Accessibility Services

For academic accommodations, once accommodations are determined, an “Accommodation Letter” is sent to the student's instructors. Students must request a new letter each semester by completing a semester renewal form. Students also must notify Accessibility Services of any changes to their schedule or accommodation needs.  It is the student’s responsibility to follow policies and procedures related to the implementation of accommodations.

Students with disabilities have specific responsibilities to:

• Submit the pre-intake form initially and upload adequate supporting documentation,
• Initiate requests for reasonable accommodations in a timely manner,
• Follow procedures to help facilitate reasonable accommodations,
• Request an Accommodation Letter each semester the student is enrolled,
• Contact Accessibility Services if there are questions or difficulty is experienced with using the identified reasonable accommodations,
• Meet with instructors to discuss their accommodations within each course

Students requesting accommodations should complete the following:

1. SUBMIT A PRE-INTAKE FORM for any housing and academic accommodations being requested. 

2. PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION: Students will need to upload documentation that substantiates the need for accommodations. Documentation must include a diagnosis, functional limitations, and recommendations from a qualified medical provider.

3. SCHEDULE AN INTAKE MEETING: Students can book an initial meeting or a OAS staff member will reach out. The meeting will discuss educational history, accommodation needs, and other resources available.

4. DETERMINATION: Reasonable accommodations will be determined based on documentation and intake.  An Accommodation Letter (for academic accommodations) will be sent to the student and instructors.  Please note that students must renew their Accommodation Letter each semester.

Documentation of a student’s disability is required to determine reasonable accommodations. Documentation must show a direct link between the disability and the requested accommodation.

Appropriate types of documentation include:   

• An evaluation including diagnostic and testing information from the student’s school district,
• A Neuro-psychoeducational Evaluation or Psychoeducational Evaluation Report from a licensed Psychiatrist, Neuropsychologist or neurologist
• A letter provided by a licensed and credentialed provider, unrelated to the student, on the practitioner's letterhead that states the 1) diagnosis 2) functional limitations, and 3) recommendations for support.

Please see the following appendices/guidelines to accommodations:

Appendix A: Academic

Appendix B: Housing

Appendix C: Emotional Support Animal

The Residential Experience

DelVal values a robust residential living environment for students and recognizes that on-campus living is a significant and holistic part of the student experience. DelVal has a responsibility to balance accommodation needs with our educational objectives, including promoting social interaction, communication skills and a sense of community. Sharing a room with a roommate is an integral part of achieving these Residential Life student learning objectives.

Housing accommodations are in place to support functional limitations of a disability that the student could not otherwise address through preparation, practice, counseling, proactive adjustment to expectations and routines, or application of other strategies that any student must implement to be successful in college. Housing has a limited number of single rooms available. For this reason, DelVal reserves single rooms for students with documented and substantial needs and for whom a standard housing assignment with a roommate is not viable.

Single Room Accommodations: Disability Access versus Preference

A single room is a disability accommodation only when clinical history and professional documentation clearly demonstrate a history of substantial limitations and provide a rationale that supports the student’s need for a separate living/sleeping space to be able to access and utilize housing. For example, a student who needs to utilize specialized medical equipment may need extra space. This is an access need -- without extra space to utilize medical equipment, the student would not be able to participate equitably in the residential program.

A housing accommodation is provided when the accommodation Is designed to effectively remove the identified academic/campus barrier to equitable access and full participation in services and activities

Examples of disabilities that may qualify for a housing accommodation:

• Physical impairments requiring a wheelchair and/or adaptive equipment
• Medical conditions that require extensive medical equipment and supplies
• Visual impairments
• Severe medical or psychological conditions

Please note that DelVal does not grant accommodations solely based on the recommendations of care providers. The determination is made based on all information relevant to the documented functional limitations caused by the disability in relation to the residential program. ADHD, generalized anxiety, and depression are conditions whose functional limitations are commonly presented as reasons a student believes they need a single room. However, the functional limitations associated with these conditions rarely present as true barriers to access.

