Disability Flexibility Plans

• When a disability-related absence occurs, a student is expected to inform the instructor in advance, if possible. If this is not possible, the student will need to inform the instructor as close to the absence as possible. Students should plan to email their instructors about their absence, and are strongly encouraged to include their SDS access coordinator in this notification.
• If the maximum number of absences allowed through this accommodation is exceeded, the student should be referred to their SDS access coordinator to discuss options.
• When a student is absent due to their disability, they are responsible for the course content, lecture notes, and information presented that day. The student needs to arrange how they will obtain this information.
• As documentation of the student’s condition is on file with Student Disability Services, the student will not be required to provide documentation to the instructor if they are utilizing a disability-related absence.

Default Limited Attendance Flexibility Plan

• Application for Different Course Components
  • Attendance: If graded, the student will be provided the total number of absences outlined in the Limited Attendance Flexibility Rubric (review below) before general course policy penalties take effect.
  • Classroom Participation/Discussion: If graded, the student will be given an alternate opportunity to makeup missed participation points (e.g., written contribution, reading summary, etc.).
  • Missed Quizzes/Exams: If date specific, the student will be allowed the opportunity to make up within 1 week.
  • Extended Deadlines: If an assignment was due on the date of a disability absence, the student can submit late/missed assignment within 48 hours after initial deadline.
  • General Rule: If an instructor allows more flexibility already with attendance in their stated policies, the student should be afforded the process with the most flexibility.
• If an instructor receives a SDS Faculty Notification Letter with this accommodation, the instructor will log into SAM Instructor Portal to approve or request an alternative for this plan.
• In most situations, this approval/request will only need to be done one (1) time per class section and can be copied to multiple sections.
• Disability Flexibility Plans (DFPs) are expected to be completed prior to the last day for students to drop without a grade, when requested in advance. For requests that are initiated after this date, DFPs are expected to be completed within two weeks of the request. If the DFP is not completed, the default plan remains active and SDS will complete the plan on your behalf.
• If there are concerns, the instructor must engage with SDS staff to determine a more appropriate plan. If this is not completed, the instructor is responsible for upholding the Default Limited Attendance Flexibility Plan. 
• Students still have the right to request additional flexibility, and if a request is made SDS will reach out to the instructor to discuss a more individualized plan (if reasonable).

The Limited Attendance Flexibility Rubric is based upon generally allowing for 15% missed classes. Additional flexibility may be needed on a case by case basis and should be considered in consultation with a student's SDS access coordinator.

Note: These are general guidelines and may not be reasonable in every course. If the rubric does not reasonably fit into an instructor's course, additional detail should be shared when completing the DFP.

The rubric above may not represent all course formats. Please refer to the following information regarding additional course formats:

• Individual/Independent Studies: If limited attendance flexibility is applicable to and necessary in this course format, students should contact their access coordinator.
• Clinical, Field Experience, Internship, Practicum: These course formats very greatly in there meeting structure, and course requirements may be dictated by state/licensing/credentialing organizations or specialized accreditors. Flexibility in these scenarios may be limited. Instructors should engage in an interactive process with SDS while completing the DFP and students should contact their access coordinator in advance.

• If a student needs to utilize a deadline extension through the Limited Deadline Flexibility accommodation, they are expected to inform the instructor in advance, if possible. If this is not possible, the student will need to inform the instructor as close to the deadline as possible. Students should plan to email their instructors, and are strongly encouraged to include their SDS access coordinator in this notification. 
• If deadline extensions are being requested for every assignment, the student should be referred to their SDS access coordinator. 
• As documentation of the student’s condition is on file with Student Disability Services, the student will not be required to provide documentation to the instructor if they are utilizing a disability-related absence.

Default Limited Deadline Flexibility Plan

• Application for Different Course Components
  • Shorter assignments and course components: Per assignment, student is permitted a maximum of 1 extension of up to 48 hours each when requested.
  • Larger cumulative assignments and major course components: Per assignment, student is permitted a maximum of 1 extension of up to 72 hours when requested.
  • General Rule: If an instructor allows more flexibility already with assignment deadlines in their stated policies, the student should be afforded the process with the most flexibility.
• If an instructor receives a SDS Faculty Notification Letter with this accommodation, the instructor will log into SAM Instructor Portal to approve or request an alternative for this plan.
• In most situations, this approval/request will only need to be done one (1) time per class section and can be copied to multiple sections.
• Disability Flexibility Plans (DFPs) are expected to be completed prior to the last day for students to drop without a grade, when requested in advance. For requests that are initiated after this date, DFPs are expected to be completed within two weeks of the request. If the DFP is not completed, the default plan remains active and SDS will complete the plan on your behalf.
• If there are concerns, the instructor must engage with SDS staff to determine a more appropriate plan. If this is not completed, the instructor is responsible for upholding the Default Limited Deadline Flexibility Plan.
• Students still have the right to request additional flexibility, and if a request is made SDS will reach out to the instructor to discuss a more individualized plan (if reasonable).

How to Complete a Disability Flexibility Plan

After a student has requested either a limited attendance or deadline flexibility accommodation, you will be prompted to complete a Disability Flexibility Plan (DFP). Please follow these steps:

1. Log into your SAM: Students Accessing Miami Faculty Portal.
2. Review the Access Policy and select Continue to View Student Accommodations.
3. From the left-hand side Home menu, select Disability Flexibility Plans.
4. Beneath the instructions, select View to complete an individual DFP or select Specify Disability Flexibility Plans For Multiple Courses to complete multiple DFPs at once.
5. Review the questionnaire, default limited flexibility accommodation plans, and customize as needed.
6. Select Initiate and Request Review.