Disability Services jmu.edu/ods
What is Disability Services? The Office of Disability Services exists to assist the University in its efforts to create an accessible and inclusive community. ODS also supports students who need accommodations due to disability. Our Role: • Recommend accommodations and coordinate support services and programs that provide students with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in the collegiate educational experience. • Join faculty, administration and staff to guard the integrity of JMU’s programs and services, while at the same time, ensuring that students with disabilities receive reasonable accommodations giving them an equal opportunity to meet individual program requirements. • Advocate for access and principles of Universal Design • Support students with disabilities in becoming independent, responsible, effective self- advocates Who can receive services? Services are available to currently enrolled students who have a documented disability that substantially limits one or more of life’s major activities (e.g., learning, walking, hearing and seeing, breathing, bodily functions, etc.). Students also must submit documentation from their treating clinician describing a connection between difficulty because of disability and the accommodations being requested. What services are available? Services and accommodations are provided on an individual basis and may include, but are not limited to: • Consultations regarding disability related questions/concerns • Alternative testing accommodations • Accessible Media/Assistive Technologies • Harrisonburg Paratransit services • Learning Strategies Instruction (free academic coaching for all JMU students) • Housing Accommodation Requests (due to disability) Differences between ODS and having an IEP/504 Plan: • The role of parent changes to more of a guide, encouraging the student to take responsibility • Accommodations are determined based on the university setting • The student must seek out appropriate documentation from a treating clinician to submit to ODS • After ODS notifies a professor of accommodations for a student, the student is responsible for setting up the accommodations with the professor How do students connect with ODS to ask for accommodations? • Submit application and documentation of your disability. Please submit the application online at jmu.edu/ods/getting-started.shtml. • ODS will review application and documentation. Allow 15 business days for this review. • ODS will contact you via telephone or email to your @dukes.jmu.edu account to schedule your initial meeting. • For more resources on transitioning to using disability accommodations in college, visit jmu.edu/ods/incoming-students.shtml.
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