An applicant or student with a disability who seeks accommodation should notify the Director of Compliance/ Disabilities Services Coordinator by submitting documentation and a request for accommodation, as specified in this policy, so that the request can be evaluated and reasonable accommodation(s) provided. The Director of Compliance/Disabilities Services can be contacted at janetp@westondistancelearning.com or 800.347.7899, ext. 6323.
The following documentation should be forwarded to the Director of Compliance upon admission or at any time concurrent with a request for accommodations:
For physical disabilities
- A statement of the physical impairment from a licensed healthcare professional, qualified and currently or recently associated with the student.
- A statement as to how the student is limited in functionality in a major life activity.
- Recommendation for reasonable online accommodations.
- In the case of hearing impairment, the student should also submit a report from an audiologist that includes the results of an audiogram and the degree of the hearing loss.
For mental disabilities
A statement or report from a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist that includes the following items:
- Statement of DSM-IV condition or impairment.
- Summary of assessment procedures used to make the diagnosis.
- Description of present symptoms and fluctuating condition symptoms in relation to the impairment.
- Current medications and side effects as they may impair the student's academic performance or ability to function in an online classroom.
- A description of functional limitations in a major life activity.
- Recommendations for reasonable accommodations for the online classroom.
For learning disabilities
A diagnostic interview by a qualified evaluator that includes historical information of learning difficulties in elementary, secondary and post-secondary education.
- A comprehensive diagnostic interview that addresses relevant background information supporting the impairment, including developmental history, academic history and psychosocial history.
- A record of comprehensive testing that is current (within past two years and after age of 18)
- A description of functional limitations in a major life activity.
- Recommendations as to reasonable accommodations for the classroom.
After an applicant or student has compiled relevant documentation and submitted a request for accommodation to the Director of Compliance / Disabilities Services Coordinator, the Director of Compliance / Disabilities Services Coordinator will consider the information and documentation provided by the applicant or student, consult with appropriate instructors and/or school officials as needed, and determine what constitutes reasonable accommodation(s) for the applicant or student's disability. A list of approved accommodation(s) will be provided to the applicant or student and shared with any instructors and/or school officials who will be responsible for providing or making arrangements for such accommodation(s).