Students need to apply for accommodations through Accessibility Services before they can be put into place. This process consists of applying online, submitting documentation, meeting with an accessibility counselor, and requesting accommodations for each class.
This brief online application form allows students to provide information about their disability, how it impacts their education, and any history of previous accommodations.
Documentation of disability may be submitted as part of application process (see Step 2). Once the online Application Form and documentation are submitted, the final step is scheduling an Initial Meeting with a counselor (see Step 3).
Documentation that describes the nature of a disability including the diagnosis, functional limitations, and impacts in the educational environment is necessary in order to establish reasonable accommodations.
For disabilities diagnosed by a medical provider, students may provide a letter from their doctor or request that their medical/mental health provider complete the AS Disability Documentation Form. Other forms of documentation may include an audiogram, psychological evaluation, or an IEP along with an Evaluation Summary. For additional information, please review our Documentation Guidelines. or contact our office.
Documentation can be submitted at the time of application via one of the options outlined below:
· Upload documentation as part of the online AS Application Form
· Email to [email protected]
· Fax documentation to: 801-863-8377
· Deliver documentation in person to LC 312
Once the online Application Form and documentation are submitted, the final step is scheduling an Initial Meeting with a counselor (see Step 3).
Once registered with Accessibility Services (AS), a student may schedule an Initial Meeting with a counselor by logging into Clockwork using their student ID number and password.
Students not yet registered with Accessibility Services can schedule a General Information appointment by calling our office at 801-863-8747.
The purpose of the initial meeting is to allow the student and counselor to discuss the nature of the disability and how it impacts the student in the educational environment. The goal is to implement accommodations that will address the barriers the student is experiencing and help ensure equal access.
Careful consideration is taken to ensure that the accommodations do not fundamentally alter academic standards or modify the course curriculum. In some instances, consultation with faculty may be needed to ensure that the accommodations won’t fundamentally alter the essential elements of the course.
If accommodations cannot be determined during the Initial appointment, the student will be provided with an explanation regarding next steps needed which may include submitting additional documentation.
In the event that an accommodation is not approved and the student is in disagreement with the decision, they may contact the Director of Accessibility Services and/or submit an appeal and request reconsideration through the Grievance Process.
Once accommodations are approved, it is the student’s responsibility to submit an accommodation request online via Clockwork for each semester they would want to utilize their accommodations. Accommodations are not retroactive, so it is important to complete this step at the beginning of each semester.
Students are expected to:
· Review their Letter of Accommodation (LOA) to ensure that that they understand the parameters of their accommodations.
· Communicate with their instructors to ensure that the LOA was received and to discuss how to best implement the accommodations in each class.
· Notify their AS counselor immediately if they encounter problems with the accommodations.
Be advised that some accommodations may require further consultation before being fully implemented.
All information and documentation submitted to Accessibility Services (AS) is kept separate from academic records and is considered private under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). HIPAA privacy and confidentiality guides do not apply to documents submitted to AS, as they are not being used for medical treatment. Under FERPA guidelines, AS cannot guarantee complete confidentiality as there may be times when sharing some information with other UVU staff/faculty is necessary in the facilitation of the accommodation process.
Students will need to submit a Release of Information Form if they would like their AS Coordinator to discuss their disability and accommodations with a family member, healthcare provider, or other non-UVU staff. The AS Disability Documentation Form allows for communication between AS and the particular healthcare provider who completes the form.
