Types of Accommodations
An accommodation is an adjustment that is made to a course, program, job, activity, or facility that eliminates or minimizes disability-related barriers to allow for equal access. The Disability Services Office partners with the appropriate offices and individuals to coordinate the implementation of accommodations across campus.
Academic accommodations
Academic accommodations are accommodations made to the academic environment with the purpose of removing a barrier that exists in the academic environment. Extended time on exams, recording lectures, and textbooks in alternative formats are examples of commonly requested academic accommodations.
Housing accommodations
Housing accommodations are those made to the living environment with the purpose of removing a barrier that exists in that living environment. Having an assigned single room in the residence hall, having an assistance animal in the residence hall, or an accessible living space are a few examples of requested housing accommodations.
Accommodations and support for pregnant students
Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs, which includes protections for students based on pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, miscarriage, and recovery. If you are a pregnant student, or a student experiencing a pregnancy-related condition for which you would like to request accommodations, we encourage you to contact the Disability Services Office with your request.
Service animals
Service animals are trained to do work or perform tasks for a student with a disability, and the work is directly related to the individual’s disability. Service animals may accompany the student in any and all locations where students are allowed.
Students with disabilities who are accompanied by service animals must comply with the same College rules regarding conduct, noise, safety, disruption, and cleanliness as people without disabilities. The ADA stipulates that service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or the student’s disability prevents using these devices. In that case, the student must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal or other effective controls.
The College is not responsible for the care or supervision of service animals. Individuals with disabilities who are accompanied by service animals are solely responsible for the cost, care, supervision and well-being of the animal at all times.
Students with disabilities accompanied by service animals are responsible for any damage or injuries caused by their animals and must take appropriate precautions to prevent property damage or injury.
Cleaning up after the animal is the sole responsibility of the student with disabilities that is in possession of the service animal. If the individual is not physically able to clean up after the animal, it is then the responsibility of that individual to hire someone capable of cleaning up after the animal in a timely, hygienic and respectful manner.
Therapy/emotional support animals
Even though therapy or support animals do not qualify as service animals, the College shall provide reasonable accommodations for emotional therapy/support animals in College housing. Emotional support/therapy animals are animals whose sole function is to provide emotional support, comfort, therapy, companionship, therapeutic benefits, or to promote emotional well-being.
Students qualify for a reasonable accommodation when (1) health care professional(s) have recognized and documented the therapeutic effect of animal companionship; and (2) the therapy animal is an integral part of a person’s treatment process to assist in alleviating the symptoms of an individual’s disability.
Other accommodations
Wayne State College is committed to removing or eliminating the barriers experienced by our students with disabilities. Any student with a disability who feels they are not provided with equal access to the opportunities and experiences available to all students here on campus, should contact the Disability Services Office to discuss their experience and to determine what, if any, accommodations may be appropriate.