Disability Support Services
University Housing Requests
The Department of Housing recommends that all students, especially
incoming freshmen, appraise themselves of the goals and benefits of participation
in the University's Residence Life Program. Residence Life exposes students
to a community experience that involves sharing, consideration, teamwork
and activities that complement a student's academic program.
As with other accommodations, housing requests are evaluated on an
individual basis with regard to the documentation provided and the
impact of disability upon the student within the residential campus
environment. Also to be considered are potential limitations for meeting
the housing needs of students with disabilities, i.e. available space,
timeliness and order of requests, and commitments by contract with
other students.
Requests for private rooms, as an accommodation for disability, based
solely on the desire for a quiet, distraction-free place to study are
rarely granted. Since residence hall living involves numbers of students
participating in activities and sharing hallways, facilities, and other
resources, a private room would not provide appreciable quiet beyond
that achieved with a shared room assignment.
Procedure:
Accommodative housing requests should be presented in writing to Disability
Support Services. Requests must include the following information:
(1) Documentation, on letterhead, of the disability
that is the basis for consideration including:
--Date (most recent evaluation must be submitted)
--Diagnostic statement
--Criteria for diagnosis (including tests used and their results)
--Medications, services, assistive devices prescribed to reduce the
impact of or
--provide care for the condition
--Credentials of the professional(s) making the diagnosis
(2) The evaluator must include an assessment of
the disability's impact on the student in a residential university
environment.
(3) A specific description by the evaluator of the
desired residential adjustment (alternatives, if any, may also be listed
for consideration).
(4) Consequences, to the student, of not receiving
the required housing arrangement.
(5) Students who document a disability-related requirement
for private housing accommodation will be charged at the semi-private
rate for the residence hall to which they are assigned.
(6) If the student requires the services of a personal
attendant, the documentation should indicate if the attendant would
be residential (students are responsible for scheduling and financial
arrangements for their personal attendants including campus housing
and meal plan costs).
(7) At the point of contracting for University-managed
housing, students must notify the department of Housing if they will
be accompanied by a service animal.
(8) Students whose disabilities require the installation
of certain technology for safety purposes (i.e. visual fire alarms
for the deaf) must give the University notice of these needs within
at least 60 days prior to Housing check-in.
(9) Because of housing contract deadlines for continuing
students, as well as facility and roommate assignments for enrolling
students, requests for disability-related housing needs should be received
no later than the annual, published deadline for housing sign-up.
(10) The student's phone number and/or electronic mail address
Every effort will be made to respond, in writing, with a decision
that allows the student adequate time and resources to prepare for
his/her living and learning experiences at the University.
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