Resources for Students with Disabilities

We want you to have the resources you need to succeed. The Office of Learning Resources supports incoming and current students who need academic, testing, housing, dietary or parking accommodations for permanent and temporary disabilities. This includes accommodations for service animals and emotional support animals.

To receive accommodations, incoming and current students must complete the Accommodations Request Process. Accommodations are determined on case-by-case basis.

Accommodations Request Process

Step 1: Submit Accommodation Form

Complete the initial accommodation request form, with the student's contact information, details about their disability or medical condition and any specific accommodation(s) they are requesting. Supporting documentation can be uploaded with this form.

Step 2: Schedule Appointment with an Access Coordinator

Schedule an appointment with the Office of Learning Resources by calling 937-229-2066. These appointments are an interactive discussion where you will work with an experienced Access Coordinators to determine reasonable accommodations.

Step 3: Provide Documentation

Documentation may be provided before, during or after your appointment with an Access Coordinator. You may submit documentation by:

• Uploading it with the initial accommodation request form.
• Faxing it to 937-229-3270.
• Emailing it to disabilityservices@udayton.edu.

Incoming Students

• Housing and Dietary Accommodations: The online accommodation request for housing and/or dietary accommodations must be received by May 15. Schedule a telephone appointment with an Access Coordinator within two weeks of this request. (Requests made after the deadline will be considered, but any approved accommodations may be limited by housing availability.)
• Parking Accommodations: Schedule a telephone appointment with an Access Coordinator in May, June or July.
• Academic and Other Accommodations: Schedule an appointment as close to the beginning of the semester as possible. Appointments at the beginning of the semester fill up quickly, so schedule promptly.

Note: Incoming students may also contact us during the summer to discuss their information, but a meeting will still be needed at the beginning of the semester.

Current Students

• Housing and Dietary Accommodations: The online accommodation request for housing and/or dietary accommodations must be received by January 15. Schedule a telephone appointment with an Access Coordinator within two weeks of this request. (Requests made after the deadline will be considered, but any approved accommodations may be limited by housing availability.)
• Parking Accommodations: Schedule an appointment with an Access Coordinator as soon as your request is approved.
• Academic and Other Accommodations: Schedule an appointment as close to the beginning of the semester as possible. If the request is made mid-semester, schedule an appointment as soon as the request is approved. Appointments at the beginning of the semester fill up quickly, so schedule promptly.

The University uses the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) guidelines for documentation.

• For permanent disabilities, documentation should be relevant but does not necessarily have to be "recent." Historic information, supplemented by your meeting with Disability Services staff is often sufficient to describe how the condition impacts you currently.

• For new or temporary injuries and illnesses, documentation should be current.

Documentation from External Sources

Documentation should support your accommodation(s) request and in general, should adhere to the following guidelines.

Types of Records

• Educational records such as IEP or 504 plans, Summary of Performance (SOP), teacher observations and other reports of past accommodations.
• Medical records, reports and assessments created by health care providers, school psychologists, teachers, or the educational system such as multifactorial, psycho-educational or other evaluations.

Providers

• Documentation should be provided by a licensed or otherwise properly credentialed professional who has undergone appropriate and comprehensive training, has relevant experience and has no personal relationship with the individual being evaluated.
• Formal reports should be submitted in English, on signed and dated letterhead from the provider.

Content

• A clear diagnostic statement that describes how the condition was diagnosed, provide information on the functional impact, and details the typical progression or prognosis of the condition. This should include a description of the diagnostic criteria, evaluation methods, procedures, tests and dates of administration, as well as a clinical narrative, observation and specific results. If the condition is not stable, information on interventions (including the individual's own strategies) for exacerbations and recommended timelines for re-evaluation are most helpful.
• Information on how the disabling condition(s) currently impacts the individual, taking into account the individual's self-report, the results of formal evaluation procedures and clinical narrative to provide necessary information for identifying possible accommodations.
• A description of current and past accommodations, services, medications (and side-effects), auxiliary aids, assistive devices and support services, including their effectiveness. While accommodations provided in another setting are not binding on the current institution, they may provide insight in making current decisions.
• Recommendations for accommodations, services, auxiliary aids, assistive devices, compensatory strategies and support services and a logical relationship to their functional limitations.
• Supporting documentation for service and support animals must also include the following:
  • Your formal diagnosis based on DSM-V or ICD-10 guidelines, with associated codes.
  • For a service animal, a description of the work or tasks the animal is trained to perform; for an ESA, a description of how the animal will mitigate the symptoms of your diagnosed condition.

NOTE: Any costs associated with obtaining supporting documentation from outside sources are your responsibility. This includes any costs associated with diagnosing, evaluating, testing, printing, mailing, etc.

