For the University to respond appropriately to requests for accommodations, students are expected to follow certain guidelines and assume certain responsibilities.
- Students seeking accommodations should provide timely notice and documentation of
The nature and extent of the disability,
The functional limitations resulting from the disability, and
The accommodations requested
to the Disabilities Services Office at 411-E University Commons. Students are responsible for cooperating with the Disabilities Services Office in an interactive process to identify appropriate accommodations.
- To request accommodations, students should provide the University with current documentation as described more fully in the section below entitled “Documentation Guidelines.” A school plan such as an IEP may not necessarily be sufficient for this purpose.
The documentation should describe how the disability affects or impacts the individual’s ability to partake of the University’s programs and activities. The documentation should include the following on letterhead and signed and dated by an evaluator qualified to make the diagnosis:
- Complete educational, developmental, and medical history relevant to the disability for which the accommodation has been requested
- A description of the functional limitations resulting from the diagnosed disability
- A list of the test instruments used in the evaluation report and relevant subtest scores used to document the stated disability (all test instruments should have adult norms)
- A description of the specific accommodations requested and adequate support for the accommodation
- Include information about license, certification and area of specialization.
If you are having difficulty connecting with your provider or getting documentation, please contact the DSO at dso@carlow.edu to be referred for assessment free of charge to you.
In some cases, it may be necessary for the University, with student permission, to contact the medical or health professional providing the report to obtain further information or clarification.
While documentation from professionals may include specific recommendations for accommodation, the University reserves the right to determine what accommodations are reasonable and appropriate within the University setting and within technical and academic requirements of the program.
Four to six week prior to the start of every semester, students should meet with the Disabilities Services Provider to discuss their upcoming schedule of classes, update any documentation, if necessary, and discuss accommodations.
- The University will carefully review information and documentation provided by a student, analyze each student’s individual needs, and engage in an interactive process with the student to determine what accommodations may be reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances.
Documentation and information regarding a disability are considered confidential and will be revealed only with prior written student permission, unless otherwise required by law.
Letters approving accommodations, which are prepared by the Disabilities Services Representative and distributed to the appropriate faculty and staff by the student, generally will include information only about the accommodations; it is the student’s prerogative to disclose or not disclose information about the disability itself to faculty and/or staff. - The University has a right to a reasonable amount of time to review documentation which is submitted, to interview the student, and to take other necessary steps before providing accommodations.
- The University need not provide accommodations that would fundamentally alter the essential characteristics or nature of a program. Likewise, the University need not provide the exact accommodation requested by the student. The University may provide alternate accommodations as long as they are reasonable and appropriate to make the University’s programs, activities, services, and facilities accessible to that individual.