Accessible Electronic Content: A Message from Provost Robert Shelton

A Message from Provost Robert N. Shelton

M E M O R A N D U M

TO: All Faculty, EPA Non-Faculty and Staff Employees

FROM: Robert N. Shelton, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost

DATE: January 12, 2004

RE: Serving Students with Disabilities

I am writing to ask for your assistance. Federal and State laws require the University to make its programs and facilities accessible to students with disabilities. Students who seek reasonable accommodation for disabilities are required to identify themselves either to the Department of Disability Services [DDS] (in the Division of Student Affairs) or Learning Disabilities Services [LDS] (in the College of Arts and Sciences), depending on the nature of their disability. These offices will inform the students of the documentation needed to meet legal requirements, and their staffs have the professional training to determine reasonable and appropriate accommodations for each student.

In an effort to assist their students, individual faculty members and departments and professional schools may want to provide accommodations to students who have not identified themselves to DDS or LDS. Please inform your faculty and staff that, when approached by a student who seeks an accommodation based on a disability, they should refer the student to DDS or LDS as appropriate. Thereafter, one of those offices will work with your faculty and staff to determine what would be reasonable for that student, and assist with implementation.

To make it easier for University faculty and staff to direct students to the proper office, the functions of each office are described below. The services and accommodations provided by both offices are designed to meet the individual needs of the student and are provided at no charge.

Learning Disabilities Services [LDS] provides services and reasonable accommodations to currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate/professional students with documented learning disabilities (LD) and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The mission of LDS is to assist students in achieving their academic potential within the regular, academically competitive University curriculum. In addition to providing reasonable accommodations, LDS provides strategies instruction and ADD coaching to students. LDS also provides training and consultation to instructors and administrators. The office, located at 137 East Franklin Street, Suite 600, can be reached by telephone at (919) 962-7227 or through the web at http://www.unc.edu/depts/lds. Jane Benson is the Director.

The Department of Disability Services [DDS] provides services and reasonable accommodations to currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate/professional students with disabilities other than LD an ADHD. The mission of DDS is to provide students with disabilities equal access to University services, programs, and activities. Because these disabilities have an impact on the varying demands of University life, in and out of the classroom, DDS works with faculty, departments, programs and offices throughout the University. It also provides training and consultation to instructors and administrators. DDS offices in the basement of Steele Building can be reached by telephone at (919) 962-8300 (V/TTY), by email at disabilityservices@unc.edu, or through the web at http://disabilityservices.unc.edu. Jim Kessler is the Director.

Thank you for your cooperation and assistance in addressing this important issue. Your support enables University to provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations more efficiently to students with disabilities.