• ABOUT STUDENT ADA SERVICES
• APPLICATION FOR SERVICES
• VERIFICATION OF DISABILITIES
• HOW REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS ARE DETERMINED
• STUDENT GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES
• PRINTABLE FORMS

WELCOME!

ABOUT STUDENT ADA SERVICES

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith makes every effort to offer equal educational opportunities for all students. To ensure a total university experience for students with disabilities, UA Fort Smith seeks to provide reasonable accommodations and services to students who are physically and/or learning disabled. The underlying philosophy of the program is to provide support, where possible, that will maximize each student's opportunities for academic success.

Working in partnership with the student, the Student ADA Coordinator will develop an individualized plan for services which may include academic advisement and accommodations in testing and instruction. A student with disabilities may present validation of his/her disability and request services by contacting the Student ADA Coordinator at the following:

Mr. Roger Young, Coordinator
Student ADA Services
University of Arkansas - Fort Smith
Vines 210
Phone: (479) 788-7577
Fax: (479) 788-7161
ada@uafortsmith.edu

APPLICATION FOR SERVICES

It is the student's responsibility to request accommodations each semester/term. To request academic accommodations, students are required to complete the application process before or at the beginning of each term.

Registration with Student ADA Services is a separate process from the application for admission to the University. In order to be considered for accommodations, a student must first submit verification of his or her condition based on Student ADA Services' guidelines and meet with the Student ADA Coordinator to discuss an accommodation request.

A student who is registered with Student ADA Services (via an executed Notification of Approved Accommodations/Approved Accommodations Summary form) may request accommodations at any point during the term; however, accommodations are only granted from the date faculty are notified by the student with an official Notification of Approved Accommodations/Approved Accommodations Summary form from Student ADA Services. This allows the student an opportunity to proceed in class without accommodations and to activate the accommodations later, if needed.

Students have an obligation to inform instructors in a timely manner with an initial accommodation request. If a student fails to give sufficient notice, the accommodation may be delayed or denied.

To complete the application process, the student is responsible for the following:

Step 1: Complete and submit an Accommodation Request Form.

Step 2: Meet with the Student ADA Coordinator to discuss individual needs. (This can be done at the same time a student completes the Accommodation Request Form.)

Step 3: Complete an Informal Consent Form and attach the required verification documentation.

Step 4: Next, the Student ADA Coordinator or a staff member will prepare and provide the student with a copy of a Notification of Approved Accommodations/Approved Accommodations Summary for the instructor of each course for which accommodations are requested. To initiate a request, the student must deliver a copy of the document to the instructor of each course for which an accommodation is requested.

Step 5: Meet with the instructor(s) to discuss how accommodations will be implemented. (If the student or the instructor has any questions about this process, the Student ADA Coordinator should be contacted.)

Step 6: Report any problems with accommodations to the Student ADA Coordinator.

Important Note. To provide the student an opportunity to proceed in class without accommodation(s), some students may prefer to register with Student ADA Services by completing the application process but postponing the initial accommodations. To protect the student's right to do this, the student is required to deliver and discuss the Notification of Approved Accommodations/Approved Accommodations Summary with instructors to initiate accommodations. This must be done before accommodations will be implemented. Instructors are not obligated to provide accommodations until they are notified by the student in this manner. Retroactive accommodations cannot be made. Specifically, instructors are not obligated to accommodate prior exams, assignments, or any course-related activity before the Notification of Approved Accommodations/Approved Accommodations Summary is delivered and discussed.

VERIFICATION OF DISABILITIES

Students are required to submit specific documentation to verify their eligibility for services. The documentation, which is provided as part of the registration process, must specify a major life activity (such as walking, eating, writing, or learning) that has been substantially limited by a disability.

This is to ensure that documentation of disabilities is appropriate, to verify eligibility, and to support requests for accommodations. These guidelines correspond with federal law and University policies. Student ADA Services follows all appropriate and applicable federal and state laws and University policies with respect to confidentiality of a student's disability and disability verification information. In general, Student ADA Services will not disclose or release information provided except as required by federal and/or state law and University policies.

HOW REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS ARE DETERMINED

Identifying reasonable accommodations for a student with disabilities is an interactive process between the student and the Student ADA Coordinator.

