Disability Services

1. Disability Services • Training for staff and faculty about • disability law • requirements for eligibility determination • accommodation procedures

2. Applicable Laws • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 both require institutions of higher education to provide equal access to educational opportunities to (otherwise) qualified "persons with disabilities." • Also protect students from discrimination on the basis of a disability.

3. Who has a disability? • According to the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Educational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 an individual with a disability is defined as one who has "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major lifefunctions."

4. Why do we provide accommodations? • The purpose of accommodations is to assure EQUAL ACCESS to the opportunity to participate fully in higher education and to reap the same benefits as do others participating in the activity.

5. What does this mean? • It is NOT to assure academic success. • It is provided because, without it, the student would not have access to all the same information other students have as they prepare for a test or otherwise demonstrate their understanding of new learning.

6. The Art Institute of Pittsburgh/The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division are committed to providing qualified students with disabilities an equal opportunity to take full advantage of the Institute’s services, programs, activities and facilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. AiP Online Policy (1)

7. AiP Online Division are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified students with disabilities as long as those accommodations do not impose an undue burden on the school and/or fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program or activity provided. The purpose of this policy is to identify the rights and responsibilities of students under the Institute’s policy and to establish clear guidelines for seeking and receiving reasonable accommodations. AiP Online Policy(2)

8. To receive reasonable accommodations, students are responsible for requesting accommodations and for providing current documentation of the nature of their disability and the functional limitations resulting from the disability in a timely manner. AiP Online Policy(3)

9. Obligations of AiP Online • make information available to all students • work with students on a case-by-case basis • protect student confidentiality • provide reasonable accommodations that maintain the academic integrity of the programs • not make pre-admission inquiry, except as provided by law • require specific documentation

10. Obligations of Students • provide timely notice and documentation of nature and extent of disability • provide additional documentation as required • cooperate with Disability Services in developing appropriate reasonable accommodations • promptly notify Disability Services of any problems encountered in receiving agreed-upon accommodations

11. How are accommodations determined? • Accommodations and/or auxiliary aids are determined by Disability Services based on assessment of submitted documentation for its appropriateness and completeness under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and documentation policy.

12. Documentation Requirements • The required documentation is dependent on the type of disability, however all documentation must be: • prepared by a professional qualified to diagnose the disability • be comprehensive • be current (within the last 3-5 years, at an adult level) • present clear and specific evidence of the disability and the impact on education • provide sufficient data to support the particular accommodations requested

13. Accommodation Letter • This letter verifies the disability status of the student as determined by federal and state laws. • It provides faculty with information regarding reasonable accommodations for which the student is eligible and which must be provided for the student in a collaborative effort between the Online Student Affairs, faculty and supportive services.

14. Accommodation Letter • Students are issued this letter and are responsible for presenting it to each of their faculty. • The letter provides the student with an avenue to begin discussions of their disability and related academic adjustments with the faculty member. • Until the letter is presented to the faculty, academic adjustments cannot be provided

15. Does everyone get a letter? • No, only those students who meet very specific criteria. • We are obligated by law to provide accommodations when a) a student identifies that s/he has a disability, b) the student requests accommodations and c) the student meets eligibility criteria.

16. Reasonable Accommodation Examples • Extended time for completing tests/assignments • Modification of tests (multiple choice, oral, etc.) or assignments • Transcripts of audio-only course content

17. Auxiliary Aids and Services • textbooks and other educational materials in alternative media • qualified sign language interpreters • access to adaptive equipment

18. Other Related Issues • Disruptive or other misbehavior (even if caused by the disability) is addressed by the regular discipline processes • School has to offer reasonable, not the best, academic adjustments • All students should receive information about available services, policies, and procedures

19. Questions • Sarah White • sawhite@aii.edu • Toll free: 877-872-8869, ext. 8884 • Direct: 412-395-8884