Academic accommodations may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Alternative testing
• Access to instructional material used in class
• Tape recording of classes
• Note taking support
• Assistive software, or other technology
• Ability to take breaks as needed
• Alternative formats for classroom materials and textbooks
• Change of classroom to an accessible location
• Copies of materials electronically displayed in class (not instructor' private notes)
• Faculty facing the class when speaking and/or wearing an assisted listening device
• Permission to audio record lectures (student must provide their own device)
• Preferential seating in the classroom
• Use of sign language interpreters/C-Printers or similar transcription service
• Course substitution/waiver

The Office of Learning Resources operates a testing center*, where accommodations may include:

• Provision to take breaks
• Distraction-reduced environment
• Extended time
• Use of assistive technology for accessing and completing exams
• Scribes

If you are approved for testing accommodations, you may use your accommodations for quizzes, tests, midterms and final exams. You will need to schedule all exams online and in advance.

*The Office of Learning Resources proctors and administers exams only for UD students who have been approved for testing accommodations. To request accommodations, follow the accommodation request process.

Assistive technology resources are available for studying, testing and other academic needs. Advanced assistive technologies for hearing, physical, speech and vision-related disabilities are also available. To receive any technology or equipment accommodations, you must complete the accommodations request process.

Sample Accommodations

• Speech-to-text and other specialized software
• Recording devices and other electronic equipment
• Adjustable tables for classrooms
• Video magnifiers

If approved for software and certain technology accommodations, you will meet with the Disability Services Technical Support Specialist. During that meeting, the Specialist will install any prescribed software and will provide training on any technological equipment.

To receive a course substitution, you must complete the accommodations request process and be approved based on your disability. You must complete all academic and internship requirements for the degree(s) you are pursuing, but is some cases, your disability may warrant substitution of a class or series of classes. Note that a course requirement is not waived, it is substituted by another course of equal academic rigor that meets the academic standards of the department in which the substitution was requested.

In some instances, however, a course substitution would NOT be considered an appropriate accommodation. These include:

• The class is an integral part of the program, major or minor; substitution would jeopardize the integrity of the particular program.
• The substitution could not fulfill the competency required for a particular degree.
• Your supporting documentation of your disability does not support the need for such accommodation.

If you are approved for the accommodation of a course substitution, a recommendation will be sent to your Dean's Office. You must work with your Academic Dean, Department Chair or Academic Advisor to finalize decisions regarding whether or not the substitution requested is essential to the program. If a you cannot meet the essential requirements of your specific program despite other appropriate accommodations, you may be considered unqualified to pursue that particular course of study. If that happens, academic, career and personal counseling resources are available at UD to assist you with pursuing another course of study.

Dining Services offers a variety of supports and services to accommodate allergies and other dietary needs.

• Dining Services provides menu information, nutritional details, and allergen identification to help guide food choices.
• Dining Services also operates the A+ Room, an allergen-friendly kitchen designed for students with food allergies and/or intolerances. Access to this secured space requires a documented medical need and a meeting with the Dining Services Administrative Dietitian.

If you have questions about general nutrition, food allergens or special dietary concerns, contact the University of Dayton's Administrative Dietician at 937-229-2441.

If you need assistance managing your dietary condition, you may contact the Director of Nursing in the Student Health Center at 937-229-3134.

If the combination of the above supports through Dining Service do not meet your dietary needs, you are welcome to contact the Office of Learning Resources to discuss other options.

Requesting Accommodations

To request dietary accommodations, you must complete the initial accommodation request by:

• January 15 (returning students)
• May 15 (new/incoming students)

Late requests will be reviewed in the order in which they are received and will be limited by housing availability.

All housing accommodation decisions are made with respect to medical necessity, regardless of your personal preferences. A recommendation from a diagnostician alone does not guarantee a housing accommodation. Determinations are made by the Housing Committee, which includes representatives from Disability Services, the Office of Housing and Residence Life, the Student Health Center and other consultants as necessary.

Examples of Accommodations

• Accessible features in living environment
• Limited number of roommates
• Attendant care*
• Close proximity to campus
• Service and support animals
• Technology for emergency notifications i.e. strobe light for fire alarm

Air Conditioning, Allergies and Asthma

All university housing has air conditioning and Housing and Residence Life has established cleaning procedures to reduce exposure to common allergens.

You may bring different personal devices such as a HEPA air filter, a humidifier, dehumidifier, etc., to help keep your learning and residential environment as comfortable as possible.

*Attendant Care

If you need Attendant Care in order to live independently in campus housing, you may also need additional housing accommodations. You are financially responsible for the cost of attendant care and must also work with the University to ensure you adhere to the guidelines for Attendant Care. Reach out to the Office of Learning Resources for additional information about guidelines.

