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Accommodation of Students with Disabilities
Statement: Old Dominion University is committed to achieving equal
educational opportunity and full participation for persons with disabilities.
It is the university's policy that no qualified person be excluded from
participation in any university program or activity, be denied the benefits
of any university program or activity, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination
with regard to any university program or activity. This policy derives from
the university's commitment to non-discrimination for all persons in
employment, access to facilities, student programs, activities and services. Disability Services shall oversee the assessment of student requests for accommodation
and assistance and shall coordinate the development of the program among the
student, faculty members, and department chairs. In addition, the office shall
implement the university's disability program for students and supervise
the delivery of equipment and services. The director of equal opportunity and affirmative action, who is the Section
504 coordinator, will monitor the implementation of these guidelines. The provisions of services to students with documented disabilities at Old
Dominion University are based on the principle of non-discrimination and accommodation
in academic programs set forth in the implementing regulations for Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act
of 1990. These services will be provided within the basic guidelines to follow,
with the understanding that students with disabilities may require unique accommodations
and must have their needs assessed on a case-by-case basis. The provision of
accommodations for students with documented disabilities need not guarantee
them equal results or achievement; accommodations must only afford them an
equal opportunity for achievement. Old Dominion University is committed to
providing students with documented disabilities the same opportunity to achieve
academic success as it provides for all students. - Definition of Those Qualified for Assistance
The appropriate recipient of accommodations is defined as one who
has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more
major life activities, such as walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, performing
manual tasks, or learning. In addition, a person who has history of such an
impairment is qualified for assistance. With respect specifically to the postsecondary
setting, such a person must be otherwise qualified under the academic standards
requisite for admission in spite of the disability. - Recruitment
The Office of Admissions at Old Dominion University will make all
reasonable effort to assure that all recruitment activities are made accessible
to persons with documented disabilities. All schools hosting Old Dominion
University recruitment activities will be encouraged to provide that such
facilities are accessible so that interested persons with disabilities will
not be excluded or denied participation. In keeping with this policy, Old
Dominion University will provide, if given adequate advance notice, such services
as interpreters, audiotapes or reader services at recruitment functions. - Admission to the University
- General Admission
The requirements for general admission for persons with disabilities are
no different from those for other persons applying to Old Dominion University.
The official application for general admission to the university will
not ask for information concerning an applicant's physical or mental disability;
however, there are programs within the university which have technical
standards which must be met. A prospective student may choose to self
disclose in the admission process. - Acceptance to Specific Programs
Technical standards have been established by each academic program which
describe the skills the student must have or be able to acquire in order
to meet curriculum requirements and to perform successfully in an academic
program. The university is not required to make major academic adjustments,
fundamental changes, or substantially modify standards for acceptance
into or completion of any academic program. Students with disabilities
interested in applying for acceptance to a particular program should assure
that they are aware of any applicable technical standards
If a question arises about the qualifications of a student with a disability
who wishes to be accepted in a particular degree program, the department
chair shall have the responsibility of deciding whether or not the applicant
will be accepted to the program. After having considered the requests
for accommodation presented by the student, as well as the technical
standards for the requested program, the department chair shall determine
whether or not the student is otherwise qualified for acceptance to
the program. In making the determination, the department chair should consult with
the student's advisor and Disability Services. If after careful consideration,
the department chair decides that the student is not otherwise qualified
for acceptance to the program of study, the student will be advised
of his or her academic options. The decision of the department chair
may be appealed to the dean. The dean shall consult with the director
of equal opportunity/affirmative action prior to deciding the appeal.
The decision of the dean is final.
- Determination of Need for Reasonable Accommodations/ Academic Adjustments
Under Section 504, institutions are required to respond by making
modifications in academic requirements as necessary to ensure that such requirements
do not discriminate or have the effect of discriminating against a student
with a disability.
The information sent to students upon acceptance to the university shall
include a notice that it is the responsibility of students with a disability
to contact Disability Services to arrange for accommodations. The information
provided by the student in doing so will be kept confidential and shared
only with those involved in arranging for accommodations. Students who request reasonable accommodations must be prepared to provide
documentation of the disability by a qualified professional, where appropriate,
before accommodations will be implemented. Except under extraordinary circumstances,
the documentation must be current, i.e., dated no more than three years
prior to enrollment in the university. Documentation must provide sufficient information to assist the institution
in determining what difficulties the student would encounter in a normal learning
environment. Although formats will vary, the following critical data should
be included in any documentation in support of a request for accommodations: The student's name, the dates of examination or testing, the examiner's
name and credentials. Identify the problems or reasons for referral. In cases of learning disability, a list of the tests administered, including
the names of the tests as well as the version used. An analysis or interpretation of test results. Diagnostic summary with a brief composite of the entire assessment process.
The summary should address the concerns raised in the section on reasons
for referral. Recommendations of strategies to assist the student in becoming an efficient
learner.
A student with a documented disability who has registered for class or has
been accepted into the university can request support services and the use
of assistive technology for classroom and extracurricular activities. The
student must notify Disability Services of the accommodations required within
a reasonable time prior to the date of anticipated need. Reasonable accommodations
by the university are possible only after contact with Disability Services
has been initiated. Students needing sign language interpreters or special
equipment should provide 45 days notice to Disability Services. Requests for accommodation shall be assessed by the Office of Disability Services
after carefully reviewing the diagnostic evaluation and the student's previous
scholastic performance. Each will be reviewed on its own merits and verified
by objective documentation about the effect of the specific documented disability
on the ability to learn in the content area in question. Students are encouraged to self-identify their documented disability to their
professors at the beginning of each semester to avoid delays in receiving
accommodations. If students' disabilities are newly documented during the
course of a semester, accommodations will be implemented within a reasonable
time period, usually two weeks following presentation of the documentation. In order to receive accommodations students must supply their instructors
with letters from Disability Services which verify their disability and identify
reasonable accommodations. The student and faculty member shall: discuss the implementation of appropriate accommodations; note their respective agreement to these accommodations; and return the signed forms to Disability Services noting their agreement
in the space provided.
