Common Academic and Residential Accommodations

Logistics

Student contacts professor 5-7 days before the exam to clarify logistics.

Students taking an exam with OSA, should schedule their exam 5 days in advance. OSA will contact the professor typically 2 days before the exam start time to obtain a copy of the exam.

If reserving an exam later than Noon, the day before an exam, students should contact the professor and will need to take the exam with the class without exam accommodations. There are no same day exam reservations.

Examples: Time and a half, double

Who qualifies?

Students with disabilities related to processing speed, concentration, reading speed, writing speed, memory

Logistics

Print and digital materials provided in accessible formats. Including, but not limited to, electronic formats such as PDF, or Word documents, large print, audio, Braille, eBook, EPUB, and text-to-speech technology. To access these services, students should make and appointment with the Office of Student Accessibility. More information is located under the “Current Students” tab.

Rebecca Brooks, Associate Director of OSA, currently coordinates AEM and assistive technology for print disabilities.

Who qualifies?

Students with disabilities related to reading, vision

Logistics

COMING FALL 2022-Digital Note Taking Platform:

A student requesting note taking as an accommodation is also responsible for taking their own notes. Starting FA22 the Office of Student Accessibility will begin providing students with note taking accommodations support via an intuitive note-taking web application that makes it easier than ever for students to take control of their own note taking and their own learning.

The accommodation of use of an audio recording device to record lectures as note taking allows students with disabilities to have an equal chance to receive and process information presented in class by supporting their note taking needs.   Student will need to sign an Audio Recording Agreement form which includes some of the following conditions:

• Recordings of class lectures are only for the student’s personal use in study and preparation related to the class.
• The student may not share these recordings with any other person, whether or not that person is in their class.
• The student acknowledges that the recordings are sources, the use of which in any academic work is governed by rules of academic conduct at Lewis & Clark College, in addition to federal copyright laws.
• The student agrees to destroy any recordings that were made when they are no longer needed for their academic work.

Other Note Taking Options:

Individuals who cannot use the digital note-taking platform option outlined above must have a discussion with the OSA to determine additional strategies. Depending on the requirements and availability, a peer note-taker may be recruited and hired by OSA. However, if a peer note-taker cannot be secured in a timely manner, we will explore other options with you and your professor. 

Who qualifies?

Students with disabilities related to auditory processing, graphomotor difficulties, memory, concentration

Logistics

With at least one week notice, student requests accessible text format from professor and OSA. Working together, all parties determine and implement accessible format.

Examples: computer, large-print, screen reader, Braille

Who qualifies?

Students with disabilities related to vision or visual processing, handwriting, reading, decoding

Logistics

A testing environment that limits interruption and other environmental influences including visual and auditory distractions.

Who qualifies?

Students with disabilities related to anxiety, concentration, students who use voice recognition software.

Logistics

Impromptu in-class writing is graded for content, not grammar and spelling. May not be applicable in classes where the primary instructional goal is related to grammar and spelling (i.e., some foreign language classes).

Who qualifies?

Students with disabilities related to reading, spelling

Logistics

Students complete the exam using an OSA approved computer with no internet or wireless access. Only with specific guidelines and faculty approval, some students may use their own computer.

Examples: typing, text-to-speech, dictation

Who qualifies?

Students with disabilities related to hand mobility, graphomotor difficulties, writing speed

Logistics

Following approval, students take substitute courses from the International Studies section of the general education requirements.

Who qualifies?

Students with disabilities related to auditory processing, oral language, writing, reading, memory, processing speed

Logistics

Students confer with the instructor before the due-date about the status of work completed on the assignment, the reasons for its lateness that directly relate to the nature of the disability, and a definite turn-in day and time. “Within reason” usually means turning work in a day or two beyond the deadline. In no case should it mean that late assignments begin to “pile up”, a negative situation for both student and instructor.

Who qualifies?

