Accommodations For Students: Accessible Education Services

A reasonable accommodation at Willamette University is a modification or adjustment to the tasks, environment, or the way things are usually done that provide students with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in all aspects of campus life. Accessible Education Services strives to advance access for students with disabilities in the University's academic, housing and residential, and campus resources and programs. Each student’s accommodation is considered individually, and on a case-by-case basis. Accommodations are not retroactive, so we encourage students to contact the Accessible Education Services (AES) office as early in the semester as possible.

A reasonable accommodation does not impose an undue hardship on the operation of the program,fundamentally alter the nature of the academic standards, pose a threat to personal or public safety, and take the place of classroom attendance and participation.

Academic Accommodations

Academic Accommodations may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Students who use the Accessible Education Services (AES) office often find that they need extra support in their academic, professional, and personal endeavors in order to succeed. Often, these students do not know where to look or what resources are available to them. The AES office aims to assist these students to locate and effectively use any and all resources available in order to succeed.

Accessible Education Services have compiled and organized the academic accommodations that are most frequently used: Extended Time on Tests* and Adaptive Technology for Note Taking.
These resources are ones AES has tested or have received the best recommendations from others who have used these resources. There are a variety of options out there, so we encourage students to find the best source to use based upon their personal preferences.

Dietary Accommodations

If you have not contacted Eric Thomas, Bon Appétit’s General Manger, please do so as a first step to determine what adjustments can be implemented to minimize and/or eliminate exposure to allergens. Eric can be reached at eric.thomas@cafebonappetit.com.

Students with dietary restrictions must work with Bon Appétit before an accommodation request with Accessible Education Services (AES) will be evaluated. Students navigating disability experiences that are confidential in nature should work with AES initially.

AES uses the housing accommodation request process (see Disability Housing Accommodations on our Frequently Requested Accommodations page) for modifications to meal plans for disability-related reasons as it is part of room and board.

Temporary Medical Disability

Temporary medical accommodations such as a broken leg or the flu, or issues requiring short term treatment or hospitalization are not commonly regarded as disabilities, as only in rare circumstances would the degree of the limitation and its expected duration be substantial. Accessible Education Services encourages students experiencing any temporary illness or injury that will result in missed classes, exams, or assignments to contact their professors directly as soon as possible to discuss the need for academic assistance. We have created a Guide for Supporting Students with Temporary Disabilities to help navigate needs while dealing with temporary impairments.

A student with a temporary medical condition, other than as described above, that is expected to substantially limit a major life function might qualify for a temporary medical disability. For example, we encourage all students who have experienced a recent concussion to make an appointment with Accessible Education Services as soon as is practical to assess the need for short term services. All students with a qualifying temporary illness or injury are required to have appropriate documentation of the injury or illness on file in the Accessible Education Services office.

If you are a pregnant or parenting student, please refer to the Pregnant and Parenting Students webpage for support information or email Ann James, Title IX Coordinator, or Lisa Logan, GRAC Director.

Here is a list of services that may be available to assist you while you recuperate, regardless of whether or not you qualify for a Temporary Medical Disability:

Campus Safety Transportation

Students experiencing any type of mobility problem are welcome to contact Campus Safety at Salem at 503-370-6911 and Campus Safety at PNCA at 503-621-2061 regarding on-campus transportation options. In Medical Emergencies, Campus Safety Officers are available to transport students (and a friend or helper) with non-life threatening illnesses/injuries to and from Urgent Care or Hospital, help them into the building, and assist with sign-in. Transportation may also be available to a nearby orthopedic clinic for scheduled appointments. Students are encouraged to request Safety Escorts for travel after dark on campus and up to two blocks off campus.

Housing

If space is available, students with a temporary mobility impairment may be reassigned to a lower floor of their residence or moved to a different building, if applicable. Contact the Housing office in person in Matthews Hall or by email housing@willamette.edu or phone at 503-370-6212.

Software

Dragon Naturally Speaking is an acclaimed speech recognition program. It converts speech to text allowing you to navigate your computer and create documents without the use of a keyboard. It may be available for temporary use through Disability Services.

One-Hand Typing is another alternative for students. It is a program based on pre-established muscle memory and allows students to improve their productivity from an injury or other setback.

Additional Assistive Technology applications will assist students with temporary injuries that may affect their ability to type and can benefit from the Speech-to-Text/Speech Recognition apps listed there.

Environmental Adjustments

Willamette University, founded in 1842, has some older, inaccessible buildings. If you are a student with a mobility disability, permanent or temporary, please contact the Accessible Education Services (AES) office to discuss your mobility needs. We will work with Facilities Management to remove barriers to your access to classrooms, or will determine an appropriate mobility accommodation with you. Classroom locations will be moved if the barrier cannot be removed. At this time, inaccessible classrooms for CAS are Fine Arts East, Fine Arts West, and Walton 21. The remainder of the classrooms in all colleges are accessible.

Currently, mobility accessible rooms in Housing are available on the first floor of Belknap Hall, Shepherd House, Terra House, Lausanne Hall, Kaneko Commons, Wish House, and the first six floors of the University Apartments. All of the sororities are accessible on the first floor only. Lounges and bathrooms on those floors are also accessible. Laundry facilities are not accessible in all of these residences but a general campus laundry facility is available in Montag Center.
Section 504 of Part 2. Title 34 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, section 104.44[2](d) states specifically, “Recipients (post secondary education programs that receive or benefit from Federal financial assistance) need not provide attendants, individually prescribed devices, readers for personal use or study, or other devices or services of a personal nature.” Willamette University’s position is that personal needs necessitating an attendant are the responsibility of the student.