VCOM Institutional Policy and Procedure Manual

VCOM Policy and Procedure

Policy #S012

Technical Requirements for Admission and Successful Completion of the Osteopathic Program and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Policy Page 13 of 18 Requesting Accommodations Because the process of determining eligibility for accommodations and implementing approved accommodations can take time, students are encouraged to initiate the process as soon as they become aware of a potential need. Students who receive a disability diagnosis after admission should notify VCOM promptly to allow reasonable accommodations to be considered and, when appropriate, implemented without delay. Students are responsible for self-identifying when they believe a disability may impact their ability to meet VCOM's Technical Standards and for requesting accommodations in a timely manner. are not retroactive and cannot be applied to address academic deficiencies, course failures, disciplinary actions, suspensions, or dismissals that occurred before a disability was disclosed or accommodations were requested. Similarly, academic difficulties will not be attributed to a condition that has not been disclosed or is still undergoing evaluation. Therefore, students seeking accommodation for a disability must engage in the accommodation process before related academic performance concerns arise in order for the disability and any approved accommodations to be considered in evaluating those concerns. Students who believe they may need accommodation should contact the Director for Student and Institutional Academic Success, who also serves as the Section 504 Campus Coordinator, to request the Section 504 Request for Eligibility Form. Students who are seeking accommodation must submit documentation showing evidence of the disability, the degree to which the students’ activities are affected (functional limitation), and the need for the specific accommodation requested. The purpose of the documentation is to determine eligibility for academic accommodation(s) and the type of accommodation(s) VCOM can reasonably provide. Students requesting accommodations for a disability are responsible for obtaining and submitting appropriate supporting documentation and may be required to undergo additional evaluation before VCOM can consider their request. Any costs associated with evaluations, assessments, or documentation are the responsibility of the student. A student requesting accommodations must submit the following: • Section 504 Request for Eligibility Form – This form is completed in full by the student and can be obtained from the Director for Student and Institutional Academic Success, who also serves as the Section 504 Campus Coordinator for Students. • Documentation of the Disability, Functional Limitation, and Recommended Accommodations - Because disabilities change over time, medical, psychiatric, or educational testing should be no more than three years old. Also, because the provision of reasonable accommodations is based upon an assessment of the disability on current medical school academic programs, recent documentation and appropriate 4.1