Requesting Accommodations
Any qualified student with a documented disability may request reasonable accommodations, adjustments, and auxiliary aids and services. The purpose of accommodations and modifications is to reduce or eliminate any disadvantages that may exist because of an individual’s disability.
- Meet the timelines and procedural requirements established by the university – this is essential for receiving services. The university cannot guarantee the availability of the necessary service/support without appropriate notice.
- Provide the Accessibility Services staff with appropriate documentation of your disability and how it may impact you in the college environment.
- Obtain a student intake form to complete and return by contacting Accessibility Services, Seton Hall, First Floor, Niagara University, NY 14109, 716.286.8541, FAX: 716.286.8063, email.
- Meet with the Accessibility Services staff prior to or at the beginning of each semester so that appropriate accommodations can be determined and provided in a timely manner. Students are strongly encouraged to make this contact within the first two weeks of each semester.
- Sign consent, if needed, authorizing the Accessibility Services staff to discuss your need for accommodations and services with the professional source of your documentation (e.g. medical doctor, psychologist) or university personnel if needed.
- Inform your faculty or other campus professionals in a timely manner of your need for accommodations. You may request that a Course Accommodation Approval Form be prepared for you to give to your professors or other campus professionals outlining what accommodations are appropriate and have been approved for the semester. Accommodations are specific to the class/situation and are determined by the Accessibility Services staff as appropriate to meet the needs of each student.
- Determine eligibility for participation of students with disabilities in the accommodation process based upon a review of appropriate documentation.
- Determine the appropriate accommodation for each student based on the individual’s need on a case-by-case/course-by-course basis.
- Assure the student is provided the opportunity for using the appropriate accommodation.
- Interact with administrative and academic personnel when appropriate.
- Maintain the integrity of all university programs (e.g., programs, courses, activities and services).
- Assure that confidentiality of information regarding students with disabilities is maintained.
- Discuss with Accessibility Services any concerns related to the accommodation(s) or arrangements that have been requested by the student during their initial contacts.
- Provide appropriate accommodations by making arrangements with Accessibility Services. Administrative personnel and faculty can choose to provide accommodations for convenience reasons. However, caution should be used in providing accommodations without first consulting with Accessibility Services on what types of accommodations are appropriate.
- Determine the conditions under which an exam is to be administered (e.g., time of exam, open book, use of notes, dictionary) and clearly conveying them to the test administrator/proctor.
- Assure the timely delivery of an exam, along with all necessary instructions and materials for proper administration, if a student’s exam is to be administered outside of class. The faculty member may also make arrangements with the student for the delivery and return of the exam.
Accommodations
Niagara University has a responsibility to provide program access (including physical access, access to programs, services, activities, and instruction) to qualified students with disabilities. This means that the University provides reasonable and appropriate accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids for individuals with disabilities upon request. Reasonable accommodations may include providing printed materials in an alternative format, an interpreter, access to assistive technology, relocating services to accessible locations, and providing extended time on tests.
Students with disabilities must register with Niagara University’s Accessibility Services, provide documentation of disability, and request needed accommodations. Accessibility Services has the responsibility of determining what reasonable accommodation is and providing the accommodation in a timely manner. “Ultimately, a student with a disability requires alternative arrangements only when faced with a task that requires skill that her disability precludes”
Students should contact Accessibility Services with any questions regarding accommodations. If a student had a 504 plan or IEP in high school, please reach out to Accessibility Services to discuss how you can provide documentation and request accommodations. Or if a student never had accommodations before, please reach out to Accessibility Services staff to discuss and review potential accommodations based on documentation of disability.
Academic Accommodations
The student must contact Accessibility Services to request notetaking services as early as possible each semester as well as to review the policies and procedures for requesting services. The student must provide Accessibility Services with documentation of disability that supports the student’s request for notetakers.
The student must provide a list of notetaker requests in writing at the beginning of each semester that notetakers are required. A returning student who knows someone in classes or someone who is willing to take notes should identify that person to Accessibility Services. If a new or returning student does not know anyone in the class, Accessibility Services will locate a student enrolled in the course qualified to take notes on a volunteer basis.
Notetakers will be provided with a gift card as a thank you for volunteering. In most cases, notetakers will email notes directly to the student. Students are responsible for checking their email, getting their notes and notifying Accessibility Services if there are any issues.
