Request Accommodations
All students, please log into the Accommodate portal with your 17勛圖厙 credentials to submit a request for accommodations and supporting documentation.
Requests for accommodations and supporting documentation are submitted through the Accommodate portal.
Based on the professional documentation, an interactive process with the student, and an individualized assessment, accommodations are available when reasonable and applicable. The Office of Student Accessibility Services determines reasonable accommodations and has the right to implement effective alternatives to suggested accommodations.
Current students should submit their request and the supporting documentation through the portal. Once appropriate documentation is received, please allow at least 2 weeks for the review process and determination which involves a review of the documentation, along with an interactive process consisting of conversations with the requesting student, and often interactions with the treatment providers or evaluators who have written the uploaded documentation. Note: The Health Services portal is separate from the Office of Accessibility Services and records are not shared between the two offices.
If documentation submitted is not current, students may need to be re-evaluated. Thanks to a generous donation made by a 17勛圖厙 alumnus and his family, limited funds can be made available to students with demonstrated need.
The Office of Student Accessibility Services will provide referral information about assessment, rehabilitation and other support services in the local area when possible. It is the responsibility of the student to make financial and transportation arrangements when using any service not affiliated with the College.
All students, please log into the Accommodate portal with your 17勛圖厙 credentials to submit a request for accommodations and supporting documentation.
Documentation must be current: within the last 1 year for Mental Health and Medical Disabilities, 3 years for ADHD or 5 years for Learning Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorder. These timeframes do not apply to physical or sensory disabilities of a permanent or unchanging nature.
Documentation must describe the daily impact resulting from the disability and list the tests or techniques used to arrive at the diagnosis of the disability (include evaluation date[s] and test results with relevant subtest scores).
Additionally, documentation should include complete educational, developmental, and medical history relevant to the disability for which accommodations are being requested.
Documentation should describe the specific accommodations requested, which should be supported by test results, and indicate how the specific condition(s) can be accommodated. Please let us know why the accommodation(s) are necessary in a college environment. This must be presented on official letterhead and signed by an official evaluator qualified to make the diagnosis (include information about license or certification and area of specialization).
Documentation must be typed or printed on official letterhead and signed by an official evaluator qualified to make the diagnosis (include information about license or certification and area of specialization). Professionals conducting assessments, rendering diagnoses of specific disabilities, and making recommendations for appropriate accommodations must be qualified to do so. Comprehensive training with regard to the specific disability being addressed and direct experience with an adolescent and/or adult population is essential.
Self-diagnosis, parental diagnosis, or diagnosis by a non- licensed provider without medical verification is not considered valid documentation. It is also not appropriate for professionals to evaluate members of their own families.
Please see specific documentation guidelines for more information.
Terms such as "indicative of" or "suggests" a disability do not qualify. A diagnostic statement alone is generally not sufficient The summary should also include any record of prior accommodation or auxiliary aids. Prior history of accommodation does not, in and of itself, warrant the provision of a similar accommodation. A school plan such as an individualized education program (IEP) or a 504 plan is not sufficient documentation but can be included as part of a more comprehensive student profile.
The following guidelines are provided in the interest of assuring that evaluation reports are appropriate to document eligibility. The Office of Student Accessibility Services is available to consult with diagnosticians regarding any of these guidelines.
1. Qualified professional:
Professionals conducting assessments and rendering diagnoses of ADHD must have training in differential diagnosis and the full range of psychiatric disorders. The following professionals would generally be considered qualified to evaluate and diagnose ADHD provided they have comprehensive training in the differential diagnosis of ADHD and direct experience with an adolescent or adult ADHD population:
Use of diagnostic terminology indicating ADHD by someone whose training and experience are not in these fields is not acceptable. It is also not appropriate for professionals to evaluate members of their own families.
Reports from a qualified practitioner should be submitted on letterhead and include:
2. Documentation should be current:
Because the provision of all reasonable accommodations and services is based upon assessment of the current impact of the disability on academic performance, it is in an individual's best interest to provide recent and appropriate documentation. In most cases, this means that a diagnostic evaluation has been completed within the past three years. Flexibility in accepting documentation which exceeds a three-year period may be important under certain conditions if the previous assessment is applicable to the current or anticipated setting. If documentation is inadequate in scope or content or does not address the individual's current level of functioning and need for accommodation(s), re-evaluation may be warranted. It is the students responsibility to pay for costs associated with obtaining sufficient documentation. Funding may be available for students with demonstrated need.
3. Documentation should be comprehensive and include:
A. Specific diagnosis
The report must include a specific diagnosis of ADHD based on the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. The diagnostician should use direct language in the diagnosis of ADHD, avoiding the use of terms such as "suggests," "is indicative of", or "attention problems". Individuals who report only problems with organization, test anxiety, memory and concentration in selective situations do not fit the prescribed diagnostic criteria for ADHD.
B. Evidence of early impairment
Because ADHD is, by definition, first exhibited in childhood (although it may not have been formally diagnosed) and manifests itself in more than one setting, relevant historical information is essential. The following should be included in a comprehensive assessment: clinical summary of objective, historical information establishing symptomology indicative of ADHD throughout childhood, adolescence, and adulthood as garnered from transcripts, report cards, teacher comments, tutoring evaluations, past psychoeducational testing, and/or third-party interviews.
