Some disabilities are episodic, fluctuate over time, or may periodically affect a student's ability to attend class, participate in course activities, complete assignments, or meet deadlines.
When authorized by SAS, Disability-Related Absences and Deadline Extensions provide flexibility when disability-related impacts create barriers to attendance or timely completion of coursework.
These accommodations may apply to assignments, quizzes, and exams when disability-related impacts interfere with a student's ability to meet established deadlines.
These accommodations are intended to support equitable access while maintaining the essential requirements and learning outcomes of the course. Students remain responsible for participating in the course and completing all required coursework.
Disability-related absences and deadline extensions apply only when the absence or need for additional time is connected to the student's disability and authorized accommodation.
Students interested in this accommodation must be registered with SAS and meet with a SAS counselor to explore their request related to this accommodation.
To determine whether Disability-Related Absences and/or Deadline Extensions are appropriate, SAS counselors review documentation and engage in an interactive process with the student regarding disability-related barriers, course participation, attendance, and assignment completion.
If authorized, the accommodation will be listed on the student's accommodation form.
Because disability-related impacts and course requirements vary, implementation of these accommodations is individualized and may require ongoing communication with SAS.
Students are generally expected to follow course attendance requirements, deadlines, and syllabus policies. However, some disabilities may occasionally interfere with a student's ability to attend class, participate in course activities, complete coursework, or meet deadlines.
When authorized, these accommodations may provide:
- Flexibility with disability-related absences.
- Limited flexibility with assignment deadlines.
- Individualized implementation through collaboration among the student, instructor, and SAS.
These accommodations are not intended to waive coursework, lower academic standards, or eliminate essential course requirements.
This accommodation does not apply to absences or requests for deadline extensions that are unrelated to a disability.
Examples may 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.
- 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 counselor can assist with communication and implementation.
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 agreed-upon communication processes and timelines.
Deadline extensions are intended for disability-related situations and should be used only when necessary. They are not intended to function as automatic extensions for every assignment, quiz, or exam.
Occasionally, disability-related impacts may require additional time beyond the amount initially authorized on the accommodation form.
When this occurs, students should contact SAS as soon as possible to discuss their situation with a SAS counselor.
Following this discussion, SAS may:
- Authorize additional time.
- Recommend an alternative approach.
- Facilitate a discussion involving the student and instructor.
- Develop an individualized plan moving forward.
Students should be aware that attendance, participation, sequencing of coursework, assignment deadlines, and group-based learning activities may be essential components of some courses.
Students should be aware that authorization of this accommodation does not guarantee that missed coursework, participation opportunities, quizzes, exams, assignments, or other time-sensitive learning 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 cannot 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 instructors are encouraged to work collaboratively with SAS to explore available options and determine an appropriate course of action.
If absences become excessive or deadline extensions substantially affect course participation or progress toward course outcomes, instructors 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 in course activities, or complete coursework by established deadlines.
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 Faculty Resources page 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
