Daemen College : Academics & Research : Academic Policies and Procedures : Accommodation of Students with Disabilities

Accommodation of Students with Disabilities

Daemen College complies with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws providing for nondiscrimination against individuals with disabilities. This policy applies to admission to the College and participation in all College programs and activities. Daemen College will also provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities so that they may participate at a level equivalent with that of non-disabled students. In this connection, Daemen College has established an accommodation assessment procedure for evaluation of requested accommodations in light of legal guidelines.

It is Daemen College's policy to:

1. Ensure that qualified individuals with disabilities are treated in a nondiscriminatory manner in the admissions process and that qualified students with disabilities are treated in a nondiscriminatory manner with respect to all services, programs and activities.
2. Keep all medically related information confidential in accordance with the requirements of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
3. Provide qualified applicants and students with disabilities with reasonable accommodation, except where such an accommodation would create an undue hardship on the College.
4. Notify individuals with disabilities that the College provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities by including this policy in the College Catalog and the Student Handbook.

Procedure for Requesting an Accommodation

If a qualified applicant for admission to the College or a student of the College anticipates a need for an accommodation to complete a course of study or to participate in a College program or activity (student housing, etc.), the request for accommodation should be brought to the attention of the Admissions Office in the case of an applicant or to the EO/AA Officer (Associate Dean of the College) in the case of a student. The individual shall submit current medical evidence of the disability and the limitations that require accommodation. The College's EO/AA Officer may discuss with the applicant or student the precise limitation resulting from the disability and the potential reasonable accommodations that the College might make. the College has established specific guidelines for the documentation of disabilities; the guidelines may be obtained from the College's EO/AA Officer (Associate Dean of the College).

The EO/AA Officer, in conjunction with the appropriate faculty and, if necessary, a medical evaluator retained by the College, will determine the feasibility of the requested accommodation, considering various factors including, but not limited to, the nature and the cost of the accommodation, the availability of funding, and whether the accommodation will impact the fundamental nature of the course or program. The applicant/student will be informed of the College's decision on the accommodation request. If student is not satisfied with the determination made by the College with respect to the request for accommodation, the student may file a grievance pursuant to the College's Grievance Procedure in Discrimination Cases, a copy of which may be found in the Student Handbook or obtained from the office of the Associate Dean of the College.

Procedure for Receiving Approved Accommodations

The EO/AA Officer (Associate Dean of the College) will give the student an Accommodation Form specifying the accommodations approved by the College. It is the student's right and responsibility to request approved accommodations in College programs, activities, or services. In keeping with the College's nondiscrimination policy, accommodations are to be made only at the request of the student, not assumed or imposed by other parties. The student shall present his/her Accommodation Form to the appropriate faculty member or administrator to substantiate a request for accommodation. Accommodations should not be provided to students without evidence that the accommodation has been approved by the College. A student lacking such documentation should be referred to the EO/AA Officer according to the above procedure for requesting an accommodation.

Should any problem arise in securing an approved accommodation, the student should bring the problem to the immediate attention of the EO/AA Officer, who will assist in resolving the matter. In addition, any member of the College community with questions or concerns about the College's disability policy and procedures should contact the EO/AA Officer.

Guidelines for Documentation of Disabilities

Student Responsibilities for Disabilities Services

In order to facilitate effective delivery of disability-related services and accommodations, Daemen College requires students to adhere to the following expectations:

1. It is the responsibility of the student to notify his/her professors and the Learning Center Assistant Coordinator as soon as possible in advance of the need for accommodations. The student is responsible for adhering to any subsequent notification deadlines imposed by faculty and/or the Learning Center Assistant Coordinator. Any problems should be brought to the immediate attention of the Learning Center Assistant Coordinator or, if necessary, the Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action Officer (Associate Dean of the College).
2. In order to test with accommodations, a student must make prior arrangements. Once a student has started a test without accommodations, he/she cannot change his/her mind and request accommodations for that test.
3. If testing with accommodations (e.g., extended time, separate area) is to take place in the Learning Center, the Learning Center Assistant Coordinator must be notified no later than 3 business days before the testing date. Additional time may be needed in certain instances: the student's adherence to point #1 above will aid in preventing misunderstandings concerning adequate lead time. "Last-minute" requests for testing accommodations will not be honored.
4. When notetaking services are provided, the student is encouraged to take notes in class, if possible, and to use the notetaker's copy as a supplement.
5. Students are responsible for making and keeping appointments for coaching. Notification must be given, when possible, of any need to cancel an appointment.
6. Misuse or abuse of disability-related services or accommodations is unacceptable. Should questions arise in this area, the student will be counseled on the appropriate use of services/accommodations and compliance will be expected.

IN CASES OF A STUDENT'S REFUSAL TO ABIDE BY THESE RESPONSIBILITIES, THE COLLEGE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO WITHDRAW SERVICES/ACCOMMODATIONS. In such a case, written notification will be provided to the student and the Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Officer (Associate Dean of the College). The student may appeal the decision in accordance with the College Grievance Procedure.

The right is reserved to amend these expectations at any time; students will be given reasonable notice of any such amendments.

Any questions may be directed to the Learning Center Assistant Coordinator or Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Officer (Associate Dean of the College).