C. Evidence of current impairment
A history of the individual's presenting attentional symptoms and evidence of current impulsive/hyperactive or inattentive behaviors that significantly impair functioning in two or more settings must be provided. History of full assessment which includes information about the impact of the symptoms on the students functioning in and out of the classroom setting. It is important the evaluation addresses the severity and frequency of the symptoms and indicates whether the symptoms constitute an impairment of a major life activity.
D. Alternative diagnoses
The evaluator must investigate and discuss the possibility of dual diagnoses, and alternative or co-existing mood, behavioral, neurological, and/or personality disorders which may confound the diagnosis of ADHD.
E. Relevant testing
Neuropsychological or psychoeducational assessment is important in determining the current impact of the disorder on the individual's ability to function in academically related settings. The evaluator should objectively review and include in the evaluation report relevant background information to support the diagnosis. If grade equivalents are reported, they must be accompanied by standard scores and/or percentiles. Test scores or subtest scores alone should not be used as a sole measure for the diagnostic decision regarding ADHD. Selected subtest scores from measures of intellectual ability, memory functions tests, attention or tracking tests, or continuous performance tests do not in and of themselves establish the presence or absence of ADHD. Checklists and/or surveys can serve to supplement the diagnostic profile but in and of themselves are not adequate for the diagnosis of ADHD and do not substitute for clinical observations and sound diagnostic judgment. All data must logically reflect a substantial limitation to learning for which the individual is requesting the accommodation.
F. An interpretative summary
An interpretative summary based on a comprehensive evaluative process is a necessary component of the documentation.
G. Recommended accommodations
The diagnostic report should include specific recommendations for accommodations that are reasonable and that postsecondary institutions, examining, certifying, and licensing agencies can reasonably provide. A detailed explanation should be provided as to why each accommodation is recommended and should be correlated with specific functional limitations determined through interview, observation, and/or testing.
H. Rationale
Each accommodation recommended by the evaluator should include a rationale. The evaluator(s) should describe the impact, if any, of the diagnosed ADHD on a specific major life activity as well as the degree of impact on the individual.
*Although prior documentation may have been useful in determining appropriate services in the past, current documentation should validate the need for services based on the individual's present level of functioning in the educational setting. The documentation should include any record of prior accommodations or auxiliary aids, including information about specific conditions under which the accommodations were used (e.g., standardized testing, final exams, licensing or certification examinations) and whether or not they benefited the individual. However, a prior history of accommodations, without demonstration of a current need, does not in itself warrant the provision of a like accommodation. If no prior accommodations were provided, the qualified professional and/or the individual should include a detailed explanation as to why no accommodations were used in the past and why accommodations are needed at this time.
The following guidelines are provided in the interest of assuring that evaluation reports are appropriate to document eligibility. The Office of Student Accessibility Services is available to consult with diagnosticians regarding any of these guidelines.
1.Qualified professional
The following professionals are generally considered qualified to submit documentation, provided they have comprehensive training and relevant experience in assessing learning disabilities in adolescents and adults:
Reports from a qualified practitioner should be submitted on letterhead and include:
2. Documentation should be current
Because the provision of all reasonable accommodations and services is based upon assessment of the current impact of the disability on academic performance, it is in an individual's best interest to provide recent and appropriate documentation. In most cases, this means that a diagnostic evaluation has been completed within the past five years. Flexibility in accepting documentation which exceeds a five year period may be important under certain conditions if the previous assessment is applicable to the current or anticipated setting. If documentation is inadequate in scope or content or does not address the individual's current level of functioning and need for accommodation(s), re-evaluation may be warranted. It is the students responsibility to pay for the cost associated with obtaining sufficient documentation. Funding may be available for students with demonstrated need.
3. Documentation should be comprehensive and include:
A. Diagnosis
A diagnosis of a specific learning disability is necessary. Individual "learning styles," "learning differences," "academic problems," and "test difficulty or anxiety," in and of themselves, do not constitute a learning disability.
B. Pertinent background information and assessments
The student report should include a complete assessment of intellectual functioning/aptitude and comprehensive academic achievement battery that measures current levels of functioning in reading (decoding and comprehension), mathematics and oral and written language.
The following list of assessments is provided as a helpful resource, but it is not intended to be definitive or exhaustive.
Aptitude
*The Slosson Intelligence Test - Revised and the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test are primarily screening devices that are not comprehensive enough to provide the kinds of information necessary to make accommodation decisions.
Academic achievement
Specific achievement tests
(Specific achievement tests are useful instruments when administered under standardized conditions and interpreted within the context of other diagnostic information)
*The Wide Range Achievement Test - 3 (WRAT-3) is not a comprehensive measure of achievement and therefore is not useful if used as the sole measure of achievement.
Information processing
C. Integrated summary
The summary should:
The following guidelines are provided in the interest of assuring that information submitted is appropriate to document eligibility. The Office of Student Accessibility Services is available to consult with practitioners regarding any of these guidelines.
