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Accessibility Services

To ensure all students at Lourdes University have an equal opportunity for personally and academically rewarding experiences, the Office of Accessibility Services provides reasonable accommodations, support services, and auxiliary aids for students with disabilities or medical conditions.

The Office of Accessibility

The Office of Accessibility Services administers accommodations for eligible students to remove barriers to full participation in University life.

Accommodations are individually designed and based on the specific needs of each student as identified by our Office of Accessibility Services. Some examples include approval for service and support animals, extended test-taking time, note-taking services and alternative format textbooks.

Accessibility Services brochures that provide accessibility and parking information are available at the Welcome Center and the Office of Accessibility Services, located in the Academic Success Center.

Disabilities served include, but are not limited to:

  • Chronic illnesses
  • Communication disorders
  • Learning disabilities
  • Auditory, mobility, systemic, emotional and visual conditions

We realize that circumstances differ among individuals. If you are having problems with your classes, your disability, and/or your accomodations, please talk with the Office of Accessibility Services so that adjustments can be discussed. It is important to address the small problems before they become large.

Students who wish to register with the Office of Accessibility Services for accommodations should follow this three step process:

  1. Complete a Disability Disclosure and Accommodation Request Form online or on campus at the Office of Accessibility Services.
  2. Submit documentation of a disability to the OAS via fax, email, or in-person. The following forms can be helpful, and usually can be dropped off at a qualifying health care provider’s office for completion:
    • Healthcare Provider Documentation Form
    • A letter from a health care provider that includes the following information may be submitted:
      – must be on letterhead with date and signature
      – include a diagnostic statement of the disability with date of diagnosis
      – severity of disability/medical condition
      – impact of disability in relation to accommodations requested
      – recommended accommodations that may assist the student in minimizing the impact of the condition
    • Students who have an IEP or 504 plan from high school may submit this documentation for consideration, as often this provides diagnosis and prior accommodations information.
  3. Once information is received in our office and reviewed, we will contact you through your Lourdes University email for an intake appointment to discuss the impact of the disability/medical condition in relation to your academics, information from the documentation, and accommodations. Students are not considered registered with the Office of Accessibility Services until after the intake appointment.

Emergency Evacuation Procedures for Persons with Disabilities

Persons with disabilities are expected to evacuate the building in an emergency situation with everyone else and may require assistance in the event of an emergency.

If the person is visually impaired, he/she will likely need to be escorted out of the building.

If the person is hearing impaired, students, faculty, and staff members should make sure that the hearing-impaired person knows that there is an emergency and that he/she should follow everyone out of the building.

If mobility impairments preclude the person with disabilities from evacuating the building, he/she may remain in the building during an emergency situation, but should move (or be moved) to the nearest stairwell and await assistance from emergency personnel. In this situation, it is the responsibility of every member of the University community (faculty/staff/student) to immediately notify first responders of the location of the person who was unable to exit the building.

Through brief communication and asking questions, evacuation can be quick and safe. Always ask an individual how you can help before attempting any rescue technique or giving assistance.

If you have any questions or concerns about this policy, please contact the Office of Accessibility Services at oas@lourdes.edu or 419-824-3523 or the Director of Campus Public Safety at 419-517-8953.

Emergencies should be directed to the 24 hour Campus Public Safety line at 419-574-3861.

Implementing Accommodations

Students are primarily responsible for the implementation of their academic accommodations.

Once reasonable academic accommodations have been established through the Office of Accessibility Services, students are responsible for meeting with their instructors, providing them with a copy of their Academic Accommodations (AA) letter for the semester, and discussing the accommodations.  When necessary, students are also responsible for making arrangements with the Academic Success Center (ASC), coordinating with their instructors, and providing the ASC with a copy of their AA letter for the semester.

Once Housing and/or Meal Plan accommodations are assigned, the Office of Accessibility Services will liaise between the student and the relevant University departments to implement any accommodations.

Students receiving accommodations should communicate issues to the Office of Accessibility Services as soon as they arise.  Likewise, students are responsible for contacting the Office of Accessibility Services each semester to continue services and/or to request any adjustments to their accommodations; any additional accommodation requests will require completion of the Accommodation Request Form and may require additional supporting documentation.

NOTIFYING THE INSTRUCTOR

Students who receive classroom and/or testing accommodations should communicate directly with the instructor of each of their classes. Because all classes are designed differently, any reasonable modifications to the classroom environment can usually be made between the student and instructor. As a result, maintaining an open dialogue with instructors at the beginning, as well as throughout the semester can help to prevent issues later on.

ALTERNATIVE TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS

Accommodations for testing are assigned on an individualized basis. It is imperative that students take an active role in communicating with instructors regarding each test in a timely manner so that, together, arrangements can be made for testing with accommodations. The Academic Success Center (ASC) is available to provide proctoring services within a distraction-reduced testing environment and can accommodate most alternative testing arrangements.

Because some services take time to schedule (such as proctor/scribe services), students must make testing arrangements and schedule alternative testing at least a week in advance. Students are responsible for notifying the ASC of assigned accommodations at the time of the appointment.

ALTERNATIVE FORMAT TEXTS

The Office of Accessibility Services works with students to secure appropriate alternative format textbooks. Because many books can now be provided in a digital format (eText) for students to purchase/rent, students are responsible for notifying the Office of Accessibility Services each semester of required alternative format texts. In order to receive an alternative format text, students must obtain a hard copy of the text.

Information regarding screen reader programs used for some alternative format texts and online resources can also be obtained through the Office of Accessibility Services.

NOTE TAKING SERVICES

Students who receive note taking services will be assigned a student note taker to confidentially provide them with notes within 36 hours of the class. Communication between note takers and students is essential. Because note taking services are provided only as a supplement, students receiving this accommodation are not provided with notes for class sessions they do not attend.

Contact Us For More Information

Cait Dickey

Cait Dickey, ADAC
Office of Accessibility Coordinator

Office: DEH 105 (located inside the ASC)
419-824-3523
cdickey@lourdes.edu

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