Disability Resource Center

Field Placement Accessibility

All individuals (with or without disabilities) must meet the essential functions of the job or experience and meet all performance expectations (with or without reasonable accommodations) in order to successfully complete field placements.

“Field Placements” include any practicum, field experience, student teaching, clinical practice, internship, training, clinic, capstones/community partnerships, co-ops, or work experiences conducted for academic credit. 

Site Placement Supervisor/Field Placement Coordinator Responsibilities

  • The PSU academic department field placement coordinator will collaborate with the DRC in assisting the student with evaluating the fit of various field placement options. Note: this may only be possible if the student registers with the DRC immediately after being accepted into the program, depending on the program itself. 
  • The site supervisor will alert the academic department if the student discusses their disability or the need for accommodations when they are not already receiving accommodations through the DRC.
  • The PSU academic department field placement coordinator will alert the DRC about any concerns they may have about accommodations not being met by field placement site.

Reasonable Accommodations

If a student discloses they have a disability (or the nature of their disability), medical condition, or need for accommodations to anyone other than the Disability Resource Center (DRC), the student should be referred to the DRC immediately. The DRC is the only entity at PSU authorized to collect medical documentation or specifics about a student’s disability. Site placement supervisors, field placement coordinators, instructors, and others outside of the DRC should not request information as to whether an applicant or student participant has a disability (or what the specifics of the disability are).  It is the student’s responsibility to request reasonable accommodations if they are needed, by contacting the DRC. Until accommodations are approved and put in place (as per the process below), the student should be held to the same expectations throughout their field experience as any other student.

Site Selection

It is important for the student to identify and/or select environments that are as accessible as possible for the student’s specific purposes and maximize their strengths. Students work first with their DRC Access Counselors & Consultants (AC&C) as early as possible, preferably right after the student has been admitted to the program. Together, they can work to identify the characteristics of an optimal field placement for the student. The DRC can then collaborate with the academic department and field placement supervisor to ensure that the placement is a realistic option for this student. If this process is successful, the student may end up in an accessible placement where accommodations are not needed.