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STUDENT REQUESTS
FOR
DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS
**************
ADA POLICY & PROCEDURES
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A. Prospective Student
B. Admissions Representative
C. Director of Admissions
D. Director of Education/Academic Dean
E. Executive Director/Campus President
Relative Responsibilities
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A. Prospective Student
• Any admissions decisions should not be influenced by the
existence of a request for accommodation.
• If an applicant discloses to the Admissions Representative that
they have a disability, describes what it is, and asks if the
school can accommodate the disability, then the following must
take place:
Relative Responsibilities
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B. Admissions Representative
• Informs Prospective Student that Lincoln is an ADA-compliant
school, but that the Admissions Representative is unable to
discuss accommodations and must contact the Director of
Admissions, to make them aware of situation. The Director of
Admissions then must contact the Director of Education/
Academic Dean, who is the person charged with handling the
prospect’s situation. (NOTE: If Director of Admissions is
unavailable, Admissions Representative should refer the
prospect directly to the Director of Education/Academic Dean)
Relative Responsibilities
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C. Director of Admissions
• After being briefed by the Admissions Representative, refers
the Prospective Student to the Director of Education/Academic
Dean
Relative Responsibilities
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D. Director of Education/Academic Dean • Meets with the Prospective Student to explain Lincoln’s ADA
accommodations procedure & discuss possible
accommodations, such as academic adjustments and auxiliary
aids, depending on the nature of the disability.
• Director of Education/Academic Dean should consider if the
situation raises issues regarding one or more of the following;
such as whether: – The Prospective Student will be able to meet essential curricular requirements
with a reasonable accommodation
– The Prospective Student’s disability/accommodation may create issues of safety
for the student or others
– The disability or accommodation will interfere with other students’ participation in
the program
– The disability will impair the Prospective Student’s ability to benefit from program
– The accommodation would impose an undue burden on the school
Relative Responsibilities
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• If any of the issues noted arise, and to ensure compliance with
applicable laws, the Director of Education/Academic Dean
and/or the Executive Director/Campus President should contact
the Corporate Legal Department, before having further
discussions with the student, regarding possible
accommodations.
• Communicates to the student/applicant whether requested
accommodation has been denied or granted. If granted, the
Director of Education/Academic Dean formulates the plan for
implementation with input of Executive Director/Campus
President and those faculty members who will need to know the
information.
Relative Responsibilities
D. Director of Education/Academic Dean
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• Informs student whose request has been granted that he/she
should report any accommodation issues or questions during
training to the Director of Education/Academic Dean, or, in their
absence, to the Executive Director/Campus President.
• [Specifics as to the ADA Policy/Procedure will be discussed in
subsequent slides.]
Relative Responsibilities
D. Director of Education/Academic Dean
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E. Executive Director/Campus President
• Is the designated coordinator of Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act
• Keeps their Group President apprised of disability
accommodation situations and contacts the Corporate Legal
Department for questions, concerns, or general guidance, as
set forth in Director of Education/Academic Dean Relative
Responsibilities slides
• Receives appeal of student/applicant whose accommodation
request has been denied within one week of denial
Relative Responsibilities
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E. Executive Director/Campus President
• Receives and investigates grievances/complaints of
discrimination from disabled students
• [Specifics as to the ADA Policy/Procedure will be discussed in
subsequent slides]
Relative Responsibilities
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Accessing The Policy
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Accessing The Policy
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I. Purpose
II. Underlying Principles
III. Scope
IV. Procedure for Requesting an Accommodation
V. Evaluation of Accommodation Requests
VI. Implementation of Approved Accommodations
Prior Version of Policy: 9/24/12
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I. Purpose
II. Underlying Principles
III. Scope
IV. Procedure for Requesting an Accommodation
V. Evaluation of Accommodation Requests
VI. Implementation of Approved Accommodations
VII.Grievance Procedure
Current Policy: 6/11/13
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Summary
of
Current
Policy
Sections
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I. Purpose
“This policy explains the process and procedures for
receiving, evaluating, developing and implementing
student requests for disability accommodation.”
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II. Underlying Principles (1 of 2)
• Defines “qualified student”:
– “A qualified student is one who, with or without reasonable
accommodation, meets the essential institutional, academic and
technical standards requisite to admission, participation and completion
of our programs.”
• Defines “reasonable accommodation”:
– “A reasonable accommodation is an accommodation that allows a
student with a disability to participate in our programs without changing
the essential academic requirements of our programs, creating a threat
to others or placing an undue burden on the institution.”
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II. Underlying Principles (2 of 2)
• Defines “disability”:
– “A disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits
one or more major life activities such as seeing, hearing, walking, or
learning.”
