Policies, procedures, & timelines

• Overview of Policies
• Procedures for Requesting Specific Accmommodations
• Timelines for Requests

Overview of Policies

Disability Services serves all qualified Lesley University students with disabilities in our on and off campus programs. Disability Services collects and reviews all documentation and determines eligibility of reasonable accommodations. Documentation should only be provided to the appropriate person in Disability Services so as to maintain confidentiality and allow for proper record keeping. If you are a student with a documented disability, or feel that you may have a disability, we encourage you to check in with Disability Services as soon as possible to determine if you are eligible for services.

Once a student's disability is established through appropriate documentation, a decision will be made regarding the requested accommodation. In most situations, Disability Services, students, and faculty work together to identify reasonable modifications. Upon reaching this agreement, a Disability Accommodation Letter will be completed and signed by a representative from Disability Services, the student, and the faculty member.

The complete Lesley policy regarding services for students with disabilities, including a complaint procedure for students who believe that Lesley has failed to meet its obligations under Section 504 and the ADA, is available from the Coordinator of Disability Services in the Office of the Dean of Students. Any Lesley student who believes that she or he has been denied an appropriate accommodation should first contact the Coordinator of Disability Services for Students and try to informally resolve the issue. If the student believes that a satisfactory outcome has not been reached, she or he may ask for a formal investigation into her or his claim. Students should contact the Office of the Dean of Students to file a formal grievance.

The following items are detailed on our Policies page:
Confidentiality
Denial & Grievance Policy
Publications
Access to Activities & Events

Procedures for Requesting Specific Accommodations

Specific Accommodations:

• Interpreter Services
• Computer Aided Real Time (CART) Services
• Assisted Listening Devices
• Priority Registration
• Print Material in Alternate Format
• Testing Accommodations
• Audio-Taping of Class Lectures
• Note Taking Services
• Classroom Relocation
• Elevator Access
• Parking
• Housing

Detailed information on the items listed above is listed on our Services and Accommodations page.

Making an Accommodation Request

Step One:
Please contact the appropriate Disability Services staff member to arrange an initial appointment.

Many accommodations take time to arrange. It is in your best interest to make your formal requests as early as possible, preferably prior to the beginning of the semester. Failure to do so might limit our ability to meet your needs. (Please see the Timeline for Accommodation Request [pdf])

Step Two:
During your initial meeting you will discuss your documentation, discuss eligibility for accommodations, discuss any potential accommodations, and discuss the next steps. You may bring any documentation that you have to this meeting. We will determine if additional documentation is necessary. You will also have the opportunity to ask any questions regarding documentation guidelines.

Step Three:
If it is determined that, you have a qualifying disability and the documentation you have provided is appropriate, Disability Services staff will work with you to determine which reasonable accommodations will be provided, and will prepare accommodation letters for faculty. Accommodations are given on a case-by-case basis. If necessary, appropriate faculty, staff or outside sources may need to be consulted. No consultation will take place without the informed consent of the student.

Step Four:
The student delivers the disability accommodation letters to course instructors. Student and instructor must sign each form and have the original returned to Disability Services.

Please note:
You need to contact Disability Services each semester to formally request accommodations prior to each semester.

Timelines

Integral to the definition of reasonable accommodation is the timeliness of the request for accommodation. For example, sign language interpreters for a semester long course normally need four weeks to arrange. Thus, a student should initiate the process for obtaining a reasonable accommodation no later than the beginning of the course or courses in which she or he is seeking accommodation to enable the University to make any necessary adjustments and to obtain the required services. It is recommended that a student seeking reasonable accommodation not wait until classes have begun to initiate the process; rather, she or he should seek assistance through Disability Services before a course or a semester begins. Students must follow Lesley University accommodation timelines [pdf].