ACCESS Rochester

University Resources

Library Services

Guidelines for Faculty

Publications

Student Accommodations

Workplace Accommodations

ACCESS Rochester

Student Accommodations:

Welcome
The University of Rochester welcomes applications from students with disabilities. The University employs professional staff committed to assisting students with disabilities in the classroom, residence halls, libraries and elsewhere on campus and has made many modifications to its facilities to enhance access.

Where To Begin
The University is committed to eliminating physical and architectural barriers as well as to responding to the needs of students, faculty, and staff with disabilities. We encourage students with disabilities to assess their needs realistically, to take advantage of appropriate support, and to be clear and precise about gaining assistance.

Early Orientation
Students with disabilities are encouraged to visit campus early to familiarize themselves with our facilities and service provision.

Requesting an Accommodation
It is a personal decision to disclose the existence of a disability and to request an accommodation. A decision not to disclose will be respected. Any discussion with the Disability Resource Coordinator to consider this decision will be treated confidentially.

Students who request an accommodation must provide appropriate documentation to the Disability Coordinator in their respective college or school.

The University remains flexible regarding the types of reasonable accommodations that can be made. Our belief is that accommodations should be determined based on individual situations and that a particular accommodation is not necessarily useful for every student.

General accommodations made to qualified individuals in the past have included:

• Provision of an orientation tour and introduction to accessible routes on campus
• Provision of assisted listening devices, note takers, and interpreters
• Arranging for extended test time, alternative test locations, and use of adaptive equipment.

Students with disabilities are invited to offer suggestions for accommodations that have worked in the past. The Disability Resource Coordinator in your college or school will make arrangements to implement reasonable accommodations.

Attendant Care
The University does not provide personal care attendants. Students in need of attendant care should contact the University Disability Resource Coordinator at 275-5550. The coordinator can provide assistance in finding attendants through an outside agency. One month’s lead is advisable to secure attendants.

C-Print Captioning Service
C-Print is a computer-aided speech-to-print captioning service. This technology is used to improve the classroom experience for students who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing. C-Print service is available through the University Disability Coordinator’s Office.

It is important for administrators as well as students to understand that, just as different students have different needs, C-Print is not the best classroom option for all Deaf and hard-of-hearing students. For deaf students whose primary language is ASL, C-Print may not be as helpful. For students whose primary language is English and who have experienced some level of hearing loss, C-Print can be a useful classroom tool.

Classroom Accommodations
Students who wish to request an accommodation must disclose the existence of a disability by contacting the local Disability Resource Coordinator as listed in this publication.The local Disability Resource Coordinator will ask the student to provide appropriate documentation to verify the existence of the disability. Unless the existence of a disability is obvious to the casual observer, documentation must be provided before an accommodation can be implemented.

Classroom Changes
If a student with a disability needs to request a change to a more accessible classroom location, the student should contact the local Disability Resource Coordinator.

Policy on Classroom Assignment
It is the policy of the University of Rochester to provide accessible classroom space for students and instructors with disabilities. This policy is administered by the Office of the Registrar in each school which maintains, or has access to, information about the accessibility of all classroom space for persons with disabilities.

The Registrar’s Office will obtain the names of all known incoming students with disabilities at the beginning of each academic year or semester. Students with disabilities may also identify themselves to the Registrar at any time. During class registration, the Registrar will monitor those students’ class schedules to determine whether anticipated class locations are accessible. If a student with a disability registers for a class in an inaccessible room, the Registrar will ensure that modifications are made to allow access to the class which may involve making temporary or permanent modifications to create access to the assigned room or moving the class to an accessible location.

If an assigned room has unique features or houses special equipment necessary to the program, the University will either modify the room or relocate the class and move the equipment (or provide equivalent equipment in the new room).

If the Registrar learns that the instructor for a class has a disability and needs accommodation, the room will be modified or the class will be relocated to a room accessible to that person.