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III. Scope
“LES Students with Disabilities.”
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IV. Procedure For Requesting An Accommodation
(1 of 2)
To Whom Should Request Be Made?
• Requests must be submitted to the Director of Education/
Academic Dean
• Students should be aware that faculty & staff are not
authorized to assess or determine accommodations
When Should The Request Be Made? • Whenever possible, the accommodation should be
requested at least 4 weeks before class begins
• Students should be aware that there is a process for
review, an accommodation request review typically takes 4
weeks, and that they must use appropriate procedure
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IV. Procedure For Requesting An Accommodation
(2 of 2)
How Is The Request Made and What Is Submitted?
• To obtain an accommodation, a student or applicant should
complete and submit a Request for Accommodation Form
(available on the Intranet and shown in upcoming slides) to
the Director of Education/Academic Dean
• With the form, the student or applicant must submit an
assessment from a physician, licensed health care
provider, or other licensed appropriate diagnostician,to
substantiate the need for the accommodation requested
• This assessment must have been made within the past
three to five years
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V. Evaluation of Accommodation Requests
(1 of 3) Evaluating the Request
• In most situations, Director of Education/Academic Dean
will meet with student to discuss accommodation request
and engage in an interactive process with the student
• Director of Education/Academic Dean may request
additional information from student or ask to speak
directly with professional who provided assessment.
• LESC may explore with student possibility of providing
another form of accommodation & may provide an
accommodation that allows the student to participate fully
in our programs, even if it is not the student’s first choice.
• LESC may also explore possibility of an accommodation
through a state vocational rehabilitation program.
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V. Evaluation of Accommodation Requests
(2 of 3)
Decisions
• With the prior authorization of the Legal Department, the
Director of Education/Academic Dean informs student of the
decision. This communication may lead to a dialogue
between the school & the student (e.g., “We are unable to
accommodate you for _____ reason(s)”), should an alternate
proposal be offered up.
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V. Evaluation of Accommodation Requests
(3 of 3)
Confidentiality • Information about a student’s or applicant’s disability will
be shared with those with a need to know about it
• Records relating to disability accommodations will be
kept separate from other files
Appeals • Student or applicant may appeal the decision in writing to
the Executive Director or Campus President within one
week of the denial
• Students granted a different accommodation than they first
sought are encouraged to try the alternate accommodation
while appealing the decision
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VI. Implementation of Approved Accommodations
(1 of 2)
Implementation Plans • The Director of Education/Academic Dean will formulate a
course of action & provide information as needed to others
with a need to know about the accommodation
Making Adjustments to Approved Accommodations • At times, adjustments to an accommodation may become
necessary (for example, the accommodation has become a
waiver of an essential element of the program, it no longer
seems to be effective, or it is no longer necessary)
• Students who believe an accommodation should be
adjusted should notify the Director of Education/Academic
Dean promptly and submit a revised Request for
Accommodation Form & documentation
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VI. Implementation of Approved Accommodations
(2 of 2)
Raising Concerns
• Any questions or concerns regarding accommodations
should be directed to the Director of Education/Academic
Dean
• Any student or applicant who believes they have been
harassed or discriminated against on the basis of a
disability may file a grievance as set forth in the policy
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VII. Grievance Procedure
(1 of 2)
• A student who believes they have been discriminated
against because of their disability must file a formal
grievance/complaint with the Executive Director/Campus
President, who is the Section 504 coordinator
• Complaint may be written (preferably) or verbal and, if
verbal, it will be put in writing by staff and reviewed by
student for accuracy
• Complaint must be filed within 180 days of the alleged
discrimination
• Executive Director/Campus President must notify the Legal
Department of the complaint
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VII. Grievance Procedure
(2 of 2)
• Investigation must be prompt and thorough. Complaining
student must be interviewed and he/she may present
witnesses and other evidence
• Within 30 days of filing grievance, Executive Director/
Campus President will render a decision
• If student is not satisfied with resolution, an appeal may be
made within 10 days to the Executive Director/Campus
President, who will direct the appeal and records to the VP
of Regulatory, for review and disposition, within 30 working
days of receiving notice
• Questions regarding Grievance Procedure should be
addressed to Executive Director/Campus President
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ADA
Request
for
Accommodation
Form
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Accessing The Form
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Accessing The Form
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Accessing The Form
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Review ADA—Students with Disabilities Policy
Review ADA Request for Accommodation Form
Complete End-of-Course Quiz
Meet with Campus Team to Discuss Policy, Form, &
Relative Responsibilities
Next Steps
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Thank
You