The Office of Disability Services (ODS) provides reasonable accommodations to ensure that students with disabilities have access to Western Oregon University (WOU) and its programs; through intentional interventions, programs, and services in order that WOU will meet federal requirements, encourage personal growth, and increase effective communication for our students. 

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

The American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990

The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 and the  2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design 

DEFINITIONS

ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act

ODS: Office of Disability Services 

POLICY STATEMENT

In order to receive accommodations, academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids, students must provide the Office of Disability Services with documentation of their disability related to requested accommodations.  Documentation must be from a certified professional in the field of the disability.  An individual with a disability is a person, who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such impairment, being regarded as having such impairment. 

PROCEDURES

The Office of Disability Services requests each student with a documented disability to provide clear documentation that supports the connection between ones major life activity impact and the academic accommodations needed for equal access. 

Definition of a major life activities include but is not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating and working. Major life activities also includes the operation of a major bodily function, including but not limited to, functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions. 

Acceptable forms of documentation provided by a certified professional in the field of the disability. Documentation shall include the following: diagnosis, functional limitations, date of onset, medication information as applicable and recommendations for accommodations, academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids. Documentation received, information gathered in interviews and collected from completed forms containing information regarding disability status shall be kept confidential.

Examples of acceptable documentation include but are not limited to:

• Deaf and Hearing Impaired:  Audiogram and/or audiologists report.

• Visually Impaired:  Ophthalmologist report documenting eye medical disorder and disease.

• Psychological Disability:  Diagnosis from DSM V

• Medical Disability:  Documentation of disease, illness, or impairment.

N/A