Western State College of Colorado

DISABILITY SERVICES HANDBOOK 2008 - 2009

Accommodation Procedures

• A student with a disability may request accommodation by scheduling an intake appointment, submitting a request for services, and providing appropriate documentation to the Disability Services (DS) office, located in College Union 201. Students choosing to access disability support services should contact the DS office as soon as possible after acceptance to Western.

• Requesting an accommodation or identifying oneself as having a disability is voluntary.

• Students who qualify for services work with the DS staff to determine reasonable accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids and services. DS staff may consult with faculty, staff, and outside professionals regarding essential course elements and reasonable accommodations.

• Reasonable accommodation is individualized to the person and the situation.

• Reasonable accommodation need not be the best accommodation available, as long as it effectively provides meaningful access to the program or activity.

• DS will provide a "DS Accommodation Notification Form" for faculty members that certifies the existence of the student's disability and recommends reasonable accommodations. Students will deliver the forms to professors who teach classes in which the student is requesting accommodation.

• Students, faculty, and staff should refer to DS procedures to make arrangements for accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids and services.

• Students with disabilities are responsible for contacting DS if reasonable accommodations are not implemented in a timely way or are not effective.

• Common academic accommodations include, but are not limited to: exam modifications or adjustments, notetakers, readers, scribes, taped textbooks, alternate print formats, assistive technology, course substitutions, priority registration, taped lectures, and classroom relocations.

• Policies and procedures for the most commonly requested accommodations at Western are included in this handbook. Contact the DS office for policies and procedures for other accommodations.

Accomodation is not required if:

• it would create a direct threat to the health and safety of others;

• it would require a substantial change in an essential element of the program or a substantial alteration in the manner in which services are provided;

• it would create an undue financial or administrative burden on the College.

Links to Accommodation Procedures:

• Alternative Formats of Text
• Alternative Testing
• Course Substitution
• Interpreter Services
• Notetaking Services
• Priority Registration
• Service Animals

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