campus. Below are the steps to register with AES:

1. Contact SDS at sds@butler.edu to set up a meeting to discuss obtaining accommodations at IUPUI. Students will need to initiate this process during the advising period the semester before they begin taking classes on IUPUI’s campus. In most cases, this will be during the Spring semester of Sophomore year, but remain in contact with your Butler advisor to determine when you will be taking classes at IUPUI.
2. Meet with an SDS support staff member and sign all appropriate releases for SDS to communicate with AES regarding previously approved accommodation. SDS will send a copy of the student’s Butler accommodation letter to AES as documentation. AES will review the accommodation letter and let the student and SDS know if any additional information is needed. AES will honor Butler approved accommodations as is reasonable and appropriate for IUPUI’s campus and classes. Depending on the accommodations requested, the student may need to submit documentation from a qualified clinician in order to be eligible for accommodations at IUPUI. SDS can send all documentation on file to AES with a signed release from the student.
3. AES will reach out to the student via email to schedule an intake meeting with the student. The student is responsible for scheduling the intake meeting with AES and is not fully registered or eligible to use accommodations at IUPUI’s campus until the intake meeting and all required releases are complete.
4. Once all releases have been signed, AES will create a hybrid accommodation letter and send it to SDS via sds@butler.edu. This letter can also be shared with the student’s IUPUI faculty by student request.

Please note that IUPUI’s AES office DOES NOT automatically send out accommodation letters on a student’s behalf as Butler’s SDS office does. Students must request to have their accommodation letter sent to their IUPUI faculty through AES’s accommodation management system called Accommodate each semester.

Using Approved Testing Accommodations

If a student is approved for testing accommodations at IUPUI, the student will request to use their testing accommodations on IUPUI’s campus through Accommodate. If the class is hosted on IUPUI’s campus, the student should take the exam at IUPUI, not on Butler’s campus. Any questions or concerns about testing accommodations hosted by IUPUI should be directed to AES at aes@iupui.edu.

If a student is taking an EDDP class taught by IUPUI faculty, but hosted on Butler’s campus, students should request to use their testing accommodations through SDS in their my.butler account. When completing the SDS Exam Request form, students should send their exam requests directly to their IUPUI professor using the professor’s IUPUI email address. Students will need to select “OTHER” in the “Instructor’s Email” drop down of the SDS Exam Request form. If a student selects the wrong email address, SDS cannot guarantee timely administration of accommodations.