Accommodation Policy for Students with Disabilities

Definition of Disability

The Americans with Disabilities Act defines a person with a disability as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Major life activities are those functions that are important to most people’s daily lives. Examples of major life activities are breathing, walking, talking, hearing, seeing, learning, sleeping, caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, and working. Major life activities also include major bodily functions such as immune system functions, normal cell growth, and digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions. The existence of an impairment or the diagnosis of a 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.

Accommodations commonly consist of extra time for examinations, notetaking assistance, use of a laptop for note taking or written tests, or devices to assist those with visual or hearing impairments.

Determining Eligibility

Students who want accommodations of any nature must complete the Accommodations Request Form (can be obtained online at http://www.trincoll.edu/SARC) and must submit supporting documentation that is based on an evaluation conducted by an appropriate professional within the appropriate time frame (refer to documentation guidelines for specific time frames on the Trinity College Accessibility Resources Web page) 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. Depending on the nature of the request, together with the Coordinator of Accessibility Resource Center and Assistant Director of Student Life, a A consultant with training in the appropriate area will review the documentation and make a determination as to what assistance or accommodations are reasonable.

Self-Advocacy

Students are required to request accommodations in a timely manner by supplying the necessary documentation along with and accommodation request form to the Accessibility Coordinator. If a student qualifies for academic accommodations, he/she will receive an official letter from the College detailing the approved accommodations/ Each dated letter will be valid for as long as the student’s documentation is considered current. It is the student’s responsibility to notify faculty of the accommodations no less than 10 days from when he/she would like them to take effect. Students are expected to notify the Accessibility Coordinator if there is a problem with any accommodations. In the case of mobility impairment or other special classroom considerations, a student should 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 on the Student Life Accommodations Request Form and sent to the Accessibility Coordinator.

Requests for special housing consideration for the following academic year should be submitted to the Accessibility Coordinator by March 15. First-year students will be asked to complete the student Life Accommodations Request Form by May 31. All students are required to renew their applications for special housing accommodations by April 1 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.

Second-Language Requirement for Students with Learning Disabilities

Trinity College recognizes that its second-language requirement can pose significant challenges to students with learning disabilities that adversely affect their ability to learn foreign languages. The College offers accommodations to assist such students in satisfying the requirement. The specific accommodations vary with the nature and severity of the disability. For students with significant language-learning disabilities, students may apply for a substitution for foreign language study of two approved courses taught in English  that examine the literature and/or culture of a non-English-language country. If a student with a learning disability wishes to fulfill the second language requirement with a course other than a Trinity Language and Culture Studies course (LACS), the contact person for approving such a course will be the chair of LACS, who will consider whether the courses requested provide satisfactory alternatives or will forward the student’s request to the appropriate department or program. It is understood that these courses should be in the same culture but will not need to be taken in consecutive semester. Please contact the Accessibility Coordinator to learn how to apply for this accommodation.

Notice of Nondiscrimination and Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and ADAAA

The American Disabilities Act and its amendments prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities. Trinity College supports the language and intent of this legislation and seeks to comply fully with ADA requirements. This policy and requirement of nondiscrimination extends to admission to, attendance at, and employment in the College.

Notice of Nondiscrimination and Appointment of Compliance Officer Pursuant to Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as Amended (Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap)

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, prohibits discrimination on the basis of handicap in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. The regulations implementing Section 504, effective June 3, 1977, specify a number of actions that educational institutions receiving federal funds must take in order to be in compliance with the law.

Trinity College supports the language and intent of this legislation and seeks to comply fully with Section 504 requirements. In conformance with such legislation, the College provides notice here to its students, employees, applicants, and others that Trinity College, as required by Section 504 and its regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of handicap in the educational programs or activities it operates. This policy and requirement of nondiscrimination extend to both admission to and employment in the College.

Joel Copperthite, Interim Coordinator of Accessibility Resource Center and Assistant Director of Student Life, is responsible for the coordination of the College’s efforts to comply with and carry out requirements and responsibilities under Section 504 and the implementing regulations. He serves as one member of the Accessibility Council, which is a multi-specialty council including health, counseling, and academic staff members. A consultant with training in the appropriate area reviews each request for services.