Students with disabilities related to writing speed, processing speed, graphomotor difficulties, concentration, anxiety

Logistics

“Within reason” usually means permitting the number of additional absences a student is allowed in addition to each class’ established attendance policy. Students should confer with the instructor about their flexible attendance needs at the beginning of the academic semester. Flexible attendance is dependent upon the individual student, the nature of the course, and the degree to which class attendance is an essential requirement of the specific course. Absences for reasons not related to a documented disability are not excusable under Flexible Attendance. When possible, students should communicate with instructors in advance of their absence. If notifying the instructor before class is not possible, students should inform instructors as soon as possible.

Who qualifies?

Students with significant health-related disabilities who miss class when flare-ups occur or when issues related to their disability prevent them from attending class

OSA approves reasonable housing accommodations to support L&C students with disabilities that impact the daily tasks of living. Below are some common examples of OSA housing accommodation

• Access to accessible laundry facility
• Access to single use locking bathroom
• Ground floor residence hall
• Single Room
• Visual fire alarm
• Wheelchair accessibility

Here are the steps to start that process:

• Review the LC Housing Accommodation Documentation Form

• Talk to your provider about specific housing accommodations that will support you

• Share the LC Housing Accommodation Documentation Form with your provider

• Ask your provider to complete the LC Housing Accommodation Documentation Form and submit to OSA

• Schedule a Zoom or in person appointment with OSA. You may email access@lclark.edu or call 503-768-7192 for help scheduling an appointment

• Complete the OSA Intake Form

During your initial appointment, an OSA staff member will engage with you in an interactive process around your disability, how your disability impacts you in a residential setting, along with exploring reasonable accommodations to support you. It’s helpful when documentation from your provider is submitted before scheduling an initial appointment with OSA.

OSA has no authority in room selection. Campus Living staff will assign rooms to meet prescribed accommodations.

Examples:

• Modified meal plan
• Peanut or nut free meals
• Gluten Free meals
• Gluten Intolerant meals
• Lactose Intolerant meals

Please complete the OSA intake form, and schedule an appointment to meet with an OSA staff member to engage in the interactive process of determining which meal plan is a reasonable accommodation for a documented disability. If you do not currently live in Portland, a phone or zoom appointment is an option.

To receive a decision in advance of the beginning of a term, exception requests must be received no less than 30 days prior to the first day of the academic term. Potential exceptions are described below including the required documentation and stipulations.

Medical need - student must attend frequent medical appointments

Frequent is defined as six or more appointments each month, including medical, psychological, or support group appointments

Condition and frequency of appointments must be documented on a form completed and signed by the treating health care provider. You should complete the Transportation and Parking’s Residential Parking Exemption Request Form (do not submit documentation here), and then meet with our office and submit documentation for review.

Assistance Animals are allowed only within the dwelling unit of their owner as a reasonable accommodation if:

1. the person has a disability;
2. the animal is necessary to afford the person with a disability an equal opportunity to use and enjoy their dwelling; and
3. there is an identifiable relationship or nexus between the disability and the assistance the animal provides.

Please review the Lewis & Clark Service & Assistance Animal Policy and the Animal Control Policy.

Please follow these steps to begin the Office of Student Accessibility (OSA) approval process for an assistance animal:

1. Please share with your licensed mental health or licensed healthcare provider the link to complete the OSA “Assistance Animal Request Form” . 

2. After your provider has completed this form, please complete the OSA intake form, and schedule an appointment to meet with an OSA staff member to engage in the interactive process of determining if an assistance animal is a reasonable accommodation for a documented disability. If you do not currently live in Portland, a phone or zoom appointment is an option.

3. Once OSA receives and reviews the Assistance Animal Request form and your documentation from a licensed mental health or licensed healthcare provider, we will send you a link to the Assistance Animal Registration form. If you are requesting a dog or a cat as an assistance animal, you must register your assistance animal with Multnomah County.

Once all steps are completed, OSA will notify you whether or not your request for an assistance animal is approved. OSA will also notify Campus Living that your request for an assistance animal is approved. Campus Living will then contact you with information about housing community expectations.