Chapter 10 – Accommodation For Spelling

Guidelines for Reasonable Accommodations for Spelling

Correct spelling is expected of all students at the university level. For students who have a documented learning disability that impacts spelling, using a spelling aid may be a reasonable accommodation for in-class assignments and exams. Typical accommodations include spell-check devices, access to spell check in Microsoft Word, or not penalizing a student for spelling errors. The academic decision of whether spelling is essential to the course is typically the prerogative of the faculty and/or academic department involved.

If the faculty is concerned this accommodation is unreasonable because it will lower academic standards, compromise an essential component of, or fundamentally alter a course or program, then the faculty should contact the SAR Center upon receipt of the “Faculty Notification Letter” email.

The determination that an accommodation is unreasonable is an institutional decision that must meet legal and educational requirements. Faculty should not unilaterally render and attempt to implement a judgment that an accommodation is unreasonable.

Process

1. The SAR Center will notify faculty if the student is eligible for this accommodation.

2. The faculty should contact the SAR Center if they have any concerns regarding this accommodation.

• If the faculty believes this accommodation is not reasonable, then the process for an accommodation dispute should be followed.

3. If the exam will be proctored at the Alternative Testing Center, the faculty must complete an Alternative Testing Agreement and should identify the method that will be used to accommodate the disability: spell check device, list of words, or the student will not be penalized for spelling errors.

4. If the exam is proctored by the faculty or teaching assistant, then the faculty will need to identify the appropriate spelling aid.

• If the exam is taken in a third party online proctoring service such as Lockdown Browser, ATI, Proctorio, etc., then the faculty or teaching assistant will need to adjust security parameters to allow for the spelling aid. If the student and/or faculty select a hand-held spell checker or spell check access as the accommodation, the student will be held to the same spelling standards as other students.

5. The spell-checking device should not provide access to definitions, synonyms, or antonyms.

6. Students must select this accommodation (spell check) when scheduling course exams.

Important Note

It is important to note:

1. Given the specific analysis for each course, it is entirely possible that the use of a spelling aid will be allowed for some exams and not allowed for others.

2. The SAR Center will consider requests for use of spell check on a case-by-case basis.

3. The SAR Center will not approve use of spell check as a reasonable accommodation when using the spelling aid is a fundamental alteration of academic standards or learning outcomes.