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 OSA. 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

Note taking can take on many forms. Meeting with staff will help determine what system is best for you.

Who qualifies?

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

Logistics

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
• Limit to only one roommate
• 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.

If your modification to your meal plan is not related to a medical need, please do not meet with our office. Please contact Bon Appétit.

Examples of Modifications:

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

To start the interactive process please submit documentation for review by scheduling an appointment to meet with a staff member from OSA.  During this meeting we will review documentation from your provider to help determine which meal plan is a reasonable accommodation for a documented disability. 

Documentation should be on letterhead and signed by your provider which should include:

• current diagnois(es) or condition(s)
• expected duration of these restrictions
• How would this medical condition be adversely affected by this student eating at L&C Dining?
• How will NOT eating with L&C Dining help to alleviate adverse effects of this condition?
• What special diet is required because of this medical condition? Please include a definitive listing of foods that must be avoided.

• any additional information that may be helpful

Parking Accommodations

Lewis & Clark has several disabled parking spots for students to use campus wide. This allows students the ability to choose between various locations with more flexibility depending on where students need to go, on and off campus.

Here are the simple steps to acquire a temporary disability parking permit form from the Oregon DMV:

• You and your physician complete the appropriate sections. NOTE: Incomplete applications will not be processed.
• Submit the completed application at any DMV office, OR
• Mail to: DMV Driver Transactions Unit, 1905 Lana Ave NE, Salem Oregon 97314.
• If accepted, you will receive a sign to hang in your rear view mirror.

Parking Exemption for First Year Student-Medical Needs

If your parking exemption is not related to a medical need, please do not meet with our office. Please contact Transportation and Parking.

Students must attend frequent medical appointments. Frequent is defined as six or more health related appointments each month.

To start the interactive process please submit documentation for review by scheduling an appointment to meet with a staff member from the OSA. During this meeting we will review documentation from your provider to help you determine if a parking exemption is a reasonable accommodation for a documented disability.

Documentation should be on letterhead and signed by the provider which should include:

• current diagnois(es) or condition(s)
• frequency of appointments
• expected duration of the appointments
• any additional information that may be helpful

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 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. 

Residential buildings and public sinks and showers are not a reasonable place to bath an animal on campus.

Here are local grooming locations and bathing options:

Original Bark

Pretty Paws and Claws

Wiggles and Wags Grooming

Cats in the City

*Waterless Bathing Option