Access, Advocacy, and Achievement
Disability Resource Center General Policy and Procedure Manual
Purpose
To facilitate reasonable and appropriate accommodations and services for students with disabilities.
It is the policy of SUNY New Paltz to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Federal law (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) established the rights of individuals with disabilities. SUNY New Paltz shall comply with all applicable federal laws and regulations regarding reasonable accommodations needed to provide equal opportunity to individuals with disabilities.
Policy
Students with disabilities may be eligible to receive academic support services and accommodations. Eligibility is based on assessment of each individual’s needs.
Accommodations and services may include, but are not limited to:
- In-class note-takers
- Testing accommodations
- Alternative format services
- Academic consultation
- Campus referrals (e.g. Career Resource Center, Counseling Center, etc.)
- Community referrals
- Assistive technology and assistive technology training
- Academic support services
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) support services
Procedures
1. Requesting Academic Accommodation
a. Students must provide timely notice to the Disability Resource Center (DRC) regarding the need for accommodations and/or services. Students are encouraged to self-disclose their disability prior to his/her first semester.
b. Requests for accommodations must be initiated by a SUNY New Paltz student. It is the student’s sole responsibility to request or initiate the request for accommodations and/or services each semester.
c. Disability documentation must meet the following requirements:
Learning Disability - You must submit the following:
Psychological Evaluation from High School
Educational Evaluation from High School
IEP or 504 Plan
ADHD – You must submit the following:
Psychological Evaluation from High School
Educational Evaluation from High School
IEP or 504 Plan
New Paltz Disability Verification Document- If you are being treated for ADHD by a Psychologist or Psychiatrist or other Licensed Mental Health Professional, please have them complete the New Paltz Disability Verification Document
Mental Health Disability - You must submit the following:
New Paltz Disability Verification Document- If you are being treated for a Mental Health disability by a Psychologist or Psychiatrist or other Licensed Mental Health Professional, please have them complete the New Paltz Disability Verification Document
Medical Disability - You must submit the following:
New Paltz Disability Verification Document -If you are being treated for a Medical disability by a Physician, please have them complete the New Paltz Disability Verification Document
d. DRC staff will make every effort to provide accommodations in a timely manner, but last minute requests for accommodations may not be feasible.
e. Every New Paltz student is responsible for their behavior regardless of disability. See the Student Handbook for more information.
f. Once a student has requested an accommodation in a timely manner, the DRC will take the following steps to determine an appropriate accommodation based on the student interview, professional judgment, and documentation submitted:
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- Step 1- Work with the student to identify a range of potential accommodations and assess the effectiveness each would have in leveling the individual’s academic performance.
- Step 2- Considering the needs of the individual and the requirements of the program or course, DRC staff will select and implement the most appropriate accommodation.
- Step 3- DRC staff will verify the request for accommodation and document the accommodation on the student's Accommodate profile for instructors to view.
- Step 4- If necessary, the instructor and student agree to how and when the accommodation will be carried out. An instructor can make the determination to provide accommodations above and beyond those requested, but he/she is not obligated to do so under the law. If the accommodation needs to change during the course of the semester, the student should discuss this with the instructor immediately. Additional accommodations may be requested through the DRC.
- Step 5- If the student chooses not to inform their instructors that they have a disability needing accommodation (early in semester), but subsequently changes his/her mind during the course of the semester, then such changes should be made with as much advance notice as possible to the DRC. Students should be aware that accommodations are not retroactive and can not change anything prior to when requested.
2. Event/Program Accessibility
a. Institutional departments that offer programs/events open to the public must publish information available to participants with disabilities informing them to request in advance any accommodations needed to allow them full accessibility.
b. Accessibility Guide for Events
3. Reconsideration of Accommodation Determination Process
If a student disagrees with an accommodation decision made by the Disability Resource Center, they may request a meeting with the Director of the DRC (by emailing drc@newpaltz.edu) to review the decision. Upon receipt of the meeting request, the Director of the DRC will arrange a meeting with the necessary parties (DRC staff, instructor, student, etc.). The student may provide more information, including additional supporting documentation. If, as a result of the meeting, the parties reach a resolution that is satisfactory to all, the terms of the agreement will be provided in writing to the student and will be included in the student’s file. If the parties are unable to agree to a resolution within a reasonable time period of the meeting, the Director of the DRC will provide the student, in writing, with the response to their reconsideration request. The response will include a detailed explanation of the reasons for the decision and the basis for the denial. If the student considers the response unsatisfactory, they may file a grievance.
4. Grievance Procedure
The Disability Resource Center aims to comply with all federal regulations and meet its obligations to provide equal access to programs and services for qualified individuals with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities wishing to have an accommodation determination reconsidered must follow the Reconsideration of Accommodation Determination Process. Individuals with disabilities at SUNY New Paltz who believe they have experienced discrimination based on a disability may file a report through the Bias Response process https://www.newpaltz.edu/diversity/bias-response-reporting-and-support/ within 45 calendar days of the alleged discriminatory act. See more on the Office for Civil Rights website." A student may also file a complaint under the Non Discrimination/Non Harassment Policy Statement and Procedures for Reporting Incidents of Harassment, Discrimination and Sexual Violence.
Definitions
1. Academic accommodation: Any modification or change in the educational environment or in the way things are customarily done that enables an individual with a disability to have equal educational opportunities. This term may include:
- Making existing facilities and programs readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities
- Relocating classrooms, developing alternative testing procedures, or providing educational auxiliary aids, readers, note takers, interpreters, etc.
- Altering or substituting specific courses, major/minor programs, and/or general education or degree requirements.
2. Individual with a disability: An individual with a disability is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment.
