Accommodation Process
Physical Disability
A student who has been diagnosed with a physical disability and who wishes to request academic accommodations based on the disability needs to:
1. Speak with the Coordinator for Students with Disabilities or Interim Associate Dean of Students in the University for Student Affairs or his/her area dean of students. The area dean will refer the student to the Coordinator for Students with Disabilities or Interim Associate Dean of Students in the University for Student Affairs.
2. The Coordinator for Students with Disabilities or Interim Associate Dean of Students in the University for Student Affairs or his/her designee meets with the student and
- takes a history of the student's past academic experience, noting the problems the student has experienced and accommodations (if any) that the students has previously received
- explains the procedure and obtains a signed medical release from the student
- requests documentation that supports the request. If new medical documentation is needed, it should be emphasized that recommendations should be as specific as possible and should correlate with the diagnosed problem(s).
- gives a list of Chicago area doctors if requested
3. Once the documentation is received, the Coordinator for Students with Disabilities or Interim Associate Dean of Students in the University for Student Affairs or his/her designee reads it . Then the documentation is sent to a consultant for review. The consultant reviews the documentation and provides recommendations based on the documentation.
4. The Coordinator for Students with Disabilities or Interim Associate Dean of Students in the University for Student Affairs or his/her designee considers the recommended accommodations within the context of the University's academic program to determine what accommodations are reasonable in each case. If necessary, the Interim Associate Dean will consult with course instructors to understand the essential requirements of a particular course. The Interim Associate Dean then shares the recommendations for accommodations (if any) with the student and his/her area dean of students (or in the case of College students, the College adviser) verbally and in writing. These recommendations are reviewed or revised as appropriate.
5. Students must self-identify disability, complete questionnaire and consider creating individual emergency plans. It is vital for all students to review the emergency evacuation plan for individuals with disabilities. Here is the link: http://provost.uchicago.edu/initiatives/disabilities.shtml. Students must complete questionnaire, even if student decides not to participate in evacuation procedures. Submit completed survey Coordinator for Students with Disabilities or Interim Associate Dean of Students in the University.
6. It is the responsibility of the area dean of students to implement the recommended accommodations. Under some circumstances, the Provost's Office may assist with the cost.
Assuming the documentation is current and complete, this process may require up to ten weeks.
