College Policy on Disability Accommodations
Overview: Trinity College values diversity and is committed to promoting access to educational opportunities for all enrolled students. The College seeks to be in full compliance with all applicable legal requirements governing the treatment of disabilities. In keeping with the educational mission of the College, Trinity believes that students should develop skills of self-advocacy, be aware of their disabilities, and assist in the process of finding strategies to be successful.
College Policy: Trinity provides assistance and accommodations for qualified students with documented disabilities as long as they are necessary to provide equal access to College programs and services and the accommodation is reasonable.
Definitions
Definition of Disability: Federal law defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits or restricts the condition, manner, or duration under which an average person in the population can perform a major life activity such as walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, working, or taking care of oneself. The existence of an impairment or the diagnosis of a medical condition in itself does not necessarily constitute a disability.
Definition of Reasonable Accommodations: In order to be reasonable, the accommodation must be based on appropriately documented needs; not compromise the essential requirements of a course or program; not create a nuisance or threat to the safety of others; not impose an undue administrative or financial burden; and be directly related to the pursuit of educational objectives. Normally, accommodations consist of extra time for examinations, preferred seating arrangements, note-taking assistance, tutorial support, or devices to assist those with visual or hearing impairments.
Procedure for Request of Accommodations
Determining Eligibility: Students who want accommodations must submit and maintain on file in the Dean of Students’ office supporting documentation that is based on an evaluation conducted by an appropriate professional within the past three years and that documents the nature of the student’s condition. The documentation must give detailed information about the student’s diagnosis, treatment, and limitations, and make specific recommendations that are linked to the condition. The Dean of Students or his delegate will review the documentation and make a determination as to what assistance or accommodations are reasonable .
Self-Advocacy: Students are required to supply the necessary documentation and then to notify the Dean of Students’ office each term about which instructors the student wants notified of his or her situation. Students are required to request accommodations in a timely manner, normally at least two weeks before the accommodation is needed. Students are expected to notify the Dean’s office if there is a problem with the accommodation, and, in the case of mobility impairment or other special classroom considerations, give notice at least 30 days before the start of the semester so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Students are also expected to pursue financial aid, state vocational rehabilitation, or other available sources of support for personal equipment needs.
Housing or Dining Accommodations: All requests for special housing or dining arrangements should be submitted to the Director of the Health Center who will process the request and call together a committee of representatives from the Health Center, Dean of Students Office, Counseling Center, Residence Life staff, and Dining Service, as appropriate, to review the request.
Requests for special housing consideration should be submitted to the Health Center in advance of the housing lottery. First year students will be asked to indicate on the Roommate Questionnaire if they have medical considerations and to forward that material to the Health Center by July 1st of the year in which they will arrive. All students will be required to renew their applications for special housing accommodation by April 15th of each year in order to provide the appropriate offices with sufficient time to review the requests and make the appropriate assignments in a timely fashion.
Requests for special dining accommodations may also be sent to the Health Center for review.
Students should know in advance that it is rare for special housing to be granted for any reason other than a significant, documented physical disability and that most dietary needs can be met within the existing meal plan.