Accommodations
These are an adjustment or adaptation made in order for a person with a disability to be fully included in an educational, workplace or social setting or in an activity.
Accommodations are determined on an individual basis. In order to qualify, students must have a disability and must meet with the Director to discuss the impact of the student’s disability on their lives. Specific steps are found here. Sometimes students want to know what kinds of accommodations are possible, but this menu must connect to the impact of the student’s disability.
College is different from high school in that a significant responsibility lies with students need to act on their own behalf. General information is available here (Responsibilities) and there are also specific aspects of responsibilities are contained in each procedure.
Deadlines: Accommodations are not retroactive. However, once a need is established, the need is communicated to the appropriate faculty (and more rarely staff) as soon as possible to be implemented in a reasonable time frame.
Housing Deadlines: For incoming new students, housing accommodations are to be determined (not just requested) 60 days in advance which is usually immediately after the deposit deadline of May 1st. For current students, housing accommodations are to be determined (not just requested) 30 days prior to room draw. With limited spaces of specific types and other community needs, advance notice is needed to meet everyone’s needs.
At any point, meet with the Director to see what your options are.
ACCOMMODATION POSSIBILITIES
There are a variety of ways in which students with documented disabilities obtain equal access to their education. Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis. Some of the most common accommodations include (but are not limited to):
- Extended time on exams and in-class assignments
- Limited distraction area for exams
- Use of a computer for exams and in-class assignments or note-taking
- Note-Taking assistance which may include the use of recordings, peer note takers, access to power points, professor notes, and more
- Print materials in an electronic and/or audio format
6. Print materials enlarged
7. Organizational Tutor
8. Leniency with attendance and/or handing in assignments on time
9. Moving of classrooms to accessible locations
10. Housing accommodations
11. Use of a calculator
Accommodations are intended to enable students with disabilities to participate in and benefit from the College’s programs, services, and activities, provided that such accommodations would not 1) fundamentally alter the nature or operation of the College’s programs, services, or activities, 2) cause undue burden to the College, or 3) pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others. Accommodations are not retroactive.
For course accommodations, a student must provide an Access Letter to each professor, each semester and discuss the contents of the Letter with the professor each time. For specific instructions on how particular accommodations are provided or coordinated, contact The Learning Enrichment and Disability Services Office.
TEMPORARY IMPAIRMENTS / INJURIES
At times students will experience injuries or illnesses which will require temporary adjustments. First, the student is to provide documentation of the situation to the Dean of Students office (deanstu@beloit.edu). Most of the time, faculty will be flexible in providing necessary adjustments without additional information. However, at times the learning and use of assistive technology and/or figuring out strategies to compensate for the impairment can be done with the assistance of the Associate Dean of Students.