Disclosure
Disclosure exists on a continuum ranging from minimum to full disclosure of disability documentation. An example of minimum disclosure would be a faculty member calling SSD regarding a student requesting alternative testing accommodations, and the staff confirming that the student has a disability and recommends accommodations. An example of a higher level of disclosure would be SSD assisting the faculty member in understanding the relationship between the disability and the accommodation. Finally, full disclosure would be sharing the student's SSD file, including disability records. SSD will not provide full disclosure of disability documentation to anyone without the student's written consent, or as otherwise permitted by state or federal legislation.
Students requesting that SSD not disclose disability, at any level, should not sign the release of information statement by completing a Release Authorization form. If a student asks that we do not discuss his or her situation with faculty or staff, then we would not respond to faculty requests about the student. However, students need to understand that if they are requesting that SSD, and the University, provide accommodations, and if they prohibit the individuals responsible for implementing accommodations from discussing critical components of the situation (such as the relationship of the disability to the course and the requested accommodations), then it may be difficult for accommodations to be implemented.