Office of Disability Services

The Virginian University of Lynchburg values diversity and inclusion and has an obligation to make reasonable accommodations in policies, practices, or procedures. Accommodations are provided to prevent discrimination based on disability unless making the accommodations would fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program, activity, or would result in undue financial and administrative burdens to the University. Accommodations do not roll over semester to semester. Students must make requests each semester.

The Accommodation Request Application must be filled out in its entirety and submitted by the student seeking accommodations to the Office of Disability Services upon acceptance into a course of study and preferably at least three weeks prior to starting classes.  The Office of Disability Services (ODS) supports in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008, which prohibit discrimination based on disability and require equal opportunity of students. Students are required to self-disclose a disability and request accommodations based on their medical documentation. The medical documentation submitted should have been performed within 12-24 months of the accommodation request. Submission of this form does not guarantee academic accommodations will be offered.

Students seeking additional information regarding accommodations at VUL are encouraged to reach out to the Office of Disability Services at www.disabilityservices@vul.edu or Dr. Patricia Price at pprice@vul.edu or by calling 434-528-5276, ext. 1114.

Academic Accommodations

All colleges/universities are required by law to provide certain supports and services to students with disabilities. Some provide more than the bare minimum. Accommodations and services vary from institution to institution.

The ADA defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Chronic ailments are considered the same as other disabilities as they can limit one or more of major life activities including working, concentrating and processing information. Educators must make necessary modifications to the academic requirements of a course if these requirements have a discriminatory impact on a student with a disability. However, they do not have to waive or change the requirements if they are essential to the course or if the changes would fundamentally alter the program.

 

Commonly available accommodations:

• Extended time on exams (not the same as “untimed” tests, which are not typically available)
• Use of laptops for tests and exams.
• Use of calculators for tests and exams
• Permission to make audio recordings of classes.
• Notetakers (with appropriate notice of the request)
• Access to audiobooks
• Access to voice recognition software
• Access to text-to-speech programs

 

Accommodations that may be more difficult to get:

• Extended time on papers and projects (typically not given on an ongoing basis but rather as situations arise- such as for students with acute medical or psychological episodes.)
• Course waivers and substitutions (colleges/universities may choose to give these but are not required to.)