Santa Clara University

Disabilities Resources

Overview

Required Documents

Guidelines

Emergency Preparedness

Overview

The Office of Disabilities Resources has been designated by the University to ensure access for all students with disabilities to all academic programs and University resources. Types of disabilities include medical, physical, psychological, attention-deficit, and learning disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are provided to minimize the effects of a student’s disability and to maximize the potential for success.

Our goal is to support the college student with a disability to participate fully in campus life, its programs and activities. We emphasize growth and individual achievement. We address this goal through the provision of academic accommodations, support services, self-advocacy skill training, and disability-related educational programming for the University community.

Services

In order to obtain services from Disabilities Resources, a student must register with Disabilities Resources, submit appropriate documentation of his or her disability from a qualified professional (e.g., a psychiatrist, psychologist, or physician). The Disabilities Resources Coordinator can provide further information on the types of documentation required and services provided, as well as referrals to qualified professionals upon request. Along with documentation, a student must register with Disabilities Resources.

Examples of possible accommodations are:

• Priority Registration
• Extended time for exams
• Scribe
• Note Taker
• Sign Language Interpreter
• Textbooks on Tape

Other services provided:

• Resource information on disability issues
• Workshops on self-advocacy skills
• Resource information regarding employment for students with disabilities

Required Documentation

Students must submit proper documentation to obtain services through the Office of Disability Resources. Please review all of your own documentation to see that all of the below criteria is addressed.

The documentation needs to be within the last three years to be valid and must include:

• Diagnostic statement
• Date of onset, if appropriate
• What procedures and measures (formal or informal) were used to assess the condition
• What functional-limitations there are and how it will affect academics, if appropriate
• All psycho-metric testing results (standard scores and percentile scores), if appropriate
• What are the examiners’ recommendations for specific academic accommodations and/or auxiliary aids that specifically meet needs.

• For students seeking academic accommodations for a documented disability of Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a certified medical professional must address specific criteria. The criteria for ADD/ADHD documentation may be found in the Disabilities Resources Policy Manual listed on the web site.

Guidelines

• Documentation:
• Submit documentation as soon as possible after registering with Disabilities Resources in order to insure accommodations for the quarter. At least four weeks prior notice is required to process accommodations.
  
• Schedule of Classes Forms:
  After registering for classes each quarter, return the schedule of classes form to Disabilities Resources.
  
• Memos to Professors:
  Memos to Professors must be signed by Disabilities Resources before presenting to professors.
  
• Textbooks on Tape:
  When Disabilities Resources is providing textbooks on tape, requests must be submitted at least 6 weeks prior to the beginning of the quarter, and preferably as soon as you have registered.
  
• Proctored Exams for students approved to take exams administered by Disabilities Resources:
  During the first week of classes, turn in test request forms for all classes proctored by our office.

Requests for accommodations should be addressed to faculty within the first week of classes.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

As part of the Emergency Preparedness Plan, Santa Clara University asks individuals with mobility or visual disabilities to identify at least two “Rescue Assistants” capable of offering assistance in evacuating during an emergency. Rescue Assistants should be identified at the beginning of every quarter or semester.  A Rescue Assistant should be someone who is likely to be in a building at the same time frame as the individual, but not necessarily in the same area.  A Rescue Assistant can be a fellow student, or co-worker; it is recommended in either case that the Rescue Assistant be a friend.

Disabilities Resources Department Responsibilities

Class schedules and residence hall locations for students with mobility disabilities will be provided by the Director of Disabilities Resources Office to Campus Safety ( and others as deemed appropriate)  each quarter/semester.  This information is kept on file in order to locate students with mobility disabilities in an emergency.  This information is also available in the office of the Director of Disabilities Resources. 

After an evacuation has been ordered

If individuals are in immediate danger and cannot be moved to a safer area to wait for assistance, it may be necessary to implement an evacuation, using the safest manner available.  The university has two evacuation chairs:  one located in Campus Safety Services and one in Cowell Health Center with the Emergency Medical Response Team’s equipment.  Campus Safety should be notified if an evacuation chair is needed.