Reasonable Accommodations Procedures

In accordance with legal requirements, the University of Indianapolis must provide reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitations of a qualified person with a disability. A reasonable accommodation is any change or adjustment that permits a qualified person with a disability to participate, in a manner substantially equal to that by persons without disabilities, throughout all aspects of the learning experience.

The nature of an accommodation depends upon the person's disability and the requirements of the particular program of learning. Thus, each request for accommodation is approached on a case-by-case basis. The student must meet, with or without accommodations, the essential eligibility requirements of the program or academic major, and must be able to perform, with or without accommodations, the essential functions of being a student in a particular program or academic major.

The following procedures guide the documentation of a disability and the requesting of reasonable accommodations. The first set of procedures guide the admission process and the second set are used for admitted and enrolled students.

Prospective Students:
A prospective student is never required by the University to disclose information regarding disabilities as an aspect of an admission decision. The following procedure guides the documentation of a disability and the requesting of reasonable accommodations for the admission process.

Throughout the academic experience at the University of Indianapolis, the student must meet, with or without accommodations, the essential eligibility requirements of the University's programs; and must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodations, the essential functions of being a student in a given academic major or professional program.

Prospective students need only to disclose a disability when requesting accommodations for the admission process, such as assistance filling out application forms or additional time to complete placement tests.

1. Prospective student self-discloses an ADA covered disability to an Admissions Counselor.


2. Prospective student obtains an Admissions Disability Accommodation Request Form (ADARF) from the Admissions Office.


3. Prospective student submits ADARF to Services for Students with Disabilities in the Academic Success Center (Schwitzer 206) accompanied by documentation of the disability. The documentation consists of a current report, including test results from a licensed health care professional with expertise in establishing the disability in question. The documentation needs to be current within three years, and must document the nature of the disability and its resultant functional limitations. The documentation should also include recommendations for reasonable accommodations for the admission process. Note: Records submitted to SSD are systematically destroyed after 5 years. The student should keep the original copy of their documentation.


4. Prospective student meets with Services for Students with Disabilities to determine that the disability is covered by the ADA and to determine the reasonable accommodations needed.


5. Services for Students with Disabilities will consult with the Office of Admissions, as needed, to provide appropriate accommodations. The approved accommodations are documented on the ADARF. A copy is kept in a confidential file and a copy is given to the prospective student.


6. Any denial or modification is documented on the ADARF. A copy is kept in a confidential file and a copy is given to the prospective student.


7. If the approved accommodations involve auxiliary aids or services, such as interpreters, readers, taped texts, material in Braille, or adaptive equipment, the prospective student meets with the Admissions Counselor to discuss how aids and services will be provided and when they will be available.


8. The Admission Counselor ensures that the approved, reasonable accommodations for the prospective student are implemented throughout the admission process. When requested, the Admissions Counselor may arrange interviews with appropriate faculty about academic programs or provide information to prospective student regarding the BUILD program.


9. Do not send disability documentation to the Office of Admissions, it will not be forwarded to Services for Students with Disabilities, nor does it constitute notice of disability status.


10. Students requesting reasonable accommodations for their academic experience should follow the procedures outlined in the information for Admitted and Enrolled students.

Admitted and Enrolled Students
Throughout the academic experience at the University of Indianapolis, the student must meet, with or without accommodations, the essential eligibility requirements of the University's programs; and must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodations, the essential functions of being a student in a given academic major or professional program.

The following procedure guides the documentation of a disability and the requesting of reasonable accommodations for admitted and enrolled students.

1. Student discloses disability to the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). This can be done either by visiting the SSD office (Schwitzer Center 206), by calling the SSD office (317-788-6153), or by returning a Self-Disclosure form. Every student who pays a tuition deposit at UIndy will receive a Self-Disclosure for Disability form with his or her tuition packet. Any student who would like to disclose a disability simply needs to fill out this form and return it to SSD. After the student has disclosed a disability, SSD will give or mail that student the following forms to be completed: Disability Accommodation Request Form (DARF) and the Verification of Disability Form(s) to be completed by the appropriate licensed professional. Note: Records submitted to SSD are systematically destroyed after 5 years. The student should keep the original copy of their documentation.


2. The student will return the completed DARF and the Verification of Disability Form(s) to SSD. All disability documentation forms are confidential and are not stored as part of any academic file.


3. SSD will review the documentation and determine the following:
   • Does the student's condition rise to the level of a disability as defined in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act?
   
   
   • What are the functional limitations of the disability in an educational setting?
   
   
   • What, if any accommodations would be reasonable and appropriate for the student?
   
   SSD will notify the student as to whether the documentation submitted is sufficient or if more information is needed. Denials result when the disability is not a recognized ADA disability, when the disability has not been properly documented, or when the request for accommodation is considered unreasonable. The University is not required to provide academic adjustments or auxiliary aids and services if such provisions would fundamentally alter the nature of the program or the academic requirements that are essential to a program of study.
   
   
   
4. The student may be asked to meet with SSD to determine that the disability is ADA approved and to determine the reasonable accommodations needed in order to participate in any of the University's programs. SSD will consult with others as needed to provide appropriate accommodations.


5. If a routine accommodation is approved and IF the student would like to receive that accommodation, SSD will produce Memorandum of Accommodations for the student to give to his or her professor. This Memorandum will verify the disability and list reasonable accommodations.


6. It is then the student's responsibility to deliver this Memorandum to his or her professors. The student will meet with the appropriate faculty or staff members to discuss the accommodations to be provided in classes, services, or other activities. The faculty and staff cannot deny requests for accommodations, but they may request assistance or consultation from SSD in order to make modifications to the request when these changes are more appropriate to the class setting, service, or activity.


7. If the approved accommodations involve auxiliary aids or services, such as interpreters, readers, taped texts, material in Braille, or adaptive equipment, the student meets with the SSD to discuss how aids and services will be provided and when they will be available.


8. In subsequent semesters, the student needs to contact SSD if s/he would like to have a Memorandum of Accommodations for his or her professors. SSD will not assume that the student will need these letters.


9. The student is responsible for communicating accessibility concerns and needs to the faculty in a timely manner. Faculty responsible for placing students at practica, clinical, or fieldwork sites or faculty who conduct field trips must ensure that preceptors at these sites implement the accommodations or that the field trip sites are accessible for students needing accommodations.


10. After accommodations have been implemented, the student will meet as needed with faculty, professional staff, or the SSD to discuss effectiveness of the accommodations and to make alterations. If a student has problems relative to the provision of accommodations, the student should contact SSD.


11. Students, staff, or faculty may appeal the decisions made regarding requests for accommodations. However, it must be noted that only SSD may deny provision of requests for accommodations. The student may initiate an appeal after meeting initially with the SSD, and/or faculty, or may appeal decisions made regarding additional requests for accommodations.


12. Appeals are to be filed with the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs and follow the University of Indianapolis procedure for student grievances. Such policy is found in the faculty handbook and student handbook.