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ADA

College of Saint Mary supports the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and prohibits discrimination against any student or applicant on the basis of physical or mental disability, or perceived disability. College of Saint Mary is committed to providing persons with disabilities equal opportunity for access in programs and activities, as well as reasonable accommodations provided these accommodations do not place an undue burden on the institution or fundamentally alter the nature of the course or program of study. These services are designed to facilitate student pursuit of academic and career goals.

What's needed to get started:

  • Appropriate, recent documentation by a licensed professional of the disability/disabilities prior to (unless currently being tested) arranging accommodations
  • Expenses incurred in obtaining testing or documentation are the individual's responsibility. Meet with the Achievement Center's accommodations coordinator to discuss individualized, reasonable accommodations, to discuss qualified diagnosticians for particular disabilities, or to receive a reference list of qualified diagnosticians for testing. 

Examples of possible disabilities: 

  • Learning Disabilities
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing
  • Blind/Low Vision
  • Acquired Brain Injury
  • Medical
  • Dexterity and Mobility Limitations
  • Psychiatric
  • Spinal Cord Injury

 

Requesting Accommodations

1. A student who wishes to be considered for reasonable accommodations at College of Saint Mary must self-identify to the accommodations coordinator as a person who has a disability and is seeking accommodation. Please note: Timely and early disclosure is recommended. Considerable lead time is required for some accommodations.

2. The student should obtain a copy of her latest documentation that includes a diagnosis of the disability along with a written summary from the professional that diagnosed the disability. This summary should include how the disability affects the student's academic performance and participation in programs and activities in the post secondary setting as well as specific, reasonable recommendations for accommodations. Expenses incurred in obtaining testing or documentation are the individual's responsibility. The student can then either deliver the documentation in person by making an appointment with the accommodations coordinator to formally request accommodations or mail or fax her documentation to the Achievement Center. (If a student requests accommodations because she suspects she has a disability but has no documentation, she may be provided reasonable auxiliary aids while being tested. She has 30 days from the date of request to be tested and submit documentation to verify a disability and confirm the need for accommodations. Students with older and/or incomplete documentation should also submit acceptable documentation within 30 days. Any auxiliary aids, such as taping test answers, interpreters, and closed captioning temporarily provided while testing occurs or acceptable documentation is obtained may be revoked if proper documentation is not provided within 30 days.) Accommodations normally begin after appropriate documentation is submitted and a student's formally requested accommodations have been approved. Appropriate documentation is required for accommodation(s). 

3. The student's documentation will be reviewed to determine if it is appropriate and complete. If additional information or clarification is needed, the accommodations coordinator will consult with the student and/or appropriate diagnostician. Again, if additional documentation is needed, or the student is undergoing disability testing, it is the student's responsibility to provide it within 30 days, or accommodations granted may be revoked. 

4. After accommodations are determined to be appropriate, the student and the accommodations coordinator will meet to complete an accommodations interview, to assess the accommodations needed, and to complete a Student Request for Disability Services (SRDS) form. During the meeting, the student will be advised of the professional's recommended accommodations that have been approved. The student is apprised that individual circumstances or changes in a medical or cognitive condition may warrant modification of the accommodations requested. 

5. Once reasonable and appropriate accommodations have been approved by the accommodations coordinator and communicated to and agreed upon by the student, a letter of notification is sent to the student and each of the student's faculty members outlining what accommodations have been granted. Permission to share this information with limited faculty and staff on a need-to-know basis has been granted by the student upon her signing the Student Request for Disability Services form. Please note: Diagnostic information is confidential and is treated as such. 

NOTE: Students must request accommodations each semester. It is the student's responsibility to schedule an appointment with the accommodations coordinator each semester in order to arrange for accommodations.

For more information or to ask questions, please email ada [at] liashapiro.com.