Knight Hall 109 | Dept. 3135
1000 E. University Avenue
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: (307) 766-3073
Email: udss@uwyo.edu
Fax: (307) 766-3298
"It's okay; I'll take the test with the class. I really don't want to have an unfair advantage." This is a statement DSS coordinators often hear from students who know that their disability affects their performance on a test, but who feel uncomfortable accepting assistance. Did you know that you may be legally entitled to the accommodations you request?
There are three federal laws that protect individuals with disabilities from discrimination: the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. It is because of these laws that people with disabilities have had a more equal opportunity to attend and participate in college. Each law has provisions that are specific to post-secondary education or public institutions. Some of the requirements for colleges and universities are listed below:
Program accessibility to individuals with disabilities.
Fair admissions requirements so as to avoid screening out people with disabilities.
Provisions for academic adjustments to ensure that evaluations do not measure the disability.
Provision of auxiliary aids, services, etc.
DSS assists the University in meeting these legal obligations. To accomplish this, certain expectations are made of each student who needs assistance.
As a student, it is your responsibility to identify yourself to DSS as an individual with a disability and to request accommodations. Accommodations must be requested for each course and each semester. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), an individual with a disability is someone with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as walking, seeing, hearing, learning, caring for oneself, speaking, breathing, thinking, concentrating, etc.
Documentation is paperwork from a medical professional that provides verification of a disability and its impacts. Documentation is used to support the individualized process and determination of reasonable accommodations by providing details of past accommodations or current diagnostic outcomes to our coordinators. Documentation is important, but not required to begin a conversation with our office.
If you are working to get documentation, we still encourage you to register with our office. We can then talk through next steps, potential accommodations, and what specific information we will need to implement services.
In return, DSS works closely with each student to individually determine what accommodations are effective and reasonable. Communication is key. You, the student, know best how your disability affects you. It is important to feel comfortable discussing this with your DSS coordinator and to know what kind of assistance you need to be successful.
Information on the laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability are available from many sources. See your DSS coordinator if you would like more information.
Decisions regarding eligibility for assistance, choice of accommodation, treatment you receive by faculty and staff, etc. can be issues of disagreement or conflict. If you disagree with a decision that has been made regarding eligibility, service, treatment, etc., let your coordinator know why you disagree.
If a resolution is not reached, or the DSS coordinator has concluded that the accommodation is not reasonable or appropriate for the course or the circumstance, or if the documentation on file does not support the request, students can submit additional documentation for review by the DSS coordinator and/or request a review of the denial by the Director of DSS.
If the accommodation is still not approved, the student can make a request in writing for an additional review by the Vice President for Student Affairs (or designee) within 10 calendar days, excluding school holidays, of the denial of the accommodation. The Vice President for Student Affairs (or designee) will review and make a decision within 10 calendar days, excluding school holidays, of receipt of the student’s request for review and notify the student of the decision. This decision is final.
University Regulation 1-5 pertains to civil rights and harassment and may be implemented by individuals alleging discrimination or harassment by the University. For more information on the regulation and complaint procedures, contact the Equal Opportunity Report and Response (EORR) office at 307-766-5200.
Knight Hall 109 | Dept. 3135
1000 E. University Avenue
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: (307) 766-3073
Email: udss@uwyo.edu
Fax: (307) 766-3298