WHAT IS A DISABILITY?
A disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. In other words, a condition of the body or mind that prevents, impairs, interferes with, or limits a person’s ability to engage in or participate in certain tasks or actions compared to their peers.
WHAT ARE ACCOMMODATIONS?
Accommodations are adjustments to a policy and/or the environment to ensure students with disabilities have equal access to course materials, information, activities, programs, housing, and other campus facilities. In other words, accommodations aim to remove barriers that interfere with a student with a disability’s ability to have an equal experience compared with students without disabilities.
REGISTERING WITH DISABILITY SERVICES
If you are facing disability-related barriers that prevent you from accessing education and an equitable campus experience, Disability Services (DS) would like to engage in a conversation with you. Please contact DS as soon as possible, as accommodations are not retroactive.
Register with Disability Services (Application/pdf)
REQUESTING ACCOMODATIONS
Accommodations can be requested for all facets of the College experience, including academics, housing, dining, on-campus work, and parking. The documentation requirements for different requests may differ, but the Disability Services Coordinator is available to walk you through the process.
Accommodations are not automatic, and a meeting is essential. Together, we will explore how your disability impacts you in the living and learning environment of Georgetown College, what accommodations can circumvent barriers, address the specific limitations of your disability, and how to notify the appropriate department (s).
Accommodations are not retroactive, so it is in your best interest to seek accommodations early.
It should be noted that accommodations will not lower academic standards, compromise the integrity of any program, or fundamentally alter any program. Therefore, academic accommodations may vary depending on the learning outcomes and design of a course.
DOCUMENTATION
Documentation will help guide the conversation, but we encourage you to reach out even if you currently do not have any documentation. You, the student, are the primary source of information regarding your disability.
If you have a medical or psychological condition, your healthcare provider or therapist can complete this DS Verification Form (click to download). This form can also be used as a guide for writing a statement that provides enough information to make an informed decision about your accommodation request (s). IEPs or 504 Plans from high school are not transferable to college, but they may still provide helpful information. If you have a learning disability and were tested in K-12, the school psychologist might have a copy of the assessment you can share with us.
Documentation must be completed by a credentialed healthcare professional or licensed therapist to (1) verify the presence of a disability (a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits at least one major life activity), (2) describe the severity and functional limitations or the current impact, as well as (3) confirm the relationship between the disability and the requested accommodation/s.
APPEALS & GRIEVANCES
Students who are concerned that they have been denied equal access or disagree with a denial of an accommodation for their documented disability may follow our grievance process.
For more details, please see the GC Accommodation Resolution and Grievance Process.
ANIMALS ON CAMPUS
Georgetown College is committed to ensuring equal access for all persons, as required by law. The College permits Service Animals, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, to access all areas where persons are normally allowed to go, with some exceptions. The College reserves the right to restrict Service Animals from certain locations where the animal would pose a health or safety hazard. Access to these areas will be considered on a case-by-case basis. For more information about Service Animals, please refer to the Service Animal process below.
While Georgetown College’s Student Housing Policy does not allow pets (except for small fish), the College will make exceptions to the no-pets policy in Student Housing and permit Assistance Animals, as defined by the Fair Housing Act, for qualified students with disabilities who require them. Emotional Support Animals are a type of assistance animal prescribed by a healthcare provider or therapist as part of an individual’s treatment plan and deemed necessary for the individual’s mental health. Assistance animals, including emotional support animals, are not allowed in Student Housing until they are approved by Disability Services. Students requesting this accommodation should refer to the Assistance Animals process below for more information.
Assistance Animal/ESA Policy Acknowledgement Form (pdf)
PRIVACY
Disability Services will keep documentation and sensitive student information private. Generally, the nature of a student’s disability is not shared with others. Limited information, such as disability-related needs or approved accommodations, will be disclosed to appropriate campus partners (e.g., Residence Life, Faculty, Chef) on a need-to-know basis to coordinate accommodations. All information shared is subject to FERPA guidelines.