If a Deaf or hard-of-hearing student requires an Assistive Listening Device (ALD) as an accommodation in the classroom, one will be provided. A student may request such a device from a faculty member,the Registrar,one of the University’s Disability Resource Coordinators, or by contacting on 24 hours’ notice:

Undergraduate students with disabilities, who are registered full-time in The College and find that their disability makes it necessary to register for less than the normal load of 16 credit hours per semester, may, under certain circumstances, petition the Dean of The College for an extended academic plan to complete the degree. Students of The College who would like to explore this option or those who need assistance with academic registration should make an appointment with the Associate Director for Advising and Testing at the College Center for Academic Support, 275-2354.

Information about how to provide the appropriate documentation can be obtained at Learning Assistance Services, 275-9049, www.rochester.edu/College/las .

Dietary Needs and Dining Services
Dining areas are accessible in Susan B. Anthony Residence Hall, the Frederick Douglass Building, the Meliora, Wilson Commons, Eastman Commons, and the Medical Center. The staff at all University dining locations will assist patrons with disabilities in their use of the facilities.

Test Taking Accommodations
Students with disabilities should discuss the need for extra time on exams or for alternative testing procedures with the local coordinator. It is important to make these arrangements early in the semester to avoid any conflicts and to do so with the professor’s knowledge. Students should ask the local Disability Resource Coordinator to notify the professor about the requested accommodation.

Housing

Students with disabilities who have concerns about housing (e.g., wheelchair accessibility, visual fire alarms, accessible toilet rooms, etc.), should contact their Residential Life Office. Notification should be made as early as possible to facilitate appropriate room assignments or modifications before students arrive for classes in the fall.

Several areas in the Residence Halls have specially designed facilities for students with disabilities. Students with medical conditions who require special housing placement should contact the Residential Life Office. They will provide information on the required medical review process to secure placement.

The University Health Service (UHS) provides primary health care services for students and other members of the University community. All full-time undergraduate and graduate students pay a mandatory health fee, which covers the cost of visits to the primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses at UHS. UHS staff members are experienced in responding to the medical, counseling, and wellness needs of students and can provide ongoing care for health concerns. The staff will work with a student’s private physician to assure continuity of care.

Note Takers
Some students with a documented disability require the assistance of a note taker. Students are expected to attend and participate in class regardless of whether they are receiving the assistance of a note taker or a reader.

First year students are not allowed to park on campus. Second year students are assigned to a parking area by applying for the lottery in April of the first year . If the distance from the assigned area to the student’s destination cannot be managed, documentation from a physician must be provided, indicating the severity of mobility impairment. The student will then be considered for reassignment to the next available closer-in lot.

University Facilities operates the Snow Removal Hotline from November to April each year. Students with disabilities who encounter weather-related problems while navigating the campus during these months should contact the Hotline for assistance.

Study Skills
For information about study groups and study skills counseling, students of The College should contact Learning Assistance Services at 275-9049.

Taped Lectures
Students with disabilities must obtain the instructor’s permission before taping class lectures.

Tutoring Services
Tutoring services are available for a fee to all university students regardless of the existence of a disability. Students of The College should contact the College Center for Academic Support for further information.

Full-time undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to receive prepaid, time-limited psychotherapy for their emotional health concerns at University Counseling Center. Services are offered on an individual, couple, or group basis, depending on the student’s needs, and are generally time-limited. Individuals in need of services not available at the Center may be referred to other agencies, some of which may provide services on a fee-for-service basis, often on a sliding fee scale. A 24-hour on-call phone service is available throughout the year to University students.

Vocational Rehabilitation
Students should contact their local Financial Aid Office for information about vocational rehabilitation benefits:

Writing Centers
Writing centers in The College and the School of Nursing offer a wide variety of services. Students will find Macintosh and IBM equipment with word processing programs to write papers as well as access to the Internet to assist with research. Additional help with starting a paper or sharpening writing skills may also be available.

[ Where To Begin ] [ Student Disability Accommodation Policy And Procedures ] [ Guidelines For Documentation Of Learning Disability ] [ Other Publications ] [ Services ] [ Disability Resource Coordinators ]