Students with print disabilities, such as visual impairments and learning disabilities, may require textbooks and material in electronic format. Determination of need is made by Accessibility Services based on the appropriate documentation the student provides.
Student Responsibilities
- Make a request for alternate print format: Students must complete an Alternative Text Format Form at the beginning of each semester that alternate text format is required. This information provides Accessibility Services with the information needed to respond to the student’s needs in a timely manner.
- Accessibility Services will obtain the required copies of the textbooks either directly from the publisher or request permission from the publisher to convert the print into electronic text.
- To get information quickly, Contact the campus store for the title, author, and edition of the textbooks for the courses in which you plan to enroll. This must be done as far in advance as possible. The student is expected to purchase the textbook(s). If the student has trouble obtaining this information from the campus store or course instructor, the student should contact Accessibility Services as soon as the delay is known. The office can then assist the student in getting this information as quickly as possible.
- The deadline for converting textbooks into electronic text is at least two weeks before the student needs the first reading assignment.
- If for any reason a textbook file is defective, the student should contact Accessibility Services immediately.
- Accessibility Services does not have copyright clearance for books, the university cannot distribute textbook files to students unless they own a print copy of the material. Students who use electronic materials MUST sign a contract indicating that they own a print copy of the textbook, are using the materials in order to access their textbooks, and will NOT duplicate the materials in any way.
Recognizing that the nature and severity of a documented disability may preclude learning in specific courses even with reasonable accommodations, the University will permit the substitution of another course or a modification of the course as an accommodation in some instances. The University will not waive or substitute any course or requirement, which is found to be an essential component of the academic program. The petition process should begin as soon as there is strong objective evidence (e.g., previous documented difficulties) that the student will be unable to fulfill the requirement. Students must follow the following procedures in order to request a course substitution or modification.
Student Responsibilities
- The student must initially contact Accessibility Services to review the procedures for a course substitution or modification.
- The student must request, in writing, a course substitution or modification from the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean, and Department Chairperson and must include the reasons for the request and prior experiences with the subject matter as appropriate.
- The student must provide Accessibility Services with current, relevant, and comprehensive documentation of disability from qualified professionals. A complete case history is also required to document the student’s history of problems in the subject area from high school until the date of petition. This case history should include a) the names and description of courses, as well as grades, indicating the student’s attempt(s) to master the subject matter as appropriate and b) OPTIONAL, BUT RECOMMENDED: letter(s) from high school and/or college personnel attesting to the student’s effort and diligence in attempting to master the subject matter as appropriate.
Auxiliary aids include interpreters, or other effective methods of making orally delivered materials available to students who are deaf or hard of hearing; readers for students with visual impairments; classroom equipment adapted for use by students with manual impairments; and other similar services or equipment.
While funding for accommodations to ensure equal access is available from Niagara University, funding for auxiliary aids is often the responsibility of state vocational rehabilitation agencies. However, some students with disabilities may not be eligible to be clients of the vocational rehabilitation agency. These state agencies also set limits on the amount of assistance they provide for auxiliary aids. The University does not provide prescription devices, or devices and services of a personal nature.
The student must initially contact Accessibility Services to request auxiliary aids and services as early as possible each semester. The student must provide Accessibility Services with documentation of disability, which supports the need for auxiliary aids and services. Accessibility Services will then determine which auxiliary aids and services are appropriate accommodations. The student must meet with professors or administrative personnel to inform them of needs, preferably at the beginning of the semester. If requested, Accessibility Services will provide the student with a Course Accommodations Approval From to give to the professor or to campus personnel outlining approved accommodations.
Students may be encouraged to apply for funding from outside sources such as Adult Career and Continuing Education Services (ACCES)
Niagara University expects its students to attend class regularly. Attendance requirements specific to each course are outlined in course syllabi. However, the University will consider on a case-by-case basis, attendance modifications for students with disabilities who have documented medically-related conditions (episodic in nature) or other reasons why their disability may make it difficult for them to fulfill typical attendance requirements. The outcome may be different from student to student, class to class, and even from faculty member to faculty member, depending on the student’s documented disability, how it impacts attendance, AND in light of the significance that attendance plays in the course itself (interactive class discussions, lab, practicum, etc.). In some cases, if the student isn’t attending class on a regular basis s/he may not be able to do well or get the full benefit of the class. In these cases, accommodations, such as incomplete grades and/or course withdrawal, should be considered by the student.