Students who have a documented disability may elect not to disclose the disability.
Should the student seek accommodations late in the semester, or if a student
has a disability which is not obvious and chooses not to disclose it, then
he/she should be aware that 1) all previous grades will stand as earned, and
2) accommodations will be implemented in a timely manner, usually within two
weeks. For students who are newly identified and documented during the course
of a semester and thus, have not had the advantage of accommodations, considerations
will be made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with all parties involved. The types of accommodations provided to students with documented disabilities
will vary depending on the nature of the disability and the course content.
Often an initial trial-and-error period may be needed to determine the best
way to accommodate a student's disability. Disability Services will advise the students in writing of the results of
the assessment. This notification to the student from the university shall
serve as a guide for the provision of services from the university for the
semester or situation specified. If agreed upon accommodations did not meet the needs of the student, the student
should contact Disability Services for further assistance. If accommodations are not agreed upon or are not implemented, the student
should contact Disability Services. Disability Services will determine the
reasonableness of the accommodation(s) requested. If Disability Services determines that the request is reasonable, it will
consult with the appropriate chair and, if necessary, the dean to reach agreement
on the accommodations to be provided. If Disability Services does not agree with the student's request, then the
student may follow the procedures outlined in Section VI of this policy. - Support Services
- Advising
Students with documented disabilities should make sure that their
advisors are aware of the disabilities so that the advisor can guide the
student as to course or degree requirements which may affect the student's
completion of the course or degree program. - Classroom Accommodations
The university shall provide the following minimal accommodations
for students with documented disabilities in the classroom: 1) classroom
activities, including testing procedures and other methods of evaluation
used for classroom participation, shall be reasonably modified to provide
students with documented disabilities with the opportunity to participate;
2) the location of classrooms shall be changed as appropriate to accommodate
the student with a disability; 3) a reasonable number of elective courses
shall be held in accessible facilities; 4) the use of special equipment
and assistive technology; and 5) modification of course requirements or
assignments which may not be essential shall be considered. - Student Services and Activities
Students with documented disabilities at Old Dominion University
shall be provided reasonable accommodation for participation in and use
of student services and activities including housing, health, insurance,
counseling, financial aid, physical education, athletics, recreation,
transportation, or other extracurricular programs or activities.
Given adequate notification, those students who require assistive technology
and assistance for counseling settings will be provided with the aids
and assistance necessary to participate. At athletic and extracurricular activities, such as concerts and stage
entertainment, special seating will be provided for students using wheelchairs
as audience participants. For Old Dominion University sponsored lectures,
cultural activities, convocations, and commencements, the participation
of students with documented disabilities shall be provided, upon request,
through the aid of sign interpreters, assistive technology or other reasonable
accommodation. Arrangements shall be made by Disability Services if sufficient
notification is given. - Housing
Old Dominion University provides on-campus housing space which
has been specifically reserved for occupancy by students with documented
disabilities and is moderately barrier free. The university will provide
and assign students with disabilities to housing as such space is available
in resident hall and apartment settings. Roommates will be assigned to
students with disabilities occupying modified rooms in the same manner
as other resident students.
It is the responsibility of the student to identify him/herself
as a student with a documented disability seeking university housing in
order to be considered for a reserved space. Application for a reserved
space for a student with a disability should be made to Disability Services.
Housing Services will assign that space based on information provided
by Disability Services. Priority will be based on the greatest physical
need to live in university housing as a means of providing a student with
a disability opportunity to successfully fulfill his/her academic program
at the university. Final selection for reserved spaces for students with
disabilities will be completed at a specified date in mid-summer of each
year. Students will be informed of their room assignment by Housing Services.
The remaining spaces reserved for students with disabilities will be turned
over to the housing services staff for assignment to students on the housing
waiting list. Any student with a documented disability has the alternative
of entering the regular housing application procedures and is not required
to take a reserved space. However, students who have special needs should
make sure the regular housing space can accommodate their needs. Rental rates for students with documented disabilities shall be set at
the same rate as for any other student at Old Dominion University. The
exception to this is the single room policy which provides for a limited
number of single room accommodations available for qualified students
with documented disabilities at the rate which would normally be charged
for double occupancy. The request for single accommodations must be made
to Disability Services and be properly documented. A final determination
is made by Disability Services. Returning students may request that they
be assigned to the same space as in the previous year. Students should
proceed through the regular housing process to request the same space.
- Complaint Resolution Process
If a student with a documented disability believes that he/she has
not been provided with the services to which he/she is entitled, the student
should direct his/her complaint to the university's 504 coordinator who is
the director of equal opportunity and affirmative action.
The student shall provide to the director of equal opportunity and affirmative
action, in writing, documentation of the disability, the nature of the discrimination,
and any other information deemed important. The director will then attempt to reach an agreement through an informal
mediation process. If an agreement is reached, a copy of the agreement
shall be provided to the student and the faculty member. If an agreement
cannot be reached, the Director will convene an ADA Evaluation Committee
for the purpose of evaluating the case and making a recommendation to
the provost and vice president for academic affairs. The decision of the
provost and vice president for academic affairs is final. The members
of the ADA Evaluation Committee will be the director of equal opportunity/affirmative
action (chair), the general counsel, the director of disability services,
the appropriate dean and a designated representative from Academic
Affairs.
For information about the policy and procedures for accommodation of persons
with disabilities for continuing education classes, please contact Disability
Services or Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action. |
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