Placement Setting Considerations

Possible Accommodations

As with all disability related accommodations, internship/practicum accommodations will be determined on an individual, case-by-case basis depending on:

• The extent to which the submitted documentation supports the need for an accommodation
• The individual requirements, fundamental nature, and essential elements associated with the field placement.

Please schedule a meeting with our office, your field placement coordinator and the department head of your major department in order to discuss the essential functions of your field placement position, reasonable accommodations for your placement, and any related limitations.

Essential Functions

• Students with disabilities who are assigned to field placements must be able to perform the “essential functions” or meet the essential eligibility requirements of the experiences with or without reasonable accommodation. Pre-placement inquiries as to whether a person has a disability are not permitted; however, a field placement program must determine the essential functions or essential eligibility requirements of its own training program so that students can request reasonable accommodation if needed.
• Generally speaking, accommodations may not alter the “fundamental nature” of your degree program. The pedagogical needs of a class, including field education courses, are typically the key criteria in deciding a proposed accommodation’s appropriateness. We may also consider how effectively the field placement’s worksite can meet your accommodation request.

Things to Consider:

• The accommodations that students receive for their courses at RIC might not be directly transferrable to their placement site. This is because the requirements of the field experience and the environment the work is done in is so different from what students experience in their regular courses.
• It is the student’s decision as to whether or not they would like to pursue accommodations in their placement site(s). However, neither the student’s grade nor performance in field placements can be reversed based on a late declaration of need for accommodation in field placements. Students will be accommodated from the point in time that they are approved for accommodations, but no alterations will be made for performance before eligibility is determined.
• Students can also choose how much they disclose to their practicum site. They may choose to only disclose the disability related challenges expected in that specific work setting.

FAQs

Should I talk with my CDA Case Manager before starting my internship/practicum/field placement?

Yes, absolutely! Your accommodations in a classroom, such as extended time on exams or use of audio recording lectures, may not transition effectively to a workplace in which those accommodations do not effectively reduce an access barrier that supports you in achieving an essential function of your field experience. Connect with your case manager by phone, email, or setting up an appointment to brainstorm field experience accommodations relevant to your essential functions of your internship, practicum, or field placement. Once accommodations for your field placement are approved, you will discuss next steps with your field placement coordinator, supervisor and department head if needed.

If I get the “Modification to Attendance Policy” in my classes, do I get excused absences in my internship/practicum/field placement?

It depends. Depending on your field placement job description and the essential functions and duties included, the ability to provide excused absences and attendance flexibility may differ from what can be provided in the classroom. Just as some classes like interactive labs, hands-on experimentation, and experiential learning limit classroom attendance flexibility for learning purposes, these can be limitations for field experience settings as well. Moreover, as an intern or professional support in a professional setting, sites are relying on students to perform essential functions. Field placement sites that include timely, in-person coordination of equipment, direct services such as counseling or rehabilitation, and other hands-on support may limit flexibility in attendance. To find out more information, please schedule a meeting with your field placement coordinator and CDA case manager to discuss the essential functions of the field placement position and whether attendance flexibility is a reasonable accommodation and any limitations that may include.

How do I know what the essential functions of my field experience position are?

You can ask your site supervisor about the essential functions, duties, or skills required for the job by requesting a job description and meeting with them to discuss.