Requesting Accommodations

To request disability housing accommodations, you must complete the initial accommodation request by:

• January 15 (returning students)
• May 15 (new/incoming students)

Late requests will be reviewed in the order in which they are received and will be limited by housing availability.

If you need assistance with medical injections, the Student Health Center can be an important resource.

In some cases, the injections are best managed through a local neurologist. If assistance is needed, the Student Health Center may facilitate a referral. Once the referral has been completed, it is recommended that you make an appointment with the neurologist to establish yourself as a patient prior to the need for an urgent visit.

If your treating neurologist/physician made the decision that you need to access to injectable medications, their office may fax the complete order (including diagnosis, medication dosage, route, frequency) to the Student Health Center. Once a complete order is received, the Student Health Center will evaluate the request to determine if the ordered injection is appropriate for administration on campus.

If you have a need for additional information about medical management of your condition while on campus, please feel free to contact the Student Health Center at 937-229-3134.

Many students find they can store their medications in their residence. If you find there is a need to maintain a larger supply of your medications, you can work with the Student Health Center to discuss storage options.

The Student Health Center has information about local pharmacies that may deliver to the University. If you have a need for additional information about medical management of your condition while on campus, please feel free to contact the Student Health Center at 937-229-3134.

To receive a parking/transportation accommodation, you must follow the accommodations request process. If approved for parking, accommodations the Office of Learning Resources will make a recommendation to Parking Services. Possible parking/transportation accommodations include:

• An exception to the University's published parking policies (e.g., granting a campus parking permit to a first-year student).
• A medical transportation assistants through LYFT.
• A UD handicap parking permit (requires proof of a current state-issued handicap permit).
• Campus shuttle (available without approved accommodation).

The School of Law Admissions Office considers an applicant with a disability in the same manner as any other applicant. There is no separate admissions application process for a student with a disability.

The procedure for documenting a disability and requesting an accommodation is outlined in the School of Law's Policy for Students with Disabilities, Appendix F-1.

The School of Law follows the multistate professional responsibility examination (MPRE) disability guidelines when determining eligibility for academic accommodations and utilizes consultation services from the Office of Learning Resources. Note: MPRE requirements regarding documentation of disability/medical condition for law school may be different from the requirements you have followed in K-12 and college settings.

Requesting Accommodations

• You must make your request for accommodations through the OLR's accommodations request process.
• If you request accommodations, you must make those needs known to the School of Law's Dean of Students and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs as soon as possible. Only students who seek reasonable accommodations for their disabilities need to make their disabilities known.
• You will also need to meet with the School of Law's Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to finalize and implement any accommodations for which you are approved.

Accommodations for either a service animal or emotional support animal require students to complete the accommodation request process and be approved. If your request is approved, handlers must adhere to certain guidelines.

Internships, practicum and student teaching offer an important learning environment for students. In many cases, you and the faculty or site coordinator can work together to address general accommodations.

As appropriate, the Office for Learning Resources would be happy to assist you or faculty in the process of determining appropriate accommodations for this learning environment. It is recommended that planning begin one term prior to your scheduled experience.

If you are a student who needs accommodations for a disability or medical condition while attending University of Dayton academic programs at remote sites, you can contact UD's Office of Learning Resources (937-229-2066) to discuss reasonable accommodations.

UD currently has exchange programs available for students to study in several countries. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to plan early for these opportunities.

Programs that are supported by University of Dayton may also be appropriate for approved academic accommodations.

Not all education abroad programs are experienced in providing reasonable accommodations. In many cases, accommodations do not apply to these countries, as they are not covered by the United Stated mandated legislation nor do they have similar legislation in their country.

Students are encouraged to communicate with the Office of Learning Resources early about their plans to study abroad so that we can discuss potential methods to address reasonable accommodations.

The Office of Learning Resources is dedicated to keeping all personal student information confidential and complies with the standards set by the Family Education Records and Privacy Act (FERPA), and all applicable federal and/or state law and university practices. Student disability information is maintained by our office in a secure environment.

It is important that you take responsibility for your own safety. If you have a medical condition that may be impacted by an emergency, you should develop an emergency plan or a strategy in advance.

For any emergency, the first step is to contact Public Safety at 937-229-2121 (or 911 from a campus phone). Please program these numbers into your cell phone. When reporting the emergency, state your location, specific needs and type of emergency and any additional information such as you use a wheelchair, a respirator or have breathing, stamina or health-related impairments.

If you have concerns about development of an emergency evacuation plan, contact the Environmental Health and Safety/Risk Management office at 937-229-4503.

You are also encouraged to familiarize yourself with UD's emergency response procedures guide and the emergency evacuation plans for campus buildings.