Reasonable Accommodation of Persons with Disabilities - Students CWUP 2-35-040(2)

For the complete policy, please go to: www.cwu.edu/resources-reports/cwup-2-35-0402-reasonable-accommodation-persons-disabilities-students.

1. Accommodation Policy for Students with Disabilities
   
   Title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, the Washington state law against discrimination, RCW 49.60, RCW 28B.10.910- 914, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibit discrimination against persons of disability on the basis of disability. Central Washington University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to all qualified persons of disability to ensure access to programs, activities, and services.
   
   1. Definitions
      To be considered disabled, a student must have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual, a record of such an impairment or being regarded as having such an impairment.
      
      A student is considered qualified if the student: 1) meets all eligibility criteria, 2) is able to (with or without accommodation) perform the essential functions of the program or activity, and 3) is able to benefit from a service.
      
      The term accommodation means any change or adjustment that makes it possible for a student of disability to participate in a program or activity, or benefit from a service.
      
      The term reasonable means that provision of the required accommodation will not result in: 1) an undue financial hardship, 2) an undue administrative hardship, or 3) a fundamental alteration to the nature of the program.
      
      Please note that a decision not to provide accommodation must:
      1. Take into consideration fiscal resources of the entire university,
      2. Be explained in writing by the university president,
      3. Be defended by the university if legally challenged.
2. Accommodation Procedures
   The following procedures have been established in a sincere effort to accommodate students with disabilities:
   NOTE:

   NOTE: To assist faculty and staff in the provision of requested accommodations, the Center for Disability Services office has programs to provide print materials in alternative formats, administer alternative examinations, furnish sign language interpreters, etc. If, for any reason, the faculty or staff decides not to utilize service provided by the Center for Disability Services, the faculty or staff member and her or his department will assume administrative and fiscal responsibility for ensuring that the student’s need for accommodations is met.

   1. Establishing Eligibility for Accommodation
      1. REQUESTING ACCOMMODATION: Students wishing to request accommodation are responsible for initiating contact with Center of Disability Services.
      2. DOCUMENTATION: The student is responsible for providing documentation of disability that includes the names and results of all tests used to diagnose the disability, describes the nature and extent of the disability, and identifies the disability-related functional limitations experienced by the student. This documentation is confidential medical information and will be maintained in separate files in the Center for Disability Services.
   2. Provision of Academic Accommodations
   3. The Center for Disability Services is responsible for:
      1. Assessing the effect of a student’s disability on his/her ability to access the educational process;
      2. Identifying accommodations that the University will provide to ensure that CWU’s programs, activities, and services are accessible;
      3. Communicating procedures that
         1. outline student and university responsibilities, and
         2. set time lines for requests and delivery of accommodations;
      4. providing services to help faculty and staff accommodate the needs of students.
   4. The student is responsible for:
      1. Making the appropriate people on campus aware of his/her need and eligibility for accommodation in a timely manner;
      2. Working with the faculty, staff, and Center for Disability Services to determine how the accommodation will be provided;
      3. Following policies and procedures set forth by the university and by the Center for Disability Services.
   5. The university has no obligation to accommodate a student who fails to establish eligibility with CWU’s Center for Disability Services.
   6. The university reserves the right to suspend accommodations to students who abuse services or fail to follow university policies and procedures.
   7. If failure to use an accommodation results in damage to CWU equipment, the student will be held responsible for the repair or replacement of the damaged equipment.
   8. Faculty and staff are responsible for:
      1. Working with the student and the Center for Disability Services to identify an effective means of providing requested accommodations;
      2. Providing requested accommodations.
3. Determination of Qualified
   1. The student must meet all prerequisite and eligibility criteria as set forth by the department unless that criteria is discriminatory on the basis of disability.
   2. The student must be capable of performing the essential elements of the course, activity, or program. If in question, the student is responsible for working with the academic department, appropriate faculty or staff, and the CDS director to determine if he or she (with or without accommodation) can meet the eligibility criteria and technical standards of the course, activity, or program.
   3. The academic department or faculty are responsible for:
      1. Identifying the eligibility criteria and technical standards for each academic program or course. This should be done prior to the time that an academic program or course is offered. The eligibility criteria and technical standards of an academic program or course are the key skills, knowledge, or abilities that the program or course is designed to teach the student. When identifying the eligibility criteria and technical standards, faculty should focus on the desired outcome, not the process used to reach that outcome.
      2. Working with the student and the CDS director to determine if a student’s disability would prevent him or her from meeting (with or without accommodation) the eligibility criteria and technical standards of an academic program or course.
   4. The CDS director is responsible for working with students, the academic department, and the faculty to:
      1. Review the determination of a student’s ability (with or without accommodation) to acquire the skills that comprise the eligibility criteria and technical standards of an academic program or course.
      2. Review eligibility criteria and technical standards that present barriers to ensure that those elements are essential and not discriminatory against students of disability.
4. Grievance
   Any student who believes that she or he has been discriminated against on the basis of disability may file a grievance in the Office for Equal Opportunity, room 211, Barge Hall
   (509-963-2205 or TDD 509-963-2007).
   
   Grievances may be pursued either formally or informally. A list of state and federal agencies which investigate alleged violations of disability law is also available in the Office for Equal Opportunity.

Disclaimer: all policies and procedures are regularly updated by the Office of the President.