Disability Services

Mission Statement and Program Objectives

The mission of the Disability Support Services office is to provide services and supports that promote equal access  in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  This is accomplished through the provision of accommodations, auxiliary aids and support services that are in compliance with Federal and State statues.

Upon request, the Disability Support Services coordinator will assist students in the following:

• Identifying appropriate accommodations and auxiliary aids and services.
• Developing strategies to negotiate college life.
• Increasing the individual’s self-advocacy skills.
• Communicating needs of student to faculty and staff.
• Identifying the student’s personal strengths and weaknesses.
• Assisting the student in development of compensatory skills.
• Understanding legal rights and protections and the effective use of them.
• Seeking out career development resources both on and off campus.

Defining Reasonable Accommodations

A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to a course, program, service, job activity, or facility that ensures an equal opportunity for qualified students with disabilities to participate in, and enjoy the benefits of, a service, program, or activity. Aids, benefits, or services need not produce equal results, but must afford an equal opportunity to achieve equal results. When necessary, DRC staff will consult with faculty regarding whether an accommodation would fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program or activity or whether an academic requirement is essential to the instruction being pursued or to any directly related licensing requirement. In doing so, DRC will examine the following:

• Barriers between individuals with disabilities and the campus environment in accessing courses, programs, services, jobs, activities or facilities without accommodations;
• Requested modifications, accommodations, and auxiliary aids;
• Whether the proposed accommodations would fundamentally alter the nature of the course, program, service, job, activity, or facility;

Whether an academic requirement is essential to the instruction or to any directly related licensing requirement;

• Whether effective alternatives exist that would allow the individual with a disability to participate without lowering essential requirements or fundamentally altering the nature of the program.
• When the University determines that a modification related to facilities or communication would result in a fundamental alteration or undue burden, DRC shall acquire the written opinion of the proper authority, i.e. department chair of impacted discipline, providing the reasoning supporting the decision.