Accommodations

Students with disabilities requesting accommodations, auxiliary aids, and services at Lafayette College must complete a multifaceted process and be approved for accommodations through the office of Disability Services. Students with disabilities must provide appropriate, comprehensive, and current documentation that outlines the need for the specific college-level accommodations being requested. Disability documentation must identify the disability, provide evidence of the disability’s impact on the major life activity, and suggest recommendations for accommodations. Accommodations, auxiliary aids, and services are determined on a case-by-case basis and must be requested by the student each semester.

Criteria used to determine whether a requested accommodation is reasonable are based on several factors, such as:

  • Is the request based on individual need(s)?
  • Does the request allow for the most integrated experience possible?
  • Does the request NOT fundamentally alter the essential requirements of a course or program?
  • Does the request NOT pose a threat to personal or public safety?
  • Does the request NOT impose undue financial or administrative burden?
  • Is the request NOT of a personal nature (e.g. paying for an attendant)?

Accommodation Procedure

Once the request for accommodations is received by Disability Services it will be forwarded to the appropriate college professionals, as necessary (i.e. Health Center, Counseling Center, Residence Life, etc.).  Students will receive a letter of confirmation that their documentation is being reviewed and will then receive a second letter stating whether or not their request for accommodations has been approved.  If the student’s request is approved, they will have an initial intake interview with the Coordinator of Disability Services at the beginning of the semester in order to discuss their services, sign a release of information, and learn how to access their accommodations.

As it is extremely important for there to be clear lines of communication between faculty and students, the office of Disability Services prepares a letter verifying the student’s academic accommodations which the student is then required to share with each of their professors.  Students receiving accommodations are required to share this letter with their professors within the first two weeks of the semester in order to discuss how their accommodations will be accessed, especially in those circumstances where professors will be required to offer extended time on examinations.  This process of receiving letters and communicating with the faculty is repeated each semester as the course schedules of students changes.

Academic Accommodations

Some of the academic accommodations currently being granted to students at Lafayette include:

  • Extended time for examinations (Up to 2 times the normal test time)
  • Distraction reduced setting for examinations
  • Reader
  • Use of calculators
  • Tape recording of class lectures
  • Notetaker services
  • Books on tape/electronic texts

Other Accommodations

In addition to the aforementioned academic accommodations, Lafayette is also able to provide services such as accessible housing, adaptive technology, and access to campus programs.  All students eligible for disability services are also eligible to meet on a regular basis with Dr. Erica D’Agostino, Director of Disability Services.  Weekly or bi-weekly meetings can be scheduled to keep track of student progress, whether academic or social, discuss time management, or review student’s study skills such as notetaking techniques or exam preparation.  Referrals to other campus services such as counseling, peer tutoring, or academic advising can also be provided during these meetings.

Temporary Accommodations

For those students who experience an injury, accident, or other health problem while in attendance at Lafayette, they may be eligible for temporary accommodations pending receipt of the appropriate documentation (i.e. report from a physician, etc.).  All requests for temporary accommodations should be forwarded to Dr. Erica D’Agostino, Director of Disability Services, 312 Scott Hall.