Determining Reasonable Accommodations

A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to a course, program, service, activity or facility that enables a qualified student with a disability to have an equal opportunity to attain the same level of performance or enjoy equal benefits and privileges as those that are available to similarly situated students without disabilities. The University is obligated to provide accommodation only to the known limitations of an otherwise qualified student with a disability.

Reasonable accommodations are determined by examining the barriers in the campus community resulting from a documented disability. Considerations may include the possible accommodations that might remove the barriers; whether or not the student has access to the course, program, service, activity or facility without an accommodation; and whether or not essential elements of the course, program, service, activity or facility are compromised by the accommodations.

Accommodations for Lasell students are determined on an individual basis, upon review of comprehensive disability documentation and confidential consultation with the student requesting accommodation. Students requesting accommodations must provide appropriate documentation to the Academic Achievement Center and/or the Director of Disability Services in a timely manner, and whenever possible in advance of the beginning of an academic term.

Academic Accommodations

Students with learning or physical challenges who provide current medical and/or psycho-educational documentation may receive appropriate accommodations.

Request Academic Accommodations

Documentation for Academic Accomodations

In most cases, documentation must be current to within three years of the student's date of admission to the University. Documentation, including learning disability and ADD/ADHD documentation, must include diagnostic test results from standardized instruments, specific diagnoses, a summary of the rationale supporting the need for accommodations, and recommendations regarding accommodations. The documentation must relate to the specific area in which the student is requesting a service or program modification, and must have been completed by a qualified professional with experience working with University age populations.

Submission of Individualized Education Programs and 504 plans from high school may be useful in providing additional information in determining accommodations. Typically, accommodations that may have supported academic success in high school, do not apply directly to a university environment. Approved accommodations often differ from those previously provided, as they must appropriately address the current impact of the disability on the student's performance in a collegiate setting.

Non-Academic On-Campus Accommodations

Students with disabilities who provide current medical and/or clinical documentation may also receive appropriate accommodations outside of their classroom experience. Accommodation requests may include housing accommodations for residential students, approval of service or emotional support animals, special needs parking, and food modification plans.

Request Non-Academic On-Campus Accommodations

Documentation for On-Campus Residential Accommodation

In most cases, documentation must be current to within three years of the student's date of admission to the University. Documentation for residential accommodations should be provided in the form of a letter from a physician/psychologist (and additional medical documentation may also be submitted). The letter needs to contain detailed information as to the medical and/or emotional condition of the student, and how the specific condition(s) necessitates the type of accommodations being requested. Whenever possible, documentation is best provided by a medical specialist or licensed clinician. Documentation from primary care providers typically does not meet the criteria of comprehensive documentation.

Comprehensive documentation may include a detailed accounting of the following:

• Diagnostic statement identifying the disability;
• Description of the current functional limitations;
• Description of the expected progression or stability of the disability;
• Description of current or past accommodations, services and/or medications;
• Statement about how the requested accommodation need relates to the student's full access and/or participation in the University community.

Due to the limited nature of our housing inventory, not all requests can be accommodated. For example, in most cases, a diagnosis of ADD/ ADHD or Anxiety and Depression does not result in a single room accommodation. Students not granted singles, may equally benefit from other accommodation options such as quiet study housing.

Information for New Students

Incoming first-year and transfer students should submit documentation that is consistent with due dates published in Lasell University's Welcome Packet.

Accommodation requests and documentation received after established deadlines will receive full consideration, but receipt after identified deadlines may delay the process and/or limit accommodation options, particularly as it relates to on-campus needs.

Contact Accessibility Services Office

Stephen Hawthorne
Director of Accessibility Services and Academic Support
shawthorne@lasell.edu
617-243-2212