Reasonable Accommodations

Definition of Reasonable Academic Adjustments, Auxiliary Aids and/or Services

An academic adjustment is a modification or adjustment to regular academic procedures that minimizes or eliminates the impact of a student’s disability on learning--for example, a student with a disability affecting processing speed may need extended time to take tests. A reasonable academic adjustment is one that does not require a substantial change in the curriculum or alteration of any essential elements or functions of the course--for example, allowing a student extended time to take a test does not alter the curriculum, but giving a student an oral test could alter essential features of some courses.

The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 require an institution to make reasonable academic adjustments for those individuals with qualified disabilities who self identify. To determine reasonable adjustments, Office for Disability Services seeks current documentation of the student’s disorder/impairment, as well as information from appropriate University personnel regarding essential standards for courses. Academic adjustments are determined on a case-by-case and course-by-course basis following general ADAAA and Penn State University guidelines, which are found on the "Helpful Web Sites" at the end of this web page.

For further information regarding academic adjustments in higher education, refer to this web site from the Department of Education.