A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to a course, program, service, or activity that enables a qualified student with a disability to have an equal opportunity to attain the same level of achievement or enjoy the same benefits and privileges as are available to similarly situated students without disabilities. The university is obligated to provide accommodation only to the known limitations of an otherwise qualified disabled student. To determine reasonable accommodation, the DAS staff may seek information from appropriate university personnel regarding essential standards for courses, programs, services and activities.
- The barriers resulting from the interaction between the documented disability and the campus environment.
- The possible accommodations that might remove the barriers.
- Whether or not the student has access to the course, program, service or activity without an accommodation.
- Whether or not essential elements of the course, program, service, activity or facility are compromised by the accommodations.
In reviewing accommodation requests, the following analysis is used:
- Does the student have a disability?
- Is the student "otherwise qualified?"
- Is the request reasonable? (Subsections 1-4 must ALL be satisfied for the request to be considered reasonable.)
- The accommodation does not fundamentally alter the nature of the program or activity;
- The accommodation does not lower academic standards;
- The accommodation does not present an undue financial or administrative burden on the university;
- The accommodation does not pose a threat to personal or public safety.
Note: If the analysis results in a "yes" to questions 1-4, an accommodation should be provided. If this analysis results in a "no" to one of the questions 1-4, then an accommodation may be denied.