Field education experiences include clinical training, internships, externships, practicums, and work experiences conducted for academic credit. Depending on the school or the major, students may be required to complete a field education experience.

Unlike academic accommodations in a classroom, such as extended test time, field experience accommodations may differ and look more like accommodations at a workplace. Accommodations in field education are designed to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential requirements of the position.

The Office for Disability Equity (ODE) works with students using an interactive process to assess the impact of the student’s disability and identifies accommodations. Then, ODE works with the student and their school to brainstorm field experience accommodations relevant to the essential functions of the requirement.

Identifying possible accommodations in advance will increase the student’s positive experience. We recommend that students, the field placement coordinator, or the supervising faculty contact us before the student starts their field experience.

Student roles

• Schedule an appointment with ODE as soon as you know you will take a course with field experience requirements.
• Understand the essential functions of the position.
• In collaboration with ODE, identify potential barriers and reasonable accommodations in the setting.
• Meet or communicate with your school's site supervisor or the appropriate contact persons to discuss and determine accommodations for the field experience setting.
• Know that your ODE consultant can be part of meetings or communication upon request from you, your field placement coordinator, your site supervisor, or your supervising faculty.
• Communicate with your site supervisor or appropriate contact persons when any concerns arise.
• If a field site cannot or is unwilling to make an approved accommodation, contact ODE immediately to facilitate a resolution.

Office for Disability Equity roles

• Maintain students’ disability documentation.
• Engage in an interactive process with the student and their school to identify possible accommodations that mitigate the barriers for the student to perform the essential functions of the requirements.
• Provide the student, the student’s field placement coordinator, and the supervisor with possible accommodations.
• Be available to join a meeting with the student, the faculty member, and site personnel to implement reasonable accommodations.
• Provide consultation support to the school, site personnel, and the student during the field experience.
• Coordinate a meeting with the student, school, and field site supervisor if a resolution is necessary.

Schools, Agency Field Instructors, and Field Placement Supervisors' roles

• Include the disability accommodation statement in any syllabus with field placements.
• Clearly describe the essential functions, duties, technical skills, and abilities to fulfill the requirements.
• Engage in an interactive process with the student and review and discuss how the accommodations will be provided within the field placement requirements. When applicable, invite the ODE consultant to the process.
• Assist the student with providing the details about the accommodation to appropriate field site personnel.
• Monitor student progress and contact ODE as necessary for advice in adjusting existing accommodations or providing new accommodations.

Resources

Job Accommodation Network (JAN) – provides job hunting tips, examples of work accommodations, tips on when to disclose a disability and request accommodations, and the recommended interactive process for employers.