Registering and Working With the Office of Student Disability Services
- Complete the Student Disability Services application form - Lehman account required.
- You will be contacted by our office with the instructions for submitting documentation of your disability (details can be found below)
- After submitting your documentation, you will be contacted to set up an intake appointment where you will have an opportunity to discuss your accommodation needs in detail
- Once your accommodations are approved, you do not have to apply to the SDS Office again
- Each semester you will complete the Accommodation Request Form and your professors will be notified about the accommodations you are entitled to
- If you are entitled to take exams in the SDS Office please complete the Exam Request Form 3-5 days prior to your exam
Legal Foundations
Compliance: Lehman College maintains compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which states, “No otherwise qualified individual with disability in the United States... shall solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from participating in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”
Under Section 504, an individual with a disability is defined asa person who: (1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity; (2) has a record of such an impairment; or (3) is regarded as having such an impairment. Major life activities include such functions as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working.”
Reasonable accommodations defined: The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires an institution of higher education to provide reasonable accommodations to a qualified individual with a documented disability, provided that accommodation does not create an undue hardship. An undue hardship refers to any accommodation that would be unduly costly, expensive, substantially disruptive, or that would fundamentally alter the nature of the program.
Documentation Guidelines
Unlike high school, where students are automatically provided with testing, accommodations and services and do not have to provide documentation in order to receive accommodations, in the college environment, documentation from a physician or other appropriate licensed professional must be provided to the designated office. This documentation must consist of a current report or evaluation prepared by the appropriate professional, along with the completed application form.
Clinical documentation should:
- Specify the diagnosis, including when the diagnosis was made and the likely duration of the condition if not ongoing.
- Describe in detail the student's functional limitations created by the diagnosis; and
- Indicate accommodations that are recommended for the student, along with explanations as to why these accommodations would be useful.
- Individual Education Programs (IEPs) can be provided in addition to any appropriate psychological/educational report or medical documentation.
Students are encouraged to include appropriate medical reports, relevant medical history, and any other medical or educational records or data that would be useful in determining and providing appropriate reasonable accommodations and services. In some cases, the office of disability servicesmay ask you or your physician/evaluator to submit additional information.
*All information about a student's disability is considered confidential and will remain within the Office of Student Disability Services.
Accommodation Letters
The Office of Student Disability Services provides eligible students with accommodation letters, which document the services they are entitled to receive throughout the semester. These letters are emailed to professors when a student completes the Accommodation Request Form. It is also helpful for students to talk with professors directly, so they understand the significance of the accommodations and are aware of the protocols they should follow to ensure timely delivery of services. The SDS office is happy to work with students when requested to help facilitate effective communication with faculty.