How to Request AccommodationsIn higher education, self-disclosure and a request for accommodations are voluntary and must be made by the student. Unlike K-12 programs, reasonable accommodations are not automatic. Accommodations must be specifically and formally requested in advance of need, as accommodations cannot be retroactive.
Disclosure of a disability or conversation with a member of the College about possible effects of a disability does not itself constitute a request for an accommodation. It is the student’s responsibility to establish eligibility for reasonable accommodations by filing a Request for Accommodations and documentation of a disability with the Academic and Disabilities Support Office.
Since self-disclosure is voluntary, students are not compelled to report disabilities, follow up on referrals to the Academic and Disabilities Support (ADS) Office, seek out or pay for professional assessments, or to release the plan for accommodations. However, unless the student voluntarily completes the following procedure to request accommodations, Goddard College cannot make accommodations for the student.
Step 1: Student Reporting Upon acceptance to any Goddard program, the student will receive the Academic & Disabilities Support Survey for New Students with their admissions materials. A student may report a disability by completing this disclosure form and returning it to the ADS Office, or by calling or emailing the ADS Office at any time. A student who reports verbally to faculty or other Goddard staff will be encouraged to contact the ADS Office. Faculty cannot make accommodations unless the ADS Office has prepared an Educational Profile stating accommodations. Students who suspect they may have a disability, but who have not had one previously diagnosed can meet with the ADS Office to discuss their concern. Goddard is not responsible for payment for diagnosis or assessment of a possible disability.
Step 2: Request for Documentation Guidelines When a student discloses a disability to the ADS Office, the ADS Office will provide the student with an Accommodations Request form and the appropriate guidelines for documenting the student’s specific disability. The type of documentation is at the discretion of the ADS Office. It is important that the student first obtain the guidelines for documenting their specific disability before attempting to procure documentation, as the ADS Office needs specific information to determine effective accommodations.
Step 3: Obtaining Documentation If the student wishes to pursue accommodations, the student should then take the guidelines for documentation to a professional who is an expert in the area of the disability and who is familiar with the student. Experts must be approved of by Goddard College, and, for professionals requiring licensure, currently hold such licensure. The student will need to fill out the Request for Accommodations form and follow up with the approved professional to ensure that they have prepared documentation according the guidelines for the specific disability. Both the Request for Accommodations form and the documentation should be mailed as soon as possible to:
Academic & Disabilities Support Office Goddard College 123 Pitkin Road Plainfield, Vermont 05667
Step 4: Receipt of Documentation Upon receipt of the Request for Accommodations and disability documentation, the ADS Office will review it in a timely fashion. If the documentation is not sufficient, the student will be referred for further evaluation or informed of what other information is needed. Goddard is not responsible for providing or paying for diagnosis or documentation of disabilities. If the documentation is sufficient, the ADS Office will prepare an Educational Profile (EP). An EP outlines accommodations for the student’s disability. It does not list the disability. The ADS Office may call or email the student to further discuss accommodations during this process.
Step 5: Review of Accommodations and Release of Information When the Educational Profile is drafted, the ADS Office will email or mail it to the student for review. The student can request changes, additions, or subtractions to accommodations at this time, or at any other time during his/her program at Goddard. These requests must be made through the ADS Office, not faculty or other staff. The ADS Office may ask for additional documentation for certain requested changes to proposed accommodations. The student will also be sent a Release Form with the EP, which should be filled out and returned as soon as possible. Goddard College maintains confidentiality surrounding disabilities, and EPs are released to those who have a need to know. By filling out the Release Form, the student authorizes the ADS Office to select the Goddard personnel who will receive the EP in order to provide accommodations to the student.
Step 6: Implementing Accommodations Upon written release by the student, the EP is provided to university personnel who have a need to know, especially faculty, program coordinators, and pertinent residency staff. The student is encouraged to communicate with his/her advisor as soon as possible to develop a semester plan for accommodation. The student and advisor should communicate any proposed revisions to the EP to the ADS Office. Decisions about changes to the specific accommodations in the EP can only be made by the ADS Office in consultation with the student or advisor. The student should also contact the ADS Office if they should encounter any difficulty or other concern with accommodations. If a staff or faculty member is not appropriately carrying out certain accommodations, the student is encouraged to either communicate with that person, or contact the ADS Office.
Requests for Accommodations Requests for accommodations for students enrolled in any Goddard program should be made by contacting the Academic & Disabilities Support Office, 802-322-1639 or email adsoffice@goddard.edu.
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