Office of Accessibility Services
91ÁÔÆæ is committed to providing equal access to educational opportunities, services and activities for students with disabilities. The Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) engages in an interactive process with each student who self-discloses a documented disability to determine eligibility for reasonable and appropriate accommodations, as defined under federal law.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified students to ensure equal access to academic programs and activities. Reasonable accommodations are determined through a review of required documentation, on a case-by-case basis, to determine appropriate support to allow for equal access to academic programs. Some requested accommodations can be met through the daily opportunities/operations of the university that are available to all students. Each accommodation request is considered, however not all requested accommodations are approved, and a diagnosis does not automatically warrant approval of requested accommodations.
Students seeking accommodations must self-identify by completing an online accommodation application and submitting appropriate documentation to the Office of Accessibility Services. After the documentation is received and reviewed, the Director of Accessibility Services will review the request and meet with the student to determine eligibility for accommodations.
The Office of Accessibility Services is located in Bernadine Hall 105 and can be reached via telephone at 610-790-1983, or via email at accessibility.services@alvernia.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are common academic accommodations at the college level?
Below are examples of common academic accommodations. These are only provided as examples, not an exclusive list:
Extended time for timed assessments (exams/quizzes/etc.).
Permission for examinations to be proctored in a reduced distraction setting.
Permission for the use of computers, digital recorders, or other technology to assist in note-taking.
Provision of Braille books, audio books, or other alternative formats.
Access to assistive technology and software for text-to-speech and speech-to-text assistance.
Communication access, such as sign-language interpreters.
Modification of physical barriers or changing the location of a class to accommodate students with a disability or injury that affects mobility.
Other reasonable accommodations as necessary based on the effects of a student's disability.
- What factors are considered in making accommodation decisions?
While previously approved accommodations, such as IEPs or 504 plans, may shed light to what adjustments have been beneficial to the student in the past, the following factors are used to determine what accommodations are appropriate at the Post Secondary level:
- If the proposed accommodation is necessary to provide a student who has a disability meaningful access or an equal opportunity to gain the same benefits as their non-disabled peers.
- If the proposed accommodation is logically connected to the impacts of the student’s disability and the barriers to access they experience in the academic and/or campus environment.
- If the proposed accommodation is logically designed to address and remove the identified barrier to access.
- If implemented, the proposed accommodation would be effective in removing the identified barrier to access.
- The proposed accommodation does not:
- Lower an essential program standard
- Fundamentally alter an essential program element or requirement
- Pose an undue administrative or financial burden
- I am going to be a new student at 91ÁÔÆæ. When should I begin the process of applying for accommodations?
We kindly ask that new students do not submit accommodation requests until information has been shared by the Director of Accessibility Services that we are ready to begin reviewing accommodations. Information about the application process will be sent to your 91ÁÔÆæ email in mid-June. If you are enrolling any semester prior to the fall semester/Mod 3, please contact our office before submitting your intake form.
If there is information you need about accessibility needs to determine if 91ÁÔÆæ is the right school for you, please contact our office directly at accessibility.services@alvernia.edu or 610-790-1983.
- Do I need to reapply for accommodations each semester?
While students do not need to reapply for accommodations that are academic in nature each semester, students must reactivate their accommodations each semester by submitting a semester request in Accommodate. Instructions on how to complete this can be found in Accommodate.
Accommodations that are temporary in nature are given an expiration date. If a student is still experiencing disability-related symptoms, they should contact the Office of Accessibility Services for assistance with next steps.
Housing and dining accommodations must be renewed each school year. Information on how to do so, including the timeline, will be shared with students during the housing selection process.
- If I do not agree with the decisions made regarding my accommodations, is there an appeal or grievance policy?
Institutions of higher education have the obligation to make informed decisions about accommodations. These decisions may not always coincide with recommendations from outside professionals or with prior Individualized Educational Programs (IEPs) and 504 Plans. Students who do not agree with the accommodation decisions of the Office of Accessibility Services should follow the process outlined below.
A student who disagrees with the appropriateness of a decision regarding accommodations should first contact the Office of Accessibility Services at accessibility.services@alvernia.edu to resolve the issue. If a satisfactory resolution still cannot be reached, the student has two options:
- For academic accommodations, written appeals should be sent to the Office of the Provost at Provost@alvernia.edu.
- For non-academic accommodations related to medical and physiological disabilities, including campus access (residential, classroom, social and dining) written appeals should be sent to the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Abby Swatchick at Abby.Swatchick@alvernia.edu.
If the Chief Academic Officer/Provost or the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students (as appropriate) determines the decision settled upon by the Office of Accessibility Services Director was reached according to ADA guidelines, written notification of the decision will be issued to the student and kept in the student’s file in the Accessibility Services Office.
