Accessibility Services
Students seeking reasonable accommodations and support services on the basis of a diagnosed permanent or temporary disability are required to submit documentation to verify eligibility under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
The Office of Accessibility Services seeks to provide support services that enable students with documented disabilities to maximize their academic participation and learning experience. The purpose for reasonable accommodations is to provide equal access to academic opportunities by reducing or eliminating disadvantages due to a disability.
The provision of all reasonable accommodations and services is based upon a case-by-case assessment of the impact of the student’s diagnosis on their academic performance and/or college participation at a given time in the student’s academic life. Reasonable accommodations do not guarantee specific outcomes or level of achievement.
Documentation of a disability is required upon requesting accommodations related to a disability. Documentation for Academic Accommodations should not be older than three (3) years and must be provided by a licensed professional or medical doctor. Documentation for Housing Accommodations should not be older than one (1) year and must be provided by a licensed professional or medical doctor.
Examples of Acceptable Forms of Documentation:
- Audiogram by an audiologist
- Report by an ophthalmologist or optometrist
- Letter from a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, neurologist, or appropriate medical professional based on DSM-5-TR Criteria
- Documentation of disease, illness, etc… from an appropriate physician or specialist listing any functional limitation(s) and their impact
- Educational evaluation, IEP, or 504 Plan (3 years old or less)
Students seeking information on the process and eligibility should contact the Office of Accessibility Services by emailing oas@umsv.edu. Email is the preferred method of communication.
