Focus on the Accommodations, Not the Disability

Students have a right to privacy around their accommodations

Students also have the right to be the one to disclose -- or not to disclose -- those accommodations. So how do clerkship directors and other instructors tell staff about accommodations?

Student Accessibility Services recommends the following language:

“We do have a student with a disability on our rotation, and they have these accommodations.”

That’s it. There’s no need to mention the student by name.

When the student in question arrives for their class or their rotation, they will take the lead on making sure they have those accommodations that have been agreed-upon with the Health Sciences Disability Coordinator.

And remember: valid accommodations are documented accommodations. Only provide those accommodations that have been agreed-upon by Student Accessibility Services and the student.

If questions about existing or additional accommodations arise during the rotation, reach out directly to the Health Sciences Disability Coordinator to make sure everyone’s on the same page with access.

Confidentiality

All disability-related information a student discloses about their diagnosis remains confidential. Discussions between SAS and a health science staff member is only on the accommodation, not the disability.