Below are examples of when an accommodation would not be approved.

• As a space to decompress, study, or to be alone to retreat.  The campus provides students spaces to decompress, unwind or process their emotions other than the room where they sleep. Students can enjoy walks to the lake or grounds, find a quiet space in the library or academic buildings to read or think, or use white noise machines, earplugs or earphones.
• To ensure student success and satisfaction -- accommodations in higher education are to provide access, and do not guarantee success
• To increase comfort or alleviate discomfort in the housing arrangement (such as by having a roommate- free experience to avoid common interpersonal roommate interactions and conflicts that may arise)
• To take the place of the student developing the skills, abilities, and practices necessary to grow interpersonally and efficiently live on campus as part of a residential living experience at DelVal
• When the request is meant for the housing space to serve as part of the student’s treatment plan
• Due to previous roommate experiences that were negative

Residence Life staff are available for guidance on residential living and to discuss any concerns related to communal living.

All Housing Accommodation requests are reviewed by our Housing Accommodation Committee.

The big difference between high school and college is that students must self-disclose their disability and advocate for themselves upon entrance and throughout their college experience.  The Office of Accessibility Services provides support, referrals, and resources to help students build life-long self-advocacy skills.

Differences between High School and College for Students with Disabilities

Forms:

Audio Recording Agreement

Test Accommodation Appointment Request

Emotional Support Animal Agreement Form

Animal Health Compliance Form 

Academic Accommodation Semester Renewal Form

Applicable Policies:

Test Accommodation Guidelines

Office of Accessibility Services Policies and Guidelines for Students

Library accessibility and resources

Resources: Tips and Technology

The IEP is often not sufficient documentation by itself, and OAS may request the evaluation on which the IEP was determined.  If the IEP includes current diagnostic information, diagnosis, and disability history, the IEP may be sufficient.  Please note that not all accommodation from high school apply in college.  The interactive process will determine reasonable accommodations within the academic environment at DelVal. 

Once students are registered with Accessibility Services their accommodations remain for the duration of time at DelVal.  Students only need to renew their accommodations each semester. In some instances, students request changes to their accommodations and provide additional documentation.

For housing accommodations, students may need to be renewed from year to year, depending on the nature of the accommodation and the student’s disability status.  The Office of Accessibility Services communicates directly with students whose accommodation requires renewal.    

Reasonable housing accommodations are subject to availability.

ESA accommodation requests are renewed each academic year. The following forms must be completed for the renewal request: 

• Housing Accommodation Renewal Form
• ESA Information and Agreement Form
• Animal Health Compliance Form (for dogs, cats, ferrets, and rats) 

Once all information is received, the interactive and individualized review process will begin. 

Typically, current or recent documentation means no longer than 3 years for specified learning disabilities or ADHD. For fluctuating psychiatric or medical conditions (such as, migraine headaches or generalized anxiety disorder), it is preferred that documentation be within the past year from the date of the submitted request. For permanent disabilities, (such as, hard of hearing or deaf), documentation from most recent appointment with health care provider is adequate (this may include appointments beyond the timeframes listed above).   

All information submitted to or developed by the University related to the requests, diagnosis, documentation, or accommodation of a disability is considered private and will not become part of any other student record at Delaware Valley University. Disability information may be released to instructors or other appropriate University staff on a educational need-to-know basis.

All documents supporting a disability on file with the Office of Accessibility Services will be retained and destroyed in accordance with applicable law.

The disability accommodation request process is individualized and interactive. After a completed request form and adequate supporting documentation are received, students will receive outreach to schedule a meeting to discuss their request in more detail. After all information is reviewed, reasonable accommodations are determined.  

The process can take 2-3 weeks. 

Services are available to those students who have testing accommodations on file for the current semester. The Office of Accessibility Services communicates the necessary information and corresponding sign-up forms directly with these students each semester. 

Please contact Accessibility Services at accessibilityservices@delval.edu. For more detailed information, please review the Grievance Procedures.