Some disabilities are episodic, fluctuate over time, or periodically affect a student's ability to attend class, participate in course activities, or complete coursework by a scheduled deadline. This accommodation is designed to provide flexibility during those times, while maintaining the essential requirements and learning outcomes of a course.
This accommodation actually covers three related but distinct kinds of flexibility. They're grouped together because they often apply to the same students and the same underlying disability-related need, but each works differently in practice and they may authorized individually and not all together.
Understanding the differences helps students know what to expect and helps instructors implement the accommodation(s) consistently.
Disability-Related Absence Flexibility
Flexibility with attendance and in-class participation when a disability-related episode
prevents a student from attending class.
Assignment Deadline Extensions
Extensions on assignments, typically authorized in increments (such as up to 24, 48,
or 72 hours).
Quiz and Exam Extensions
Flexibility with the timing of a scheduled quiz or exam attempt. This works differently
than an assignment extension because of scheduling, proctoring, and testing center
logistics, so it doesn't follow the same fixed increments. More detail is provided
below.
Students interested in these accommodations must be registered with SAS and meet with a SAS counselor during their Welcome Meeting or schedule an appointment with a SAS counselor to discuss the need for this accommodation if it has not been previously authorized.
During this conversation, you and the SAS counselor will discuss how your disability impacts attendance and your ability to meet assignment and quiz/exam deadlines.
To determine which accommodation(s) are appropriate, SAS counselors review documentation
and engage in an interactive conversation with the student about their disability-related
needs, course participation, attendance, and assignment and testing patterns. Additional
documentation may be requested in order to authorize these accommodations.
If authorized, the accommodation(s) will be listed on the student's accommodation
form, specifying which type(s) apply.
Because disability-related needs and course requirements vary, implementation is individualized
and may involve ongoing communication with SAS.
Disability-Related Absence Flexibility
Students are generally expected to meet course attendance requirements. However, some
disabilities involve episodes that can occasionally make it difficult to attend class
or participate as scheduled. When authorized, this accommodation allows disability-related
absences without the standard attendance penalty, and supports a plan for staying
connected to course content missed during an absence.
Assignment Deadline Extensions
When authorized, students may request additional time on assignments. Extensions are
typically granted in defined increments, commonly up to 24, 48, or 72 hours, as specified
on the student's accommodation form. This accommodation is not intended to be a blanket extension for every assignment. Students request it on an as-needed basis when a disability-related episode interferes
with a specific deadline.
Quiz and Exam Extensions
Quiz and exam extensions are authorized for students who may experience episodic symptoms
that can unpredictably interfere with completing a scheduled quiz or exam. Because
these episodes don't always follow a predictable timeline, this accommodation is intentionally
more flexible than the defined increments used for assignment extensions.
We ask students and instructors to plan around this shared understanding:
- Quiz and exam attempts should be completed as soon as the student is reasonably able.
- In practice, most quiz and exam extensions are completed within 1 to 2 business days
of the original deadline. This reflects typical experience. Actual timing also depends
on factors like APC/SAS testing center open hours (Monday thru Friday), scheduling
and proctor availability.
- Because it can be hard to predict how long an episode will last, some students may reasonably need more than 1 to 2 business days. When that happens, the student should contact SAS as soon as they're able so we can work with the student and instructor on a plan.
These accommodations does not apply to absences or extensions that are unrelated to a disability.
Examples include:
- Routine illness
- Transportation difficulties
- Family vacations
- Scheduling conflicts
- Other non-disability-related circumstances
When absences or extension requests are unrelated to a disability, students are expected to follow the policies outlined in the course syllabus.
Successful implementation of this accommodation depends on communication and collaboration among the student, instructor, and SAS. Students are encouraged to discuss the accommodation with instructors as early as possible during the semester.
Students are not required to disclose disability-specific information to instructors in order to utilize their approved accommodations.
Communication Planning
Students and instructors are encouraged to discuss:
- How disability-related absences will be communicated (and how much advance notice,
if any, is realistic).
- Preferred communication methods, such as email, Canvas messaging, phone, or another
agreed-upon method.
- Plans for completing missed assignments, activities, quizzes, or exams.
- Whether early access to assignments or discussion boards may be helpful.
If a student is uncomfortable discussing the accommodation directly with an instructor, the student may request support from SAS. In those situations, a SAS can help facilitate that communication.
If an instructor does not respond to a student's request for discussion within three business days (72 hours), the student should contact SAS for assistance.
Students authorized for this accommodation are responsible for:
- Initiating communication with instructors regarding implementation of the accommodation.
- Notifying instructors as soon as reasonably possible when disability-related impacts
affect attendance or assignment completion and working toward completion of all required
coursework and course objectives.
- Working with instructors to make up missed assignments, quizzes, or exams when appropriate.
- Following the communication process and timelines agreed upon with the instructor.
Attendance, participation, sequencing of coursework, assignment deadlines, and group-based learning activities may be essential components of some courses.
Authorization of this accommodation does not guarantee that missed coursework, quizzes, exams, or other time-sensitive activities can always be recreated, rescheduled, or made up. In some courses, attendance, participation, assignment sequencing, group work, or specific deadlines may be essential requirements that can't be modified without fundamentally altering the nature of the course.
If questions arise regarding implementation or whether an accommodation may affect an essential course requirement, students and faculty are encouraged to work with SAS to explore available options and determine an appropriate path forward.
If absences become excessive or if extensions begin to substantially affect a student's course participation or progress, faculty are encouraged to contact SAS to discuss available options.
Disability-Related Absences and Deadline Extensions provide flexibility when disability-related impacts affect a student's ability to attend class, participate, or complete coursework by an established deadline, through three different forms: absence flexibility, assignment extensions (definied increments), and quiz/exam extensions (typically 1-2 business days, with more time possible when needed).
These accommodations are intended to support equal access while maintaining academic standards and essential course requirements.
Faculty can support implementation by:
- Discussing the accommodation with the student in a confidential setting.
- Establishing a communication plan for disability-related absences and extension requests.
- Identifying how missed coursework, quizzes, exams, or participation requirements will be addressed.
- Communicating concerns as early as possible when attendance or deadlines may affect essential course requirements.
- Contacting SAS when questions arise regarding implementation or if absences become excessive.
Essential Course Requirements
Faculty are not required to modify essential course, program, service, or activity requirements.
Faculty Considerations
Factors that may be considered include:
- Whether attendance, deadlines, and late-work policies are applied consistently.
- Whether participation and attendance are essential methods of learning within the course.
- Whether assignments must be completed in sequence before students can progress to future course content.
- Whether missed participation may affect required group work, collaborative learning activities, labs, presentations, or other interactive course requirements.
- Whether alternative approaches may be available that provide access while preserving essential course requirements.
Questions regarding whether an accommodation may affect an essential requirement should be discussed with SAS before limiting or denying implementation of an authoized accommodation.
Faculty partnership matters. Your collaboration helps ensure disability-related access while preserving the integrity of course learning outcomes and academic standards.
Faculty who have questions or concerns about implementing this accommodation, or who believe it may fundamentally alter an essential course or program requirement, are encouraged to review the and contact the SAS counselor listed on the student's accommodation form or SAS for consultation and support at (760) 795-6658 or sas@miracosta.edu
