Accessibility & Wellness

Students with accommodation services

The Students with Accommodation Services (SAS) was developed to provide students who needed accommodations due to a documented disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2018). Students who experience a short-term but significant health issue can also make a Leniency Request via SAS.

Requests for accommodations

Students with a disability should request accommodations through the Program Chair. All requests must be made within two weeks of the start of the program. Once a qualified individual with a disability has requested services, the Program Chair will meet with the student to review the documentation and determine appropriate and reasonable accommodations. NISAP will not provide accommodations to students until the approved documentation of a disability has been provided.

Eligibility

To be eligible for disability services, students are responsible for identifying themselves and disclosing information about the disability to the Program Chair no later than the first two weeks of the program. Students are also responsible for supplying written documentation of the disabling condition.

Each student who requests accommodations must meet with the Program Chair to discuss their individual needs. A variety of services for the student include:

• Creation of accommodation memo for faculty.
• Assistance with obtaining accommodations on campus.
• Guidance and counseling related to coursework and career options, which take into account the impact of the disability.
• Referral to community agencies for assistance with disability-related needs not directly associated with NISAP.

Accommodation request process

1. Students must have a physical or mental impairment that significantly impacts a major life activity.
2. Students must complete a Request for Student Accommodation Services Request Form.
3. Students must submit documentation of their disability to the Program Chair.
4. Documentation must meet either the General Documentation Guidelines or the Learning Disability Documentation Guidelines.
5. Students must meet with the Program Chair to discuss accommodations, review submitted information and complete the Request for Accommodations Form.
6. Students must meet with each of their professors to review the Academic Accommodation Memorandum by the second week of classes. Students must also obtain the signature of each of their professors and return the form to the Program Chair with all signatures before the second week of classes is over.
7. All information submitted to the Program Chair related to a disability-related request is confidential. Office personnel do not discuss disability-related information or accommodation needs without the student’s expressed, written permission using the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) form.
8. Students are encouraged to meet with the Program Chair frequently to assess the progress of their studies and to discuss the effectiveness of accommodations.

Leniency process guidelines

The Leniency Process is used when a student experiences a short-term but significant health issue and wants an instructor to allow extra time on assignment deadlines.

In some cases, a student can request Leniency for on a case-by-case basis.

1. All medical documentation for why the Leniency Process needs to be put into place needs to be emailed or hand delivered to the Program Chair so the information can be kept confidential.
2. The Program Chair will verify the receipt and authenticity of the medical documentation. The documentation must meet the following guidelines:
   • The information provided must clearly document a medical or physical condition.
   • Documentation must be current, within the last 30 days.
   • The written report must include a specific diagnosis with clear evidence and identification of disability.
   • Documentation from a family member or friend will not considered appropriate documentation.
   • Documentation should include the accommodations that are recommended and for how long the accommodations are necessary.
3. Once the Program Chair has received and verified the medical documentation, they will meet with the student to discuss what work needs either to be made up or request for an extension on upcoming assignments.
4. The Program Chair will complete the Leniency Memo and sign the documents. The student will also need to sign the document.
5. The student will meet with each of their professors and discuss the temporary accommodations that will be put into place and have the professors sign the Leniency Memo.
6. Student will return the Leniency Memo to the Program Chair once all signatures are obtained.
7. Student is encouraged to reach out to the Program Chair if they have any questions/concerns.