Student Responsibility
The Coordinator of Disability Services for students is the designated contact person for students with disabilities at Cedarville University. Services for students with disabilities focus upon providing individualized accommodations and services while promoting student responsibility, independence, and self-advocacy. Disability Services views the provision of reasonable and appropriate accommodations, academic adjustments, and auxiliary aids and services for students as a collaborative effort involving faculty, staff, and students.
Students with disabilities seeking accommodations must follow established policies and procedures including:
- Meet qualifications for admission
- Register with Disability Services
- Self-disclose disability-related needs to Disability Services
- Request accommodations in a timely manner
- Follow established policies and procedures
- Provide documentation verifying disability and supporting the request for accommodations
- Engage in an interactive process with Disability Services to determine reasonable and appropriate accommodations
- Meet with faculty at the beginning of each semester to discuss implementation of accommodations
- Notify Disability Services regarding any problems with implementing accommodations or needed changes
- Follow guidelines and procedural requirements for using approved accommodations
Admission to Cedarville University
The application process for admission to Cedarville University is the same for all students including students with disabilities. Universities and colleges cannot make pre-admission inquiries regarding disability. Disclosure is optional and voluntary. However, students may disclose a disability if they feel that their previous academic performance was adversely affected due to circumstances pertaining to disability. If students choose to disclose, they should provide the information on a separate sheet of paper and include it with their admissions application.
Registering with Disability Services - A Separate Process
It is important to understand that disclosure of a disability during the admission process does not register students with Disability Services or entitle them to accommodations. Registering with Disability Services and establishing eligibility for accommodations and services is a separate process that is done independently of the admissions office. Students desiring accommodations and services must self-disclose to Disability Services and establish eligibility by providing documentation of disability. Documentation should be sent directly to the coordinator of Disability Services for students.
Self-Disclosure
In the postsecondary setting, it is the responsibility of the students to take ownership of their education by fully participating in the accommodation process. New students who wish to be considered for reasonable accommodations at Cedarville University must self-disclose and register with Disability Services once they have been accepted and have committed to attending the University.
Self-disclosure in a timely and reasonable manner is important for several reasons:
- The process requires time to acquire the necessary information to establish eligibility.
- Certain types of accommodations such as housing, e-text, and interpreters require advance notice to arrange.
- Accommodations are not retroactive.
Students who choose not to self-disclose when they enter Cedarville University do not forfeit their right to identify themselves and to receive accommodations at a later date. However, Cedarville University is not obligated to provide accommodations or services to those students with disabilities who do not disclose.
Early self-disclosure to Disability Services is particularly helpful for students with chronic medical conditions that are episodic in nature. These students may be fine at the beginning of the term but may experience flare-ups of their condition as the term progresses. Having a plan in place, should a flare-up occur, eliminates surprises. This gives the student and faculty member the opportunity to consider options to mitigate the impact of such a flare-up and help the student manage coursework and other academic responsibilities.
Registering with Disability Services and establishing eligibility does not obligate a student to use approved accommodations. However, waiting to begin the accommodation process until one experiences difficulties in meeting academic responsibilities or fails an exam may not be the wisest decision. It is important to understand that accommodations are not retroactive.
Faculty Rely on Disability Services for Verification of Disability
A disclosure of disability or request for an accommodation made by a student to a faculty or staff member will not be treated as a request for an accommodation. Faculty rely on Disability Services to verify eligibility and the need for accommodations. Students must self-disclose to the coordinator of Disability Services for students and follow established procedures and guidelines to establish eligibility.
Establish Eligibility
A disability, as defined by federal law, is a physical or mental impairment that "substantially limits" one or more major life activity such as walking, hearing, seeing, speaking, or learning. A student must self-disclose and provide current documentation of the disability to Disability Services.
The purpose of documentation is to:
- Establish eligibility as an individual with a disability
- Establish a rationale for reasonable and appropriate accommodations
Note: Cedarville University does not provide diagnostic services to students who suspect they may have a disability. Upon request, Disability Services will provide names of professionals in the general area.
Self-Advocacy
Students with disabilities are expected to take an active role in developing strategies for reasonable accommodations. For example, a student with a documented learning disability is expected to make an appointment with faculty at the beginning of the semester to discuss learning needs and accommodations. The student should be prepared to discuss strengths, weaknesses, and the types of accommodations that will be necessary. This meeting will give a student’s faculty a better understanding of the student’s needs and the opportunity to discuss effective and appropriate accommodations. Students who understand their disability are better equipped to self-advocate.
Should any concern arise during the term regarding the provision of an accommodation and/or its effectiveness, it is the student’s responsibility to immediately contact the faculty member and Disability Services to make them aware of the concern. Doing this in a timely manner is important to allow both faculty and the coordinator of Disability Services for students the opportunity to address the situation.
Right to Privacy and Release of Information
The coordinator of Disability Services for students respects the right to privacy of individuals with disabilities and the confidential nature of information conveyed verbally or in writing. Disability Services is committed to ensuring that all documentation including medical, educational, and psychological information regarding a student’s disability is maintained as private. Information will not be released except in accordance with state and/or federal law.
Only the coordinator of Disability Services for students, the director of the Academic Enrichment Center—The Cove, and designated staff have access to files.
Information acquired is used solely for establishing eligibility to provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations at the University. Students are informed that if they request Disability Services to facilitate accommodations on their behalf, disability-related information may need to be shared. Information is shared only with others within the University on a need-to-know basis for the purpose of meeting the student’s disability-related needs per the student’s request and permission.