“Test” as used in this context, refers to quizzes and examinations taken during the semester including final exams in conjunction with an academic class. A qualified student with a disability must contact Accessibility Services to request testing accommodations as early as possible each semester as well as to review the policies and procedures for requesting and receiving services. The student must provide Accessibility Services with documentation of disability that supports the student’s request for testing accommodations. A student should discuss his/her specific needs for testing accommodations (e.g., extended time, separate location, and use of computer) with the Accessibility Services staff and faculty in a timely manner, for example two days before tests are to be administered. The student must follow these procedures in order to request testing accommodations:
Beginning of Each Semester
The student must contact the Accessibility Services staff to request testing accommodations as early as possible each semester as well as to review the policies and procedures for requesting services. The student must provide Accessibility Services with documentation of disability that supports the student’s request for testing accommodations.
During the Semester
Test accommodations determined on a case-by-case/course-by-course basis may include, but are not limited to: extended time to compete exams, distraction-reduced testing location, access to a word processor or assistive technology, readers, and/or scribes.
Non-Academic Accommodations
Elevator breakdowns can be extremely inconvenient or pose a risk to individuals who use wheelchairs, have permanent or temporary mobility impairments, and/or have health problems that may be exacerbated when using stairs.
Safety First: Responding to Emergency Situations
Individuals who need immediate assistance or who need to be evacuated due to a medical reason should contact Campus Safety at 716-286-8111 for assistance. Campus Safety will determine if the local fire department is needed to evacuate a person with immediate medical needs. The local fire department has equipment that is designed for safe evacuation and they have the skills, judgment, and physique to effect a safe exit.
Communicating Elevator Breakdowns
When an elevator ceases to operate, immediately contact:
- Facilities: 716-286-8430 During regular working hours, Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Campus Safety: 716-286-8111 During non-working hours, Monday – Friday: 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 a.m. AND Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays
Western New York has been known to experience winters with sustained cold temperatures as well as snow and ice — even into April! It is highly possible that sidewalks and roads will become compromised quickly during a storm with high levels of snowfall, high winds, and/or drifting snow. As a result, Niagara University has developed a list of resources that students with permanent or temporary disabilities can use to request assistance if needed during a significant weather event/snowstorm.
Making Your Needs Known
Students with disabilities should contact Accessibility Services each year to discuss potential needs during the winter months. Resident students should also make their needs known to their Residence Life Staff including their Resident Director, Lead Community Advisor, or Community Advisor. With each student’s permission, Accessibility Services will notify Facility Services of each student’s needs and alert them as to what routes may need to be cleared to aid in prioritizing the clearing of sidewalks and roads throughout the winter.
The types of assistive technology currently available in Accessibility Services are listed below. The technology is housed in the Academic Success Center on the first floor of Seton Hall. Students are encouraged to contact the Accessibility Services staff for more information on how to access the technology.
- Jaws
- Dragon Naturally Speaking
- Electronic Text/MP3
- Zoomtext
A student with a disability requiring special housing accommodations due to his/her physical, psychological, or health-related impairments may request special accommodations through Niagara’s Accessibility Services Office. Requests for accommodations (e.g., single room, accessible room/bathroom, residency exemptions, and service animals) must be supported by documentation from a qualified professional. In every case the review of the student’s needs due to his/her disability are considered in addition to the goals of University Housing.
Disability-related housing requests must be made well in advance and on an annual basis. The specific accommodation request and documentation of disability must be received by Accessibility Services no later than the deadlines established by the Office of Residence Life each year. Typically, for continuing students, the deadline is in March or April for the following academic year, and for new students and transfers, early July for the fall term. Requests received after these deadlines can only be considered on a space-available basis.
Requests that require renovations (e.g., room, bathroom renovations) will be implemented in a timely manner and in accordance with Facility Services’ work schedule.
A student with food allergies may request food-plan accommodations through Niagara’s Accessibility Services office, due to his/her food allergy. Requests for accommodations, such as food plan modifications or exemptions, must be supported by documentation from a qualified professional and must meet the following the ruling of Lesley University.
Please keep in mind that Hospitality Services provides a wide variety of foods, including gluten-free, and a student may find that their dietary needs can be met with the current food offerings, and subsequently may not need to make a request for modification of the food plan.
Requests for food allergy accommodations should be made as early as possible, and will be considered on a case-by-case basis, by Accessibility Services, Health Services, Hospitality Services, etc., so that appropriate accommodations can be determined and provided in timely manner.