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The Center for Accessibility Services, like disability services offices on other college campuses, is committed to eliminating barriers for students with disabilities to access courses, programs, services, and/or facilities at the College. In other words, we seek to 鈥渓evel the playing field鈥� for students with disabilities, not to ensure their success or to provide an advantage. Equal access is mandated by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).

Undergraduate and graduate students with documented disabilities can apply for accommodations. Documented disabilities may be psychological, neurological, medical, learning, and include hearing loss or Deafness, vision loss or Blindness, and mobility- related impairments.

A student is eligible for accommodations at the college if:

1. They meet the same admission requirements and standards of behavior and performance required of all students at the college;
2. They have a diagnosed disability and submit appropriate documentation;
3. They have engaged in an interactive process with staff from the Center for Accessibility Services, and through this process, they have been deemed eligible for reasonable.

Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis. In order to request academic, housing, and/or dietary accommodations, students must submit an application which includes their student testimony and supportive documentation which is thoroughly reviewed by the Center for Accessibility Services team to assess the impact of their diagnoses on their academic experience. CAS then engages in a careful, interactive process to determine accommodation eligibility. Please refer to Accommodations Process for more information.

Faculty receive letters via email from the Center for Accessibility regarding students’ accommodations, but their diagnoses are never disclosed. After receiving a letter, a faculty member may speak to a student to learn more about the student’s needs. In general, it is not appropriate to ask about a student’s diagnosis, nor is it appropriate for faculty to “negotiate” with students regarding how accommodations are implemented.

Note on Timing: Most Letters of Accommodations are sent during the first few weeks before classes, but you can receive them any time throughout the semester. In accordance with ADA and Section 504 law, you cannot set a cut-off date for accommodation implementation. Students can request new accommodations or changes to existing accommodations at any time. Additionally, accommodations are not retroactive.

Yes. They have a legal responsibility to ensure each course is accessible for qualified students with disabilities. Faculty cannot unilaterally decide how a student’s accommodation will be implemented or determine that the accommodation fundamentally alters their course. The ADA mandates students’ right to accommodations and their right to file complaints through the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights and/or lawsuits through the Department of Justice against the College for financial reimbursement if their accommodations are not provided.

Note: Faculty and staff can ensure access to the greatest number of students and reduce the need for individualized disability accommodations by incorporating the Principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). For more information on UDL, please refer to or reach out to access@endicott.edu for a consultation.

Yes. Disability information is privileged and confidential, and should be accessed only by those 鈥渨ith a need to know鈥�. Students are not required to divulge the nature of their disability to faculty and staff, nor provide them with documentation. However, students are always free to self-disclose.

Accommodation eligibility is based on an in-depth review of a student’s documentation and student’s testimony as part of the interactive process with the staff of the Center for Accessibility Services team.

An accommodation is determined to be reasonable if...

1. It is an appropriate adjustment required for a student to have equal access to the College's programs and activities, inside or outside the classroom.
2. It does not pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others.
3. It does not pose an undue financial or administrative burden.
4. Through discussions between the Center for Accessibility Services and appropriate college personnel, it is determined that the accommodation does not “fundamentally alter the nature of the program or course.”

In some rare cases, it may be best to form a committee of informed persons who collectively are knowledgeable about the academic area, licensing requirements, accreditation standards, and the student’s disability to determine if an accommodation fundamentally alters a course or program.

If you have concerns about how to apply an accommodation in your course, please contact access@endicott.edu to set up a consultation.