Navigating Absence-Based Accommodations
Understanding your rights, responsibilities, and options when managing episodic health conditions or disabilities at SIUE.
What Are Intermittent & Extended Absence Accommodations?
If you have a documented disability or health condition that is episodic—meaning it involves unpredictable flare-ups or sudden health changes—you may qualify for Intermittent or Extended Absence Accommodations.
While regular class attendance is essential for learning and academic success, this accommodation provides a safety net when an unexpected disability-related event makes attending class or submitting work on time impossible.
Our Philosophy: Compliance with federal law is just the starting point. ACCESS works to ensure you have equal opportunity to participate, learn, and succeed without being unfairly penalized for medical circumstances outside your control.
How the Accommodation Works
Intermittent absence accommodations do not mean an unlimited pass to miss class. Instead, they create an official framework for flexibility between you and your professors.
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No repeated doctor's notes: Once your medical documentation is verified and approved by ACCESS, you do not need to provide a new doctor’s note every single time you experience a flare-up.
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Proactive agreements: ACCESS will work together alongside your professors and their respective departments to establish clear expectations using the Intermittent or Extended Absence Accommodation Form (IEAF). These agreements are best effective when established early in the semester whenever possible.
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Preserving course integrity: Attendance flexibility must not "fundamentally alter" the core learning objectives or hands-on requirements of a course (such as lab work, public performances, or clinical rotations).
Your role as a Student |
Your Instructor's Role |
| Notify early: Email your instructor as soon as reasonably possible on the day of a disability-related absence. Discuss assignment extension windows and makeup plans with your instructor as needed throughout the term. | Consult ACCESS: Reach out to ACCESS before determining that a requested accommodation is unreasonable. |
| Communicate During Flare-Ups: When an episode occurs, send a brief email to your instructor confirming that you are utilizing your approved accommodation for that date. Keep up with the coursework and whenever possible, work ahead and contingency plan. | Review & discuss: Engage in an interactive discussion with ACCESS to establish fair parameters using the IEAF. |
| Stay on track: Complete agreed-upon alternative assignments and submit work within established extension windows. If you get to a point where you fall too far behind, you may need to investigate additional options such as a medical withdrawal or an incomplete to preserve your progress and your GPA. |
Determine reasonableness: Assess how absences impact course objectives and determine acceptable flexibility. |
| Connect with ACCESS: Contact your ACCESS advisor immediately if a class requires more absences than originally planned. | Protect confidentiality: Keep your accommodation status private and treat absence notices respectfully. |
Need Support?
If you experience a prolonged health crisis, encounter difficulties with an instructor, or need assistance with an existing agreement, the ACCESS team is here to support you. Contact email myaccess@siue.edu.
