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Faith and Reason

Accessibility Services

Procedures for Requesting Accommodations

The Center for Success provides services and accommodations for students with diagnosed disabilities.

It is the responsibility of the student to provide information that verifies the student’s condition meets the definition of a disability as defined by applicable federal and state laws. A disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

Sources of information used for determining if a student qualifies for accommodations based upon the impact of a disability includes documentation from qualified evaluators or medical professionals, a student’s self-report, and/or direct observation and interaction with the student.

In Page Navigation

Steps to Request Accommodations
General Guidelines for Documentation
Forms
Additional Information
Temporary Accommodations and Services
Confidentiality and Release of Info
Appeal Process
Contact

Contact the Center for Success

[email protected]

Steps to Request Accommodations

Requests for services for student with disabilities will be considered on an individual, case-by-case basis. Students should adhere to the following procedures when requesting accommodations:

Gather current and appropriate documentation of a disability. Ideally, documentation should be completed within the last three years.
1. Students with learning disabilities, Autism spectrum disorders, and ADHD are expected to submit their most recent psychoeducational evaluation.
2. Students with medical, visual, or hearing related disabilities should have their treating practitioner complete the appropriate Verification of a Disability form.
  1. For additional information, please see the General Guidelines for Documentation tab. Please note that while Individual Educational Plans (IEPs) and 504 Plans are valuable resources of information, these generally do not include vital diagnostic information and cannot be used as sole documentation of a disability.
Complete the Application for Accessibility Services for all academic, housing, and dietary accommodation requests. This application allows the student an opportunity to self-report and describe his/her experiences related to the disability, barriers faced, previous accommodations used (both effective and ineffective), and accommodations he/she is hoping to receive.
If requested, you will need to login to The Port before completing the application.
Make sure to attached appropriate documentation where required. Original or scanned PDF files are preferred; paper copies will not be accepted.
Please note there is a “Save & Finish Later” button at the bottom of the form which you can click if you need to save progress and resume at a later date.
After your application and documentation have been received, please allow up to ten business days for our Accessibility Coordinator staff to review your file and contact you to schedule an Intake Meeting.
During the Intake Meeting, the student and the Accessibility Coordinator will discuss information gathered from the application and submitted documentation materials, and the student will formally apply for accommodations, services, and/or auxiliary aids.
If approved for accommodations, the student will schedule a follow-up appointment to receive and review copies of his/her Intake Summary. Accessibility Services Staff will provide a copy of his/her Eligibility Letter(s) to each instructor (for academic accommodations) or to Residence Life Staff (for housing and dietary accommodations).

General Guidelines for Documentation

The Center for Success provides academic, housing, and dietary accommodations for students with diagnosed disabilities. A disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

The Center for Success will review and consider all pieces of documentation submitted. Documentation will assist the Center for Success in understanding how the disability impacts the student in an academic or residential setting and the current impact of the disability as it relates to the accommodations requested.

Documentation must be from a qualified professional who is licensed or certified to diagnose the disability in question. All tests used to document eligibility must be technically sound, standardized, and normed on the adult scale. Documentation should be submitted by an external, qualified provider, as documentation from the University Counseling Center typically cannot be used on its own to support an accommodation request.

All documentation should be recent enough to reflect the student’s current level of functioning (within three years is recommended) and contain, at a minimum, the following:

A specific diagnostic statement identifying the disability including severity and date of current diagnostic evaluation.
Specific findings that support this diagnosis including relevant history, tests administered, test results, and interpretation of those test results.
- - Information concerning the impact of the disability on the educational setting including:
  - a description of the functional limitations due to the disability,
  - treatment plan and accommodation services currently prescribed or in use,
  - expected progression or stability of disability over time.
If not using one of Franciscan University’s Disability Verification Forms, the documentation should be on letterhead, typed, dated, signed, and include the evaluator’s name, address, telephone number, and professional credentials.
A brief note from a physician or health professional that simply requests an accommodation or provides a diagnosis without offering supporting documentation is not adequate for determining accommodations. This includes information or notes written on a prescription pad, as well as aftercare instructions issued to the patient.
The provider should refrain from restating the student’s self-report (e.g. “student reports,” “student endorses”); Accessibility Services requires objective diagnostic impressions.
Generally, single encounters meant solely for the purpose of obtaining a diagnosis is not, by itself, sufficient to reliably establish that an individual has a non-observable disability or disability-related need for accommodations and may be questioned by Accessibility Services.

To help ensure appropriate documentation details are provided, the student is encouraged to have his/her attending medical/psychiatric professional complete the appropriate Disability Verification Form provided by the Center for Success.

Forms based upon specific disabilities are available under the Accessibility Forms tab.

