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Limited Deadline Flexibility accommodations allow students with disabilities to receive additional time to complete assignments, projects, or other academic tasks when their condition significantly impacts their ability to meet the original deadlines. The purpose of reasonable accommodations is to ensure access, and this extends to providing flexibility within class policies to ensure students with disabilities are not disproportionately penalized for exacerbations in their condition, as they may be unpredictable and inevitable despite ongoing health and time management practices. 

Upon receipt of a Faculty Notification Letter including a Limited Deadline Flexibility accommodation, instructors should complete the Disability Flexibility Plan in their .

Extensions are typically considered when a student’s disability directly affects their ability to complete coursework on time. Examples may include, but are not limited to:

• Sudden exacerbation of a chronic health condition
• A mental health crisis
• An unexpected flare-up of a disability that impairs cognitive or physical functioning

The Limited Deadline Flexibility accommodation should be provided unless it fundamentally alters and/or significantly compromises the integrity and nature of the course. If limited deadline flexibility seems unfeasible, instructors should consult with a the student's SDS Access Coordinator to assess the request's reasonableness in the context of the class. While a late assignment policy may be incorporated into the course grading scheme and syllabus, this accommodation is intended to modify any stated policies to allow some flexibility to account for the student’s disability-related need.

SDS will consider the following questions to guide this assessment:

1. What do the class description and syllabus indicate about assignment deadlines and late work policies?

2. How are assignment deadlines and grading policies applied? Are there consistent policies, and are exceptions made for any students, such as for athletic travel or religious observances?

3. How are assignments factored into the final grade? Are there alternative grading options, and what impact do assignments have on overall course performance?

4. What is the purpose and timing of the assignment? Is it necessary for sequential learning, exams, or class discussions? Does the assignment involve teamwork or impact other students’ learning?

5. Are there factors that limit the feasibility of granting extensions, such as the release of answer sets, the use of assignments as class content, or the opportunity to work ahead?

• Not all assignments may be eligible for deadline extensions, particularly those that are time-sensitive or essential to the course's learning outcomes. In such cases, instructors should work with the student's SDS Access Coordinator.
• This accommodation is only for documented disabilities and cannot be used for non-disability-related reasons (e.g., seasonal illness). Standard late work policies, including point deductions, will still apply if deadlines are missed for non-disability-related reasons.
• Accommodations are not retroactive. Instructors are not obligated to apply this accommodation to previous penalties that were incurred prior to receiving official notice via the student's accommodation letter. However, there may be times SDS advocates for additional consideration due to a student's extenuating circumstances and disability condition.