PURPOSE / SCOPE:
ICOM is committed to providing equal educational opportunity for persons with disabilities in accordance with its nondiscrimination policy and in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008.
DEFINITIONS:
The law states that a person with a disability is, “Someone with a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual; or a person with a record of such impairment; or a person who is regarded as having such an impairment.”
ADAA: Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973)
Equal educational opportunity means that a person with a disability who is qualified for admission must have access to the same programs, services, and activities as all other students. If necessary to provide equal opportunity, ICOM, where possible, will make reasonable modifications to its policies, practices, and procedures, unless doing so would fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program, or activity or pose an undue administrative or financial burden.
Under the provisions of Section 504, Universities may not discriminate in the recruitment, admission, educational process, or treatment of students. Students who have self-identified, provided documentation of disability, and requested reasonable accommodations are entitled to receive approved modifications of programs, appropriate academic adjustments, or auxiliary aids that enable them to participate in and benefit from all educational programs and activities. Section 504 specifies that universities may not limit the number of students with disabilities admitted, make pre admissions inquiries as to whether or not an applicant has a disability, use admission tests or criteria that inadequately measure the academic qualifications of students with disabilities because special provisions were not made, exclude a qualified student with disability from any course of study, or establish rules and policies that may adversely affect students with disabilities.
POLICY:
Matriculating or Current ICOM Students with Disabilities
Students with documented disabilities who desire modifications or accommodations must contact the Learning Specialists as soon as possible.
No accommodations are made without approval through ICOM’s defined process (as outlined below). A medical, psychological and/or other diagnosis may rise to the level of a disability if it substantially limits one or more major life functions, one of which is learning. A disability may be temporary or ongoing.
The general process of requesting accommodations is as follows:
Step 1: The student must contact a Learning Specialist to request services as soon as possible. Said student will be required to complete the Student Request for Accommodation form. The form will need to be completed in its entirety for the accommodation to be considered. ICOM is not responsible for identifying students with disabilities and is not required to provide services unless proper procedures have been followed in making a request.
Step 2: The student must schedule a meeting with a Learning Specialist to provide documentation of the disability, complete the appropriate paperwork and discuss the possible accommodations. The student will be asked to complete and sign a Release of Information Form to allow the Learning Specialist to share relevant information as needed to review requested accommodations. The Learning Specialists requires at least 30 days to process any request for accommodation and that 30 days begins when all necessary documentation has been submitted.
Step 3: The student’s request and supporting documentation is reviewed by the Learning Specialists and appropriate members of ICOM administration. The process of review depends in part on the nature of the student’s disability. Decisions regarding accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. There is no standard accommodation for any disability. ICOM will make reasonable modifications to its policies, practices, and procedures, unless doing so would fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program, or activity or pose an undue administrative or financial burden.
ICOM’s technical standards are also referenced. If the student is found to be eligible for accommodations, the student is notified of the approved accommodations.
Step 4: If the request for accommodations is approved, the Learning Specialist generates a letter of accommodation documenting the student’s individual, approved accommodations. The Learning Specialists coordinates the dissemination of the letter. Any student whose requested accommodations are not approved is encouraged to meet with the Learning Specialists to discuss the reasons for the denial. The Learning Specialists may discuss the grievance procedure with the student at this time.
If a problem arises concerning reasonable accommodation, the student should contact the Learning Specialists immediately. Any student whose requested accommodations are not approved is encouraged to meet with the Associate Dean for Student Services to discuss the reasons for the denial. The Associate Dean for Student Services may discuss the grievance procedure with the student at this time.
If a problem arises concerning reasonable accommodation, the student should contact the Associate Dean for Student Services immediately.
Students requiring any additional information pertaining to requesting accommodations or the information regarding the required documentation should contact a Learning Specialist.
Service Animal Information
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is defined as “any animal individually trained to work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals to an impending seizure or protecting individuals during one, and alerting individuals who are hearing impaired to intruders, or pulling a wheelchair and fetching dropped items”. Providing comfort or support does not qualify an animal as a service animal. If there are any questions as to whether an animal qualifies as a service animal, a determination is made by the Associate Dean for Student Services.
In compliance with the ADA, service animals are welcome in all buildings on campus and may attend any class, meeting, or other event. Reasonable behavior is expected from service animals while on campus. The owners of disruptive and aggressive service animals may be asked to remove them from university facilities. If the improper behavior happens repeatedly, the owner may be told not to bring the service animal into any facility until they take significant steps to mitigate the behavior.
Emotional Support Animals are animals that provide comfort and relieve symptoms of mental health disorders. ICOM’s Associate Dean for Student Services can answer questions or concerns regarding emotional support animals. Emotional Support Animals are not generally allowed in campus buildings, including classrooms and dining facilities unless it is deemed as a reasonable accommodation and is included in the student’s Letter of Accommodation from ICOM. Cleanliness of any animal living or working on campus is mandatory. Consideration of others must be taken into account when providing maintenance and hygiene of animals. The owner is expected to clean and dispose of all animal waste.
Notes:
Approval of an accommodation by ICOM does not guarantee approval of an accommodation by the NBOME or other licensing board.
Confidentiality of Documents: All documents submitted for review of an accommodation will be held in accordance with the standards established by the ADA and ADAA.
PRIMARY POLICY OWNER:
Associate Dean for Student Services
APPROVAL:
Effective: 6/9/22
Last Reviewed: 3/30/23
Review Requirement: 3 Years