Procedure for Requesting Accommodations
new students and current students recently diagnosed with a disability or temporary disability
new students and current students requesting accommodations for the first time at Cedarville University must follow the steps outlined below:
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Self-Disclose
Students must self-disclose to the coordinator of Disability Services in a timely and reasonable manner. The amount of time considered appropriate depends on the nature of accommodations being sought. Certain accommodations may require significant lead time to arrange and provide. Examples include but are not limited to alternate text format, special services for vision and hearing impairments, and housing. In such instances, without advanced communication and the provision of appropriate documentation to both verify eligibility and support the request for accommodations, it may be difficult if not impossible to provide the requested accommodations in a timely manner. -
Register
Students must register with Disability Services by completing an Application for Services and other appropriate forms. -
Submit Documentation
Students must provide documentation from a qualified professional which supports the request for accommodations and services. Submitting the documentation in a timely and reasonable manner is important. This will allow Disability Services sufficient time to determine if it is appropriate and complete and to verify eligibility for accommodations. If additional information or clarification is needed the student will be contacted.
Transfer Students
Providing written verification from the previously attended college or university which includes accommodations used and dates provided is useful information. However, provision of this information does not obligate Cedarville University to provide the same services. -
Schedule an Intake Interview
Students must schedule an "Intake Interview" with the coordinator of Disability Services. The coordinator and the student will meet to discuss the functional impact of the student's disability in the academic environment. This interactive process will provide important information in determining reasonable and appropriate accommodations, auxiliary aids, and services. The student's self-report regarding the impact the disability has had on learning and other major life activities and the effectiveness of accommodations in the past provides a valuable source of information. While objective information (documentation) is important, so are the lived experiences of the individual. Appropriate and reasonable accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis. Consequently, accommodation recommendations may vary from individual to individual with the "same" disability diagnosis and from environment to environment for the same individual.
In preparation for this "Intake Interview," students are encouraged to consider how the disability has impacted them in the past. Students should also consider how it is likely to impact them in the typical activities one can expect to encounter at Cedarville University, for example:- Classes (lectures, labs, physical activity, web-based learning)
- Assignments (reading, writing, calculating, keyboarding, library)
- Communication (speaking, listening, using phones, using e-mail)
- Evaluations (tests, papers, oral reports, group presentations/projects)
- Time constraints (timed tests, college deadlines, assignment due dates, time management)
- Attendance (class, chapel, required activities out of class, dorm meetings)
- Campus (mobility, orientation/navigation, transportation, accessibility)
- Housing (roommates, diet, climate control, privacy)
- Co-curricular (ministry, clubs, organizations, events, athletics)
- Spiritual
- Social
If a meeting with the coordinator is not possible prior to arrival at the University, the "Intake Interview" can be arranged through other means of communication. However, upon arrival at Cedarville, it is important for students to schedule a personal appointment with the coordinator. -
Approve the Student Accommodation Notification
Once accommodations are determined, upon the student's request, Disability Services will provide a Student Accommodation Notification to the faculty designated by the student. The student's advisor will be provided a copy of this notification. This notification informs faculty members that the student is registered with Disability Services and is eligible to receive the approved academic accommodations designated in the communication. The student is copied with this communication. -
Schedule Faculty Meeting/s
Every student is expected to meet with faculty to discuss the implementation of approved accommodations for the course. Students should arrange for a private conversation during the faculty member's posted office hours rather than approaching the faculty member before or after class. -
Report on the Implementation and Effectiveness of Accommodations
Students are expected to maintain contact with the coordinator of Disability Services regarding the implementation and effectiveness of accommodations. If accommodation needs are not being met in the classroom, the student should request a meeting with the faculty member without delay. If further assistance is necessary, the student should contact Disability Services immediately to address the concern.
Remember…
Students must request accommodations by making an appointment with the coordinator to determine appropriate accommodations for each semester the student desires services.
Current Students Registering With Disability Services
Students who are currently registered with Disability Services and have been approved to receive accommodations must request academic accommodations for each semester they desire accommodations. Students need to follow the procedures outlined below:
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Request Accommodations in a Timely and Reasonable Manner
Most arrangements for accommodations can be made at the beginning or even near the end of the current semester. However, the amount of time considered appropriate depends on the type of accommodations being sought. Some accommodations may require significant lead time to arrange and provide. Examples include, but are not limited to, alternate text format and special services for vision and hearing impairments. In these instances, without sufficient notice from the student, it may be difficult, if not impossible, to provide the requested accommodations in a timely manner. -
Schedule an Appointment With the coordinator of Disability Services
Students must schedule an appointment to review accommodations from the previous semester and consider appropriate accommodations for the new semester. Accommodations which require additional time to provide will necessitate an earlier appointment in the preceding semester. If circumstances prevent the student from coming to campus for an appointment with the coordinator, communication can be accomplished by e-mail, phone, or other means. -
Complete a Semester Request for Academic Accommodations Form
Each semester students requesting accommodations for courses must complete a Semester Request for Academic Accommodations form. -
Approve the Student Accommodation Notification to Faculty
Once a Semester Request for Academic Accommodations form has been submitted and reasonable and appropriate accommodations approved by the coordinator, a Student Accommodations Notification will be provided to the faculty members designated by the student. This notification informs the faculty member that the student is registered with Disability Services and is eligible to receive the approved academic accommodations designated in the communication. The student is provided a copy of this communication. -
Schedule Faculty Meeting
Every student is expected to meet with faculty to discuss the implementation of approved accommodations. Students should arrange for a private conversation during the faculty member’s posted office hours rather than approaching the faculty member before or after class. -
Report on the Implementation and Effectiveness of Accommodations
Students are expected to maintain contact with the coordinator of Disability Services regarding the implementation and effectiveness of accommodations. If accommodation needs are not being met in the classroom, the student should request a meeting with the faculty member without delay. If further assistance is necessary, the student should contact Disability Services immediately to address the concern.