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Disability Support Instructor Portal

Introduction to the Portal

The Office of Student Disability Support (OSDS) uses an accessible database system to support accommodations processes. This system has portals for students, instructors, and OSDS staff. 

Instructors of students registered with the OSDS can use the Disability Support Instructor Portal to view students' approved accommodations, provide testing materials and instructions, and complete flex plans. 

Viewing Students' Approved Accommodations

Students that are registered with the OSDS notify their instructors of their approved accommodations with a Faculty Notification Letter. Instructors receive the Faculty Notification Letter over email. Instructors can also see a list of the Faculty Notification Letters they’ve received this semester in the Disability Support Instructor Portal. 

Accommodated Testing

Main campus students with testing accommodations can take their assessments in the OSDS Accommodated Testing Center. To efficiently and correctly administer exams, instructors must provide all testing instructions and materials through the Disability Support Instructor Portal. 

Please note: Washington College of Law instructors do not use the Accommodated Testing section of the portal.

Course Instructions Form

Course Instructions Forms are questionnaires that instructors fill out to inform the Accommodated Testing team how to administer exams for their class. It includes contact information, exam details, permitted materials, and return methods. Instructors must complete this form before students are able to test in the accommodated testing center. We recommend instructors fill out their course instructions form for every class at the beginning of each semester. 

Exam Date Information

In the portal, instructors can add the dates and durations of each scheduled assessment in their course. They can also add any instructions that are different from the course instructions form and upload exam files. We recommend instructors complete exam date information for all scheduled exams throughout the semester for each class at the beginning of each semester.

Uploading Exam Files 

To ensure the Accommodated Testing team is able to accurately and efficiently administer exams with accommodations in place, we require all instructors to upload any exam files at least three calendar days in advance of the exam date. Exam files can be uploaded either to specific exam dates or specific student appointments. 

Student Scheduling Guidelines 

The Accommodated Testing Center operates 9 AM- 5 PM Monday-Friday. Students are instructed to schedule exams as close to the original exam time as possible. All students are required to schedule an exam with the Accommodated Testing Center at least 5 calendar days in advance. Instructors cannot schedule an exam for students.  

If a student is unable to schedule an exam during the original exam time due to overlapping classes or exams occurring while the Accommodated Testing Center is closed, students are instructed to schedule their exams as close to the original time as possible. Students should work with their instructors to find an agreed upon time to take exams.  

Yes, if the online exam is taken in person. A completed Course Instructions Form for the class is required for any exam taken at the Accommodated Testing Center. If the exam has different instructions than noted on the Course Instructions Form, the exam date information also needs to be completed at least three days in advance. 

No, students should notify their instructors at least a week ahead of time if they want to use their accommodations on a take-home exam. The instructor is then responsible for updating the student’s testing time. 

If all the exams for a course are take-home, the instructor can note this in the Exam Management Method of the Course Instructions Form. 

All exam files must be uploaded at least three days in advance. If instructors have questions or concerns about meeting this deadline, they should reach out to the Accommodated Testing team in advance to find a solution that is reasonable for both the class schedule and Accommodated Testing Center processes.

Yes, the Disability Instructor Portal only allows one upload at a time, so instructors need to upload and submit one file at a time. 

Academic integrity is upheld in numerous ways while students are testing in the Accommodated Testing Center. All students are instructed to store everything not needed for exams, including smart technology, into lockers before they check in.  

If a student is using a laptop, the Accommodated Testing team ensures they close all tabs not needed for the exam and disconnect Wi-Fi if not needed for their exam or accommodations. While testing, students are monitored by a proctor in the room or by a live video proctor who also takes regular laps in the testing room.  

If any academic integrity concern is noted, the Accommodated Testing team contacts the instructor promptly. 

If a student has a question during the exam, the Accommodated Testing team will attempt to reach the instructor using the contact information from the Course Instructions Form. Typically, a phone call is the most efficient contact method to quickly answer a student's question. If the team cannot reach an instructor by phone, they will leave a voicemail and follow up with an email. The team requests that instructors are available while students test in the Accommodated Testing Center to ensure an equitable experience for students registered with accommodations

If a student misses the five-day deadline, the Accommodated Testing Team gives them two options. The team instructs students to reach out to their instructors to request to take the exam at a later date or ask if instructors are able to provide accommodations themselves. Instructors are not required to agree to either option. If an instructor does not agree to either option, the student should take the exam with the rest of the class. 

To keep testing materials and processes organized, the Accommodated Testing team does not electronically send completed exams. Completed physical exams are either delivered by students in sealed envelopes or picked up by instructors from the Accommodated Testing office, which is open 9 AM- 5 PM Monday-Friday.