1. Qualified professional
The following professionals are generally considered qualified to submit documentation, provided they have comprehensive training and relevant experience:
2. Documentation should be current
Because the provision of all reasonable accommodations and services is based upon assessment of the current impact of the disability, it is in an individual's best interest to provide recent and appropriate documentation. In most cases, this means that the documentation should generally not be more than a year old. Acceptable documentation is dependent upon whether or not the condition is permanent, or will change over time. If the disability is a permanent, lifelong condition, documentation may not need to be as recent, however, specific recommendations that pertain to the current academic setting should still be provided.
3. Documentation should include:
The following guidelines are provided in the interest of assuring that information submitted is appropriate to document eligibility. The Office of Student Accessibility Services is available to consult with practitioners regarding any of these guidelines.
1. Qualified professional
The following professionals are generally considered qualified to submit documentation, provided they have comprehensive training, relevant experience, and an established rapport with the student:
2. Documentation should be current
Because the provision of all reasonable accommodations and services is based upon assessment of the current impact of the disability, and due to the changing nature of psychiatric/psychological conditions, it is in an individual's best interest to provide recent and appropriate documentation. In most cases, this means that documentation should be current and not more than a year old. Students may be required to provide updated documentation on a case-by-case basis.
3. Documentation should include:
1. A specific, current psychiatric diagnosis as per the DSM 5, which indicates the nature, frequency, and severity of the symptoms upon which the diagnosis was predicated. A diagnosis without an explicit listing of current symptoms is not sufficient.
4. An integrated summary that:
indicates the substantial limitations to major life activities posed by the psychiatric disability
describes the extent to which these limitations would impact the academic context for which accommodations are being requested
suggests how the specific effects of the psychiatric disorder may be accommodated
states how the effects of the psychiatric disorder are mediated by the recommended accommodations
*Documentation guidelines adapted with guidance from AHEAD Documentation Guidelines, revised 2008.
Please refer to our documentation guidelines to ensure your current documentation meets the criteria. School plans, such as IEPs or 504 plans, are not considered sufficient documentation.
Many evaluations are performed on a child scale (if the student is under 16) and are more relative to the K-12 setting. Updated documentation helps determine reasonable accommodations at the college level and keeps students eligible for accommodations on tests, such as the GRE, MCAT, etc, and grad school if applicable.
We provide reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis. Accommodations include the academic setting, housing, dining, and transportation.
The student is responsible for self-disclosing their disability and making the request for accommodations. Once the student has their 17勛圖厙 ID, 17勛圖厙 email, and appropriate documentation, they can initiate their request in our secure
Ensure they are familiar with their condition and their accommodation needs. Encourage self-advocacy and seeking help when needed. Familiarize yourself with resources.
We will begin the intakes for the incoming class after our graduation (early June). The process can take at least two weeks and will include a meeting with the student and one of our staff members.
DREAM is open to college students with disabilities and allies, DREAM aims to develop disability culture on college campuses, advance the study and inclusion of disability in higher education, and empower students to create local and national change.
DREAM Peer Educators create social media campaigns, run lobby tables, and host events that educate the community about disability rights. We meet weekly to work on these programs, attend training at the beginning of every spring semester, and have the opportunity to become NASPA Peer-Educator Certified.
DREAM provides a multitude of different programs on campus throughout the school year. These programs include social media campaigns, therapy dogs, lobby tabling, and guest speaker events. DREAM peer educators act as a referral for individuals who are seeking assistance from the Office of Student Accessibility Services.
The Career Accessibility Program is a mentoring program for first-year students who identify as having a disability to be paired with upper-class students who also identify that way. Students will meet on their own and attend events throughout the Spring and Fall semesters. Conversations and events will focus on the career development of the mentee.
The mentor position is a volunteer role that will last the length of the Spring and Fall semesters. Each mentor may have up to 2 mentees. Mentors and mentees will be asked to meet (virtually or otherwise) at least once a month and we plan to have a virtual introductory kick-off session toward the end of the current semester.
CAP connects first-year students to upperclassmen with disabilities, and upperclassmen with HC Alumni in the Workforce. This is in collaboration with the Center for Career Development. Mentor/Mentee opportunity in the area of disability, both college and work career.
Eye to Eye is a national non-profit organization that cultivates a community of individuals who identify as neurodivergent! This mentoring program pairs neurodivergent middle schoolers with 17勛圖厙 students mentors who share similar experiences.
Mentors meet with mentees weekly in small groups, and together they complete fun art-based projects to help students build self-esteem, and develop essential social-emotional skills for school and life! Transportation is provided to / from the local middle school.
Do you identify as neurodivergent and want to connect with others who share your experience? Are you interested in making the most of ND Network, which will be an affinity space for neurodiverse students at 17勛圖厙! Individuals who identify as neurodiverse may have the following but not limited to disabilities: ADHD, learning disabilities, audio processing disorder, autism, generalized anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sensory processing disorder, social anxiety, and Tourette syndrome.
Goals of the Program: