Lynch Learning Center: Accommodation Services

Students are often uncertain about whether they qualify for or need Accommodation Services.  At Loras College, Accommodation Services are available at no additional cost to students with documented disabilities, but some students do not request them, and their academic performance is affected. In the Lynch Learning Center we hear a variety of reasons why students did not seek services until after they experienced difficulties. They include:

1. I received services when I was in (elementary school, middle school, high school), but I stopped receiving support in (elementary school, middle school, high school), and I didn’t think I was eligible for services in college.
2. I “grew out” of my learning disability, AD/HD, etc., and thought I no longer needed services.
3. I was diagnosed, but I never received services, so I didn’t think I needed them in college.
4. I have a disability, but I wanted to try college “on my own” without support.
5. I am embarrassed about requesting services because my (peers, professors) might think I’m not competent.
6. I have always thought that I had a disability, but I’ve never been diagnosed.

Checklist

Schedule or arrange for an updated or first-time diagnostic testing before you come to college.
Apply and be accepted to Loras College (go to www.loras.edu/apply )
Complete and submit a Disability History Update.
Call the Lynch Learning Center 563.588.7134 to express interest in Accommodation Services.
Send copies of current (within 3 years) documentation of disability after acceptance to Loras and before the start of classes.

ACCOMMODATION SERVICES INCLUDE:

• Note takers
• Extended-time testing
• Testing in a distraction-  reduced environment
• Texts in alternative formats
• Assistive technology (including text to speech reading software)
• Consultation with Lynch  Learning Center  staff

We encourage you to:

• Ask questions about your eligibility for services before you encounter difficulties.
• Get updated or first-time diagnostic testing before you come to college.

Procedure for Requesting Accommodation Services
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a disability as a substantial limitation of a major life function. Students requesting academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids from the Lynch Learning Center at Loras College are required to submit documentation of their disability to verify eligibility under ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Loras Lynch Learning Center  policies. We suggest that students initiate a request for services and/or reasonable accommodations  by following these steps

1. Submit documentation. In the summer, or between semesters before the start of classes, is the best time to send the documentation. In order to fully evaluate requests for accommodations or auxiliary aids, The Lynch Learning Center  will need documentation of the disability that consists of an evaluation by an appropriate professional that describes the current impact of the disability as it relates to the accommodation request(s). A Lynch Learning Center staff member will review the information and notify the student if additional information or testing is needed.
2. Schedule an intake appointment with a staff member from the Lynch Learning Center  when the student arrives on campus to discuss available support services and the process for requesting accommodations.
3. Request service at the intake appointment. Submission of documentation is not the same as the request for services.
4. Participate in the determination of reasonable and appropriate accommodations.

Recommendations from professionals with a history of working with the individual provide valuable information for the review process. They will be included in the evaluation of requests for accommodations and/or auxiliary aids. Where such recommendations are congruent with the programs, services, and benefits offered by Loras College they will be given deference. When recommendations go beyond services and benefits that can be provided by Loras, they may be used to suggest potential referrals to area service providers outside the college.

REVIEW PROCESS
The review process includes an examination of the presented documentation to determine the functional limitation resulting from the disability and how that limitation impacts the goals and standards of the program or course.

Provisional accommodations may be offered in the interim, usually one semester, but a final determination of accommodations will not be made until the student’s documentation is complete.

The following guidelines were developed to assist students in obtaining the information needed to evaluate their accommodation request. Questions may be addressed to the Lynch Learning Center at 563.588.7134.

Sources of Information:
For high school students who received or are currently receiving special education services, the information requested may be contained in IEPs, 504 plans, assessment reports, or in the high school records. Seldom would IEPs or 504 plans contain all the information necessary to determine eligibility or need. Because this information is not part of the general academic record, students must specifically request this information from their high school.

Individuals receiving vocational rehabilitation services may have needed information contained in the eligibility evaluation and/or their vocational plan.

Information relating to the disability is not part of the academic record and will not be sent with a transcript request. Consequently, individuals transferring from another college must request that the history of their accommodations and a copy of their documentation be sent from the transferring college’s disability office to the Lynch  Learning Center for review.