If the Student Directly Discloses a Disability
Any student who directly discloses a disability and is requesting accommodations/academic adjustments should be referred to the Center for Disability Resources (CDR). Even if the initial conversation is in person, it is strongly encouraged that you follow up the verbal referral with an email providing the student CDR's contact information. A sample referral email template is available below.
If the Student Does NOT Directly Disclose a Disability
Students may struggle academically for many reasons and can benefit from services offered by a variety of on-campus offices. If a student who has not disclosed a disability is struggling and you feel they may benefit from CDR services, ask whether they are connected to any offices at DSU. If not, provide information for the range of available resources: the Tutorial Center, departmental tutoring, the Quantitative Reasoning Center (math tutoring), Financial Aid, Counseling Services, the Center for Disability Resources, Career Services, the Writing Center, their Academic Advisor, student organizations, campus ministries, and more.
This lets the student seek services if they choose while maintaining their confidentiality, and lets faculty and administrators provide assistance without treating the student differently or making assumptions. A sample general resources email template is available below.
Please note: It is not appropriate to ask a student whether or not they have a disability.