Faculty and other instructors who develop courses that include off-campus field trips or activities are encouraged to make students aware of the off-campus activity in the course description and at the start of classes.
As soon as possible, students should discuss anticipated disability-related off-campus needs with their assigned DSP Disability Specialist and, as appropriate, with the instructor (or GSI), so that there is an opportunity to identify and resolve in advance any accessibility challenges posed by the off-campus activity. DSP may need to provide academic accommodations while the student is off-campus.
When an off-campus event is not related to a course or the student's academic degree program, contact Disability Access and Compliance for assistance.
Off-campus physical access for wheelchair users
When a student who is a wheelchair user is participating in an off-campus field trip or activity, steps should be taken to assess the degree to which the off-campus site is wheelchair accessible. Contact the administrator at the off-campus location to ask about obvious physical barriers (e.g., steps) along the path of travel from the parking lot to the building entrance and, once inside, to the actual meeting place(s) where the event will occur. Also, ask about the dimensions of the largest toilet stall (and other restroom amenities) in the gender-appropriate restroom. If the site is a public building, or a private business that is open to the public, certain access codes usually apply.
DSP may be able to arrange for an on-site accessibility inspection if contacted sufficiently in advance and if the site is within driving distance. Based on available information, the student wheelchair user, in consultation with DSP and the course instructor, will need to decide how best to resolve any access barriers presented by the off-campus site. In some cases, it may be appropriate for the course instructor to consider changing the site of the field trip if there is a different but comparable site which both meets the academic purposes of the field trip and is more accessible.
Accessible transportation
Where the University is providing transportation for the general class, accessible transportation will be provided to students with disabilities. On the other hand, students with disabilities who prefer to use their own transportation services or vehicles may do so, except where attendance in the University-provided vehicle is mandatory.
Faculty and other instructors who are providing transportation to/from an off-campus activity for the general class should promptly notify the assigned DSP Disability Specialist (see student's DSP letter of Accommodation for signature of assigned Specialist). To request DSP provide accessible transportation for a University activity, within the first two weeks of a semester, but no less than ten business days before the scheduled trip, provide the Disability Specialist the anticipated date and timeframe of the trip, and the approximate number of students participating.
While DSP usually funds accessible transportation when needed to enable a student to participate in a course-related activity, when a sponsoring host is providing transportation for non-disabled students to attend a University-related event, the cost of a non-academic University off-site activity (including accessible transportation) is the responsibility of the event sponsor.
There are several Bay area private accessible transportation vendors who provide transportation (with or without an accompanying driver) for a fee.