Services of a Personal Nature Services of a personal nature are not considered reasonable accommodations in postsecondary education. Examples of personal services include, but are not limited to, attendant care and transportation.

Types of Reasonable Accommodations UA Fort Smith will offer reasonable accommodations to qualified students with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. The following are examples of common reasonable accommodation requests that may be appropriate for some students. This list is not all inclusive.

* Reasonable Accommodations for Exams and/or Testing - Testing accommodations may include extended time; reduced-distraction testing situations; taped, oral, or signed exams; alternate test formats; readers and/or scribes. A student should discuss testing accommodations with his or her instructor(s) at the beginning of each term.

* Alternate Formats for Assignments - Where appropriate, exams and/or assignments, upon approval of the course instructor, may be submitted in formats other than those stated in course requirements.

* Tape Recording and/or Notetakers - Students may be permitted to tape record class lectures and/or may request notetakers, if eligible.

* Reading Assistance - Students may secure books-on-tape, large print copies, and other alternative print forms.

* Academic Classroom Aids - Where appropriate, students may be permitted to use a calculator, dictionary, word processor, spell checker, and/or grammar checker for in-class and out-of-class work, upon approval of the course instructor.

Again, these are only examples. Actual accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis.

STUDENT GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES

Students are entitled to appeal accommodation decisions of Student ADA Services, the Learning Assistance Center, faculty, or other University entities.

I. Policy Statement

UA Fort Smith is committed to a policy of ensuring that no otherwise qualified individual with a disability is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination in the University programs or activities due to his or her disability. The University is fully committed to complying with all requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and to providing equal educational opportunities to otherwise qualified students with disabilities.

II. Informal Grievance Procedure

Students should make every attempt to informally resolve problems they encounter through discussion with other personal involved and in a spirit of goodwill and cooperation. If potential problems are addressed early, they are less likely to escalate into grievances. Therefore, as a prerequisite to initiating formal grievance procedures, students shall first attempt to resolve their complaints informally by meeting with the Student ADA Coordinator. If the grievance is not resolved informally, then each student shall have the right to invoke the formal grievance procedure outlined below.

III. Scope and Application of Grievance Procedure

Any student who believes that he or she has been subjected to discrimination on the basis of disability or has been denied access or accommodations required by law shall have the right to invoke this Grievance Procedure. In general, this procedure is designed to address the following types of concerns:

1. Disagreements or denials regarding requested services, accommodations, or modifications to University practices or requirements;

2. Alleged inaccessibility of a University program or activity;

3. Alleged harassment or discrimination on the basis of a disability;

4. Any other alleged violations of the ADA.

IV. Formal Grievance Procedure

1. An effort to resolve a grievance informally is required by University policy and is considered the first step in this procedure.

2. If the Student ADA Coordinator cannot provide information or suggestions that resolve issues involving disability rights issues, the student may contact the Dean of Student Success to request assistance. This must be done within two weeks of the incident.

3. The Dean will schedule a consultation among the Dean, the Student ADA Coordinator, the student, and the faculty member (if applicable) as the second step in resolving concerns.

4. If an agreement concerning disability rights is not reached at his point, the Dean will notify the student in writing of the decision within one week of the meeting.

5. The third step in the grievance process is a formal appeal filed by the student to the Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. This must be done, in writing, within one week of receiving notice from the Dean.

The written complaint must include:

• A detailed explanation of why the student believes that he or she has been denied an academic accommodation, service, or modification as required by law. It is important to be specific with regard to any facts or policies supporting the student's position, including specific dates, names, and numbers of courses and instructors, and the names of any other persons with information relevant to the specific grievance.
• In addition, the student should specifically identify the remedy or resolution he or she is seeking.

6. The Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor will notify the student of the findings.

7. The student has the right to appeal the Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor's decision to the Chancellor. The Chancellor has the final authority to uphold, reduce, or reverse the decision of the Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor.

V. OCR Complaint

Although a student is encouraged to attempt to resolve complaints pertaining to disabilities by utilizing this Grievance Procedure, he or she has the right to file a complaint directly with the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Information regarding applicable time lines and procedures is available from OCR.

PRINTABLE FORMS

For Student Use

Accommodation Request Form