These pages are designed to provide information for UNCW Faculty & Staff in working with students with disabilities (SWD).

SWD are a rapid growing minority at UNCW, as elsewhere in American higher education. To assure equal opportunity to participate, both physical and programmatic access must be provided. This means more than the removal of architectural barriers and the provision of auxiliary services. It means that reasonable accommodations must also be made in the instructional process.

UNCW Disability Services (DS) acts as an advocate and primary resource for students with disabilities. Just as importantly, DS seeks to inform, instruct, and support UNCW faculty, staff & administration in their provision of and responsibility to provide appropriate accommodation to SWD.

Faculty are encouraged to announce at the beginning of the semester or put a statement in the syllabus inviting student with disabilities to schedule an appointment. If the faculty member suspects that a student has a disability, discuss the concern with the student or refer then to Disability Services. If a disability is brought to the attention of the faculty member, the faculty member is encouraged to contact Disability Services to verify the disability and to discuss accommodations.