Speech and language disorders may result from hearing loss, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, or physical conditions. The disorder may result in stuttering, problems with articulation, voice disorders, or aphasia. Although certain disorders may improve with speech therapy, anxiety and stress often accompany oral communication and exacerbate the problem.

Reasonable accommodations may include, but are not limited to:

•  Modifications of assignments, such as one-to-one presentation or use of computer with voice synthesizer
•  Written reports may be substituted for oral class reports

Special considerations

The student may speak slowly in class and should be given time to express his/her thoughts. Interrupting or completing a sentence for the student is not helpful and may lead to embarrassment. It is appropriate to ask the student to repeat the statement. Summarizing the message helps the student check for accuracy of understanding. The instructor’s acceptance and support of the student is important to facilitate communication and provide an opportunity for success. If an oral presentation is required, the instructor should discuss alternatives with the student.

OSD determines specific accommodations
Students may not need all of these accommodations. Specific accommodations are based on the diagnostic information that is on file in the Office for Students with Disabilities.