Eligibility/Documentation
Accessibility Services
Eligibility for accommodations under Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, are based
on the existence of a physical or mental condition that substantially impacts academic
and campus life. In order to receive reasonable accommodations, students should establish
a relationship with the Office of Accessibility Services Disability and accommodation
requests will be evaluated using a commonsense standard. Each situation will be considered
individually to determine if and how the student is impact by the described condition.
Changes in medical and psychological disabilities should be reported to the Accessibility
Services Coordinator as they occur. Students should meet with the Accessibility Services
Coordinator each semester to determine the academic accommodations necessary for the
classes in which they are enrolled.
Acceptable sources of documentation include:
- Student's Self-report
- Observation and Interaction
- Reports from External or Third Parties – documentation from external sources may
include educational or medical records. Documents that reflect education and accommodation
history, such as IEP, are particularly helpful.
Procedures to Access Services
Persons with disabilities may be found eligible for accommodations after they have:
- Become established as students.
- Presented documentation of the disability that meets Accessibility Services guidelines.
- Had the documentation reviewed by the Accessibility Services Coordinator.
- Completed an intake interview.
Note: Documentation accepted by Defiance College might not be accepted by other institutions, agencies, and/or programs (e.g. testing agencies, licensure exams, certification programs). Please check with the specific institutions and/or programs to determine their documentation requirements.
