Accommodations

Request an Accommodation

The SAA office processes all requests for academic, housing, medical and dining accommodations. Accommodation requests should be made via the Accommodations section of the Student Health Portal.

Student Health Portal

Accommodations are determined by the Student Accessibility and Advocacy (SAA) office on a case-by-case basis. Decisions are made with careful consideration of a student’s disability-related limitations, evidence provided, and recommendations made in supporting documentation. A recommendation from a provider does not guarantee that a specific accommodation will be approved. There must be a direct connection between the disability or condition and the accommodation(s) being requested. If the documentation is incomplete or does not support the request(s), further information may be needed. Please be certain to review our Documentation Standards.

College accommodations are designed to ensure equal access rather than to guarantee academic success. This is a significant difference between high school and college accommodations for students with disabilities. Please refer to Differences Between High School and College Accommodations for Students with Disabilities (PDF).

Students can learn more about the ADAAA and regulations for students with disabilities in higher education via the Transition Guide from the Department of Education.

If you need assistance with the application, please reach out to our office at SAA@Albright.edu  or 610-921-7503.

Academic

Academic accommodations for students with disabilities play a vital role in promoting equal access to education and in creating an inclusive learning environment. Providing equal access to course content is intended to support students in their academic journey and foster an inclusive learning environment. By addressing the diverse needs of students with disabilities, educational institutions empower them to reach their full academic potential and actively engage in the academic community.

Accommodations are personalized to meet the individual needs of each student and can vary significantly. Examples of accommodations may include extended time for exams, access to assistive technologies, and notetaking tools. In addition to academic accommodations, students are encouraged to utilize the free resources available to all students, including the tutoring center, the writing center, academic coaching, and the counseling center.

Documents such as IEPs or accommodation letters from previous educational institutions are valuable for providing context and complementing professional evaluations; however, they do not independently establish the need for accommodations or guarantee that specific accommodations will be approved at Albright College.

Students with accommodations are expected to complete each course, having achieved the academic outcomes for that course. Approved accommodations may not fundamentally alter the course outcomes.

This presentation provides tips and information on services for students at Albright who learn differently.

Students who have approved accommodations for recording lectures to support notetaking or for attendance flexibility due to a chronic medical condition must complete contracts with their professors before using these accommodations. Recording class lectures is strictly prohibited without prior approval for this specific accommodation.

Student Agreement: Audio Recording (PDF)

Student Agreement: Flexibility with Class Attendance (PDF)

General Education Requirements

The ADA requires that all colleges provide accommodations for students with disabilities. Concerning requests for course substitutions, we fully support the college’s goal of preparing students for a complex, interconnected world. General education requirements play a pivotal role in the comprehensive education at Albright.

Albright understands that some qualified students with disabilities may encounter barriers in certain general education courses that impede their progress toward degree completion. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities that impact their completion of specific required courses.

While the college does not grant course waivers for students with disabilities, our aim is to ensure that every student has the opportunity to complete their degree. If reasonable accommodations are not sufficient to remove the barriers to a specific general education course, the student can petition for a course substitution. Each request will be carefully considered on a case-by-case basis. Your academic journey is important to us, and we are here to support you in achieving your goals at Albright College.

For additional information, please refer to the documents below.

Course Substitution Policy

Course Substitution Procedures

Housing

Housing accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis according to evidence provided and recommendations made in the supporting documentation. Please be advised that students are not making a request for a specific housing assignment, but rather a request for an accommodation. The SAA office will review the student’s documentation and determine if accommodations are appropriate and reasonable. When accommodations are approved, the SAA office notifies the ResLife office, which then assigns housing based on the approved accommodations.   

All requests for housing accommodations must comply with the information contained in the following document: 

Requesting Reasonable Housing Accommodations (PDF)

A request for housing accommodations may be submitted and considered at any time; however, if the request for accommodations is made after the deadlines below, Albright College cannot guarantee that it will be able to meet the individual’s accommodation needs during the first semester or term of occupancy. If the need for the accommodation arises when a student already resides in campus housing, the student should contact the SAA office as soon as practicably possible. Albright cannot guarantee that it will be able to meet the accommodation needs during the semester or term in which the request is received. If you wish for your housing preferences (residence hall, roommate, etc.) to be considered, the request must be received by the deadlines as well. Please note that emotional support animals (ESAs) are considered housing accommodation requests. 

Fall Semester Housing Request Deadlines 

Returning Students: April 1st  

New Students:   June 1st  

Spring Semester Housing Request Deadlines 

ALL Students:    November 15th   

Please note: Updated documentation for renewal of existing housing accommodations is due April 1st.

The main objective of housing accommodation documentation review is to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to participate in residential life and to assess whether Albright’s standard residential housing expectations cannot be met for a student due to substantial limitations that exist as a result of the student’s documented disability and current symptomology. 

A student’s preference (rather than necessity) for a particular living environment or location will not be honored (e.g., student with ADHD or a learning disability seeking a single room to serve as a quiet undisturbed place to study represents a preference, but not a necessity). Accommodations are not granted solely on the recommendations of care providers, but on the documented functional limitations posed by the student’s disability under the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.  

Housing accommodations are not intended to resolve roommate conflicts, circumvent housing procedures, and/or satisfy housing preferences. Documentation must establish a clear link between the disability or disabilities and requested accommodation(s) and explain why regular housing options would not be sufficient to meet the needs of the student.  

Please be advised that single rooms are reserved for individuals whose documentation illustrates substantial need and for whom a standard housing assignment with a roommate is not viable and cannot be addressed by alternative options. 

In determining the extent of a student’s limitations and whether the requested accommodation is reasonable (i.e., meets the threshold of necessity under the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act) the following is considered:  

whether the request stems from a disability-related need

the nature, severity, duration and impact of the student’s condition

the impact on the student’s health if the request were not granted

the care provider’s qualifications for recommending accommodations

whether the request is an integral component of the current treatment plan for the condition

whether the request is determined by the care provider to be essential (vs beneficial)

if there are any alternative options that will meet the student’s need(s).

Dining

Dietary modifications can be facilitated through Albright College Dining Services, where every reasonable effort will be made to support a student’s documented dietary needs while maintaining Albright’s core belief that dining with fellow students is an important facet of life at a residential college. Dietary modifications that are currently available through Dining Services offer a variety of foