The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that universities provide reasonable and effective accommodations to students with documented disabilities. The instructor is responsible for ensuring that these accommodations are fulfilled. In so doing the instructor is not required to compromise the integrity of their courses. 

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD), a department within the division of the Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs (EVCAA), is responsible for determining and facilitating UCSD accommodations for students with disabilities.  

The OSD is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive community while promoting equitable access and opportunities for students with disabilities. In alignment with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and through close collaboration with students, faculty, and staff, they coordinate tailored accommodations to meet each student’s unique needs. The OSD is committed to advocating for accessibility, empowering students to self-advocate, and ensuring that students have equal opportunities to thrive in all aspects of campus life.

The OSD works with undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students with documented disabilities, reviewing documentation and, through an interactive process with the student, determining reasonable accommodations. Temporary and permanent disabilities can occur in the following areas: psychological, psychiatric, learning, attention, chronic health, physical, vision, hearing, acquired brain injuries, and autism, and may occur at any time during a student’s college career. OSD encourages you to reach out to them as soon as you become aware of a condition that is disabling so they can work with you. 

Accommodations are specifically for students with documented disabilities as recognized under the Americans w/ Disabilities Act (ADA) and do not automatically apply to other students. To request accommodations, please complete the required steps through the Office for Students with Disabilities.

Per the UCOP Guidelines, instructors are to provide only the accommodations in the student's AFA letter and are to refer the student to the UCSD OSD if they ask for different or additional accommodations.

If you are in need of an accommodation not listed on your current AFA letter, promptly contact the UCSD OSD to see if it can be added. Keep in mind that accommodations cannot be granted retroactively. 

If contact your instructor and do not receive a response in a timely manner (excluding campus closure periods), contact the respective Physics Vice Chair, directly, to request assistance. Put the Vice Chair's email in the "To" field and ensure that you provide all of the following information in the body of your email:

• A description of the challenge.
• The date(s) you attempted to reach the instructor regarding the challenge.
• Copies of any correspondence sent to the instructor regarding the challenge.

If the matter is time-sensitive, please include "URGENT" in the subject line.

 Physics Vice Chairs:

• Undergraduate Students: Contact Dr. Phil Tsai
• Graduate Students: Contact Dr. Lena Koslover

In accordance with applicable Federal and State law and University policy, the University of California does not discriminate, or grant preferences, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and/or other protected categories.

More information about Proposition 209 can be found here.
More information about the University of California Anti-Discrimination Policy can be found here.