illustration with three horizontal stripes of UM colors

ODE

Receiving student accommodation requests

Promptly address both official and unofficial accommodation requests from Ñý¼§Ö±²¥.

Official requests

  • Faculty will receive an official letter via the ODE portal, which serves as formal notification of approved accommodations.

Unofficial requests

  • If a student requests accommodations without an official letter, direct them to ODE before making any arrangements. This ensures consistency with university policy. 

Accommodation letter details

Accommodation letters are delivered electronically through the ODE portal (Accommodate) after Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ request. Faculty will receive an email notification when a letter is submitted, which can be reviewed in the portal.

Each letter includes:

  • Summary of approved accommodations 
  • Implementation guidance 
  • Information on fundamental alterations
  • Contact details for questions

Viewing accommodation letters

  1. Receive email notification: You will be notified when a student requests accommodations. 
  2. Log-in to the
  3. Access accommodation letters: Select Accommodation Letters on the left panel to view submitted letters. 

Responding and implementing accommodations

Students are advised to follow up with faculty after their letter was delivered. The follow up is to schedule a time to communicate implementation.

Step 1: Review the letter

  • Understand the student’s approved accommodations. 
  • Contact the student's access consultant with any questions (See Consulting with ODE below).

Step 2: Meet or discuss with the student

  • If the student hasn’t reached out to you, invite them to discuss how accommodations will be implemented. 
  • Use this discussion to clarify how accommodations will be applied in your course, collaborate on practical approaches, and establish clear expectations for communication and timelines.
  • Document any agreed-upon arrangements. 

Step 3: Implement the approved accommodations

  • Refer to the common accommodations page for guidance on accommodations.
  • Maintain confidentiality and treat all disability-related information.

Consulting with ODE

Contact the student's access consultant before taking action if:

  • You’re unsure how to implement an approved accommodation. 
  • A student requests accommodations not listed in their letter.
  • An accommodation may conflict with essential course requirements or policies.
  • You are considering denying an accommodation.

Addressing potential fundamental alterations

If you, as a faculty member, believe an accommodation may fundamentally alter an essential course requirement or academic standard, ODE will initiate the interactive process upon your inquiry. 

Step 1: Faculty inquiry

Contact the student's access consultant to discuss your concerns.

Step 2: Evaluation

The access consultant reviews relevant materials, such as the syllabus, and consults with you. If a reasonable alternative is identified, the consultant notifies the student and updates the accommodation letter.

Step 3: Collaborative review 

If needed, the access consultant and the assistant director may consult with faculty from the academic unit, department chairs, or other knowledgeable administrators to: 

  • Identify essential course or program requirements. 
  • Determine whether the requested accommodation is reasonable.
  • Explore alternative accommodations that meet the same learning objectives. 

Step 4: Decision notification

All relevant parties, including you and the student, receive the decision from the assistant director. If the requested accommodation is denied or modified, the notification outlines the reasons for the decision.



Students can request reconsideration from the director if they disagree.

Key reminders

  • Do not inform the student directly if an accommodation cannot be provided. Do contact the access consultant to discuss essential course requirements and explore alternative accommodations.
  • Do not request disability documentation from Ñý¼§Ö±²¥. Do reach out to the access consultant with with questions or concerns.
  • Do not provide unapproved accommodations. Do consult with the access consultant if implementation challenges arise.