LeMoyne-Owen College provides students with disabilities the opportunity to realize their full academic potential by offering reasonable academic accommodations and support services within the college. These services will offer students with disabilities the opportunity to competitively pursue a college education.

It is the policy of LeMoyne-Owen College to comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 in providing reasonable accommodations to qualified students with disabilities.

Reasonable accommodations are provided to students who have a diagnosed and documented disability. Accommodations are not given automatically and must be requested each semester. Accommodations are individualized and based on the nature of the documented disability and the specific requirements of the course. Accommodations do not alter instructional integrity.

Students requiring accommodations must self-identify with the College Counselor and follow the steps below:

• Register with Disability Services by completing the online application and uploading medical documentation to support your request for reasonable accommodations.
• Meet with the College Counselor to discuss needs and expectations
• Meet with your professors (during their office hours) to ensure receipt of your accommodation forms for each requested semester.

*Accommodations are not retroactive.

The College Counselor respects the confidential nature of disability information, whether conveyed verbally or in writing.  Students can authorize this area to release pertinent information about disability needs to campus individuals when there is a legitimate educational interest to do so; this could relate to housing arrangements, academic accommodations, instructional strategies and resources, or other circumstances specific to the individual.  Documentation materials and other information about disability-related matters are housed in the Counseling Center offices.  A disability designation does not appear on transcripts or other college documents, and Disability Services files are not integrated with computerized college records. Professors are regularly apprised of the confidential nature of disability information shared with them.  Accommodation Letters for professors, prepared by the College Counselor and the student, do not give diagnoses unless the student chooses to divulge the information. Accommodation forms describe the impact or impairments caused by the disability and the corresponding accommodations that are recommended.

Eligible students and staff have rights and responsibilities related to reasonable accommodations in a post-secondary setting. The process requires collaboration among these groups.

Students must provide their documentation to the College Counselor, initiate the request for services and/or accommodations in a timely manner, follow established Disability Services policies and procedures, communicate with faculty regarding approved accommodations, and work with the College Counselor as needed.  *Your professors are here to help you and can be your ally. Make them aware of difficulties you may have while in their class. Decisions about making up missed assignments and class attendance are at the discretion of the professor.

Faculty must provide accommodations as noted in the letter from Disability Services, refer students to Disability Services when necessary, and confer with Disability Services regarding essential components of a course, concerns about exam proctoring, or other disability related issues.

Disability Services must respond in a timely manner to students who request services and/or accommodations, determine reasonable accommodations, provide accommodations to qualified students, monitor the college’s compliance with disability matters regarding students, and continue a collaborative partnership with faculty and administration in meeting the needs of students.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, individuals with disabilities have certain protections and rights to accommodation in colleges and universities. To evaluate requests for specific accommodations or auxiliary aids at LeMoyne-Owen College, thorough documentation of a disabling condition is needed.  Documentation must be recent and include evaluation by an appropriate professional (who is not related to the person being evaluated) describing the current impact and limitations of the disability as it relates to the accommodation request.  This standard of documentation also applies to requests for special housing arrangements due to physical or medical conditions that are disabling.

The following guidelines are provided to ensure documentation is adequate and appropriate to verify eligibility and to support requests for accommodations or auxiliary aids. A legible report or letter, typed or printed on professional letterhead, dated and signed by a qualified professional. 

Disability documentation should include: 

1. A diagnostic statement identifying the disability/condition, date of the current diagnostic evaluation, and the date of the original diagnosis.
2. A description of the diagnostic criteria and/or diagnostic test(s) used.
3. A description of the current functional impact/limitations of the disability.
4. Treatments, medications, assistive devices/services currently prescribed or used.
5. A description of the expected progression or stability of the disability over the time frame of the individual’s expected college education.
6. The credentials of the diagnosing professional(s), including the training and experience that enable the person capable of making the diagnosis (es).

Accommodation recommendations from the diagnosing professional are helpful and will be given due consideration.   

After Disability Services receives a completed Disability Accommodations Packet, the student will be contacted. All applicants will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If the documentation is incomplete or inadequate to determine the extent of the disability or reasonable accommodations, then Disability Services may require additional documentation.

Contact the College Counselor regarding problems related to accommodations or other disability related services.

**Important Notice for Students Currently Served through Disability Services**

Each student who wishes to continue to be served by Disability Services must pick up their Notification of Disability letters each semester. If the Notification of Disability letters are not picked up by the student, his/her file will be closed. 

Email: Disabilityservices@loc.edu
Phone: (901) 435-1733
Location: LOC Brownlee Hall