Please note that while Individual Educational Plans (IEPs) and 504 Plans are valuable resources of information, these generally do not include vital diagnostic information and cannot be used as sole documentation of a disability.

The Center for Success reserves the right to request additional documentation in order to support specific accommodations. If additional information is needed, the Center for Success may determine it is appropriate to provide temporary accommodations. Temporary accommodations will be determined based on the information that has been provided and are effective for only one semester.

Accessibility Forms

Dietary: Special Dietary Accommodation Policy and Request Form

Housing: Housing Request Procedures

Forms Regarding Particular Disabilities

ADD/ADHD Form

Communication and/or Language Disability Form

Hearing Disability Form

Medical Disability Form

Psychological or Emotional Disability Form

Visual Disability Form

Autism Spectrum Disorder Form

Additional Information

Admissions Details

The admissions process and criteria are the same for all students applying to Franciscan University of Steubenville, including those with disabilities. The provision of reasonable accommodations is provided at no additional cost to the student.

Note: If you received accommodations in high school, you will not necessarily receive them in college.

The diagnosis needs to meet the criteria of a “disabling condition” when compared to the average person in the general population.
The test data needs to support evidence of a current, significant, and functional limitation that impacts learning.
The evaluation must support a link between the disability and the requested accommodation.

Disability Details

A person with a disability is defined as someone who

(1) has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities

(2) has record of such impairment

(3) is regarded as having such impairment

These major life activities include abilities related to walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, or learning. Disabling conditions may include – but are not limited to – chronic health impairments, visual or hearing impairments, psychiatric disorders, traumatic brain injuries, specific learning disorders, attention deficit disorder, and mobility impairments.

Disclosure of your disability is optional and voluntary.

Disability-related Rights

FUS is not bound by your IEP.

While Section 504 does protect elementary, secondary, and postsecondary students from discrimination, several of the requirements that apply throughout elementary and high school are quite different from the requirements that apply in college.

The focus of accommodations at the post-secondary level is to ensure equal access to programs and services. Students with disabilities are encouraged to learn more about their rights and responsibilities by visiting the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights website.

Documentation

As stated above, eligibility guidelines differ from high school. An Individualized Education Plan or 504 Plan alone is not sufficient documentation. The Center for Success will require documentation from an appropriate professional, such as a medical doctor or psychologist. Depending upon the nature of the disability, the guidelines may be different.

Please refer to the Documentation Guidelines section for more information.

Once documentation has been submitted and reviewed by the Center for Success, the student will be contacted by phone or FUS e-mail address. The student is then required to schedule a time with the Accessibility Coordinator for an appointment to discuss submitted documentation, review the student’s Intake Form, and to formally apply for accommodations, services, and/or auxiliary aids. The Accessibility Coordinator will consider all relevant information when determining eligibility for accommodations.

Please refer to the Steps for Requesting Accommodations section for more information.

Student Self-Advocacy & Parent Support

The transition to college brings new responsibilities for students, including the expectation that they communicate directly with university offices and take an active role in requesting and using accommodations. For many families, this can also be an adjustment, as parents shift from being the primary communicator in K–12 to becoming a supportive partner in their student’s process.

Accessibility Services is committed to working in tandem with both students and families, since we share the same goal: helping students succeed. However, the college environment follows legal guidelines that require students to disclose their disability status and request accommodations on their own behalf. While we welcome parent questions and general communication, our office works primarily with the student directly as they develop self-advocacy skills and navigate the accommodation process.

Helpful Resources: Transitioning from High School to College

For students and families who want to better understand how disability supports and accommodations work in higher education, these U.S. Department of Education resources are helpful:

Graduation Requirements

In providing accommodations, Franciscan University of Steubenville is not required to lower or substantially modify essential requirements. For example, although you may be approved for extended testing time, the university is not required to change the substantive content of the test.

In addition, Franciscan University of Steubenville will not make adjustments that would fundamentally alter the nature of a service, program, or activity, or that would result in an undue financial or administrative burden

Housing Accommodations

Students needing to request housing accommodations based upon a disability are encouraged to submit appropriate documentation as soon as possible after acceptance to Franciscan University.

The Housing Accommodation Request Procedures, Application, and Verification of Disability forms based upon specific disabilities can be found under Accessibility Forms.

Deadlines for Housing Accommodation Requests:

April 1: Returning Students

May 1: New Students enrolling for Fall Semester

November 1: New Students enrolling for Spring Semester

While the Center for Success will review housing accommodation requests that are submitted after these deadlines, a room that meets the student’s accommodation needs may no longer be available in university housing, and the student would then be placed on a waitlist until such time as a suitable room becomes available.

