Clarkson College is committed to providing equal access to educational opportunities to otherwise qualified persons with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (as amended, 2008) defines a person with a disability as any individual who: 1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, 2) has a record of such an impairment, or 3) is perceived by others as having such an impairment. In this commitment, the College will provide reasonable accommodations to otherwise qualified individuals provided these accommodations do not: 1) fundamentally alter the nature or operation of the programs, services, or activities at the College, 2) cause undue burden to the College, or 3) pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others.

Procedure for Students Seeking Accommodations

Procedure:

1) The student will initiate the process for requesting accommodations by contacting [email protected] or the Accommodations Coordinator at 402-552-6285. Upon receipt of the student’s request, the Accommodations Coordinator will contact the student to obtain a signed student release of information form and an accommodations letter from the student’s licensed health care provider. The following guidelines for documentation are suggested to provide adequate information to the Accommodations Coordinator for determination of appropriate accommodation services:

1. Evidence that the evaluator has appropriate credentials, training, relevant experience, and no personal relationship to the individual being evaluated.
2. A clear current diagnostic statement identifying the disability.
3. A description of the diagnostic methodology used, such as procedures, tests, and administration dates, should include a clinical narrative, observation, or specific results.
4. A description of how the disability substantially limits a major life activity of the student and/or a description of the current impairment and its functional impact.
5. A description of the expected progression of the current treatment and the prognosis and/or stability of the disability.
6. Recommendations for accommodations and/or auxiliary aids with rationale. Clarkson College is not obligated to adopt recommendations made by outside parties, although they will be considered when determining accommodations.

Additional documentation may be requested, including, but not limited to, educational records, letters from educators, diagnostic reports, letters from health care providers, records of past accommodations, letters or records from local, state, or federal agencies, and/or VA records. Please note that once all the required documentation is received, the Accommodations Office will have up to fourteen (14) business days* to review the request and, if approved, provide the student with a statement of eligibility letter.

2) Once adequate documentation is received for academic accommodations, the Accommodations Coordinator will determine if the student is eligible for academic accommodations and, if so, which accommodations are approved. If necessary, before the approval of accommodations, the Accommodations Coordinator will consult with the faculty member(s) of the academic program/course the student is enrolled/intending to enroll in if there is any question as to whether an accommodation may pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others.

Implementation

3) Once adequate documentation is received for clinical accommodations, the Accommodations Coordinator will determine if the student is eligible for clinical accommodations and, if so, which accommodations are approved. The Accommodations Coordinator will consult with the Program Director and clinical faculty member(s) for the course the student is enrolled/intending to enroll in to determine if there is any question as to whether an accommodation may pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others. Available clinical accommodations may vary based on the relevant program, and/or course, and clinical site.

 4) The Accommodations Coordinator will meet with the student, in person or virtually, to discuss whether he/she has been deemed eligible for accommodations and, if so, which accommodations are approved.

1. If the student has been deemed eligible for academic accommodations, the Accommodations Coordinator will review the Statement of Eligibility (“SOE”) form with the student to ensure the student understands both the faculty and student responsibilities related to the student’s accommodations.
2. If the student has been deemed eligible for clinical accommodations, the student will work with the Program Director and/or the clinical faculty member(s) for the course to coordinate with the clinical site regarding the approved accommodations.
3. If the Accommodations Coordinator deems the student ineligible, he or she will communicate the rejection in writing to the student. The student may appeal this decision with the Accommodations Coordinator. The appeal process is as follows:
   • The student must submit a Petition to Appeal an Accommodations Decision Form to the Accommodations Coordinator within five (5) business days* of receipt of the denial of Accommodations. The form is attached below in Appendix A.
   • Within five (5) business days*, the Accommodations Committee will convene to review the Petition to Appeal an Accommodations Decision. The Accommodations Committee is an ad hoc committee consisting of the Program Director of the academic program the student is enrolled/intending to enroll in, the Vice President of Enrollment and Retention, the Vice President of Academic Affairs, and a Student Support representative.
   • When a decision has been reached, the Accommodations Committee will complete the Petition to Appeal an Accommodations Decision Form and submit it to the Accommodations Coordinator.
   • The Accommodations Coordinator will notify the student of the Accommodations Committee's decision within five (5) business days*. The Accommodations Committee’s decision is final.

 5) It is the student’s responsibility to initiate communication with their faculty regarding accommodations in the classroom. The student will be responsible for presenting their SOE letter to their appropriate faculty no later than the first week of classes. If the student changes their schedule, the student must notify the Accommodations Coordinator of said changes. If eligibility is determined after the start of the semester, faculty must be notified by the student within two (2) business days* after receipt of their SOE.

6)Faculty are required to meet with the student, either in person, by phone, or virtually, to review the approved accommodations.

7) If there are approved accommodations that may require additional academic preparation (e.g., captioning), the student will notify the appropriate faculty member within a minimum of fourteen (14) business days* to allow for adequate time for said preparation.

8)Once accommodations are approved, upon registration of classes each semester, the Accommodations Coordinator will email the student to verify if they wish to continue with their approved accommodations. If the student elects to continue receiving accommodations, the Accommodations Coordinator will email an updated SOE to the student, the Testing Center (if applicable), and the Program Director.

9)It is the student’s responsibility to communicate with the Accommodations Coordinator any requests for changes in and/or discontinuation of accommodations.

Confidentiality

The disclosure of any disability is considered confidential and will be treated in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Information released to other College employees will be done on a need to know basis and only after the student has signed a Release of Information form.