All required documentation must be received by the appropriate due date for a request to be considered. Late requests will be considered for the following semester. For more information, contact the Center for Success at 740-284-5263.

Temporary Accommodations and Services

The Center for Success offers a wide variety of legally mandated services to students with temporary documented disabilities. Services are extended to students with temporary disabilities only for the duration of their functional limitations associated with their disability.

The eligibility process is the same as for permanent disability cases. After reviewing your documentation, the Accessibility Coordinator will determine appropriate academic services and accommodations depending upon how you are limited in the academic setting. The Center for Success will work with you in accessing the accommodations for which you are eligible. Your instructor will be sent eligibility letters from the Accessibility Services office outlining the requested accommodations that have been approved.

Examples of temporary disabilities:

- Broken hand or arm with which you write
- Broken leg or foot which impedes mobility
- Complications of medical treatment
- Short-term medical conditions
- Surgical procedure

The Center for Success and Franciscan University of Steubenville DO NOT provide personal assistance or devices to students with temporary disabilities such as building-to-building transportation, carrying of books/personal items, or providing of mobility devices (wheelchairs or scooters).

Confidentiality and Release of Information

General Information

Franciscan University of Steubenville (FUS) recognizes that student disability records contain confidential information and are to be treated as such. All disability related information submitted for the purpose of receiving accommodations is maintained in locked cabinets within the Center for Success and on secure University servers.

While disability-related information is not considered part of your permanent educational record, all documentation is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and will be released from your file in the following circumstances only:

Your written permission
For a legitimate educational reason to specific faculty or staff
A court order

If approved for services, the accommodation process requires disclosure of a student’s disability status to faculty and staff in order to adapt courses, equipment, or facilities to ensure equal access. Information is shared with faculty (for academic accommodations) and Residence Life staff (for housing and dietary accommodations) through formal accommodation letters. These letters disclose the presence of a disability but do not provide any specific information regarding your condition(s).

The Center for Success staff is very sensitive to and respectful of your right to privacy and confidentiality. As such, disability information may be released to persons outside the University only when a student has signed a Release of Information form. In addition, a student may request to review the contents of his/her own file when the Accessibility Coordinator is present. However, all information in the file is the property of FUS.

Release Forms

Release of Information to the Center for Success

This form is used to request documentation of a disability from a medical or counseling facility where the disability was diagnosed.

Release of Information from the Center for Success

This form is used when a student is requesting information from their file be sent to a testing agency, medical, educational professional, or to the student directly.

Appeal Process

Franciscan University of Steubenville and the Center for Success supports a student’s right to file an appeal when he/she believes they have been denied equal access in the form of appropriate accommodations, modifications, auxiliary aids, or effective communication or suffered discrimination as described in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Fair Housing Act, Ohio Administrative Code 4112-5-09, or other applicable federal and state regulations.

To file an appeal of an unsatisfactory decision, students must comply with the following procedure:

Discuss concerns with the Accessibility Coordinator.

The student must first attempt to resolve his/her concerns with the Accessibility Coordinator (or designee). The Accessibility Coordinator (or designee) will coordinate a meeting to discuss the students’ concerns which may include other University administrators as necessary.

Request a review by the Appeals Committee.

If the students’ concerns are not resolved after meeting with the Accessibility Coordinator (or designee), the student can file an appeal with the Appeals Committee. This formal appeal must be submitted in writing, within 7 (seven) calendar days from the receiving the decision in Step 1 above, to the Director for Student Success (or designee) via email, hand, or mail delivery. The appeal needs to contain the name, street address, email address, telephone number, and student ID of the student complainant and a description of the allegations of his/her appeal . The student complainant must include specific facts in support of the allegations.

The Appeals Committee will generally decide an appeal within 20 (twenty) calendar days from when the appeal was received by the Director of Student Success (or designee); if the decision will take longer, the Appeals Committee will let the student complainant know that additional time is needed to render a decision and the anticipated decision date. The decision of the Appeals Committee is final.

External Resolution Procedure.

If a student has tried and failed to satisfactorily resolve his/her concern via the University’s internal processes, the student may pursue a resolution by filing his/her complaint with another regulatory body or agency, such as:

Ohio Civil Rights Commission

30 East Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: 1-614-466-2785
Website: Ohio Civil Rights Commission

Ohio Department of Higher Education
25 South Front Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-6000
Website: Ohio Department of Higher Education

Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois 60604-1411
Phone: 800-621-7440
Website: Higher Learning Commission

NOTE: RETALIATION PROHIBITED. No person may intimidate, threaten, coerce, or discriminate against any individual for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by this process, or because the individual has made a report or complaint, testified, assisted, or participated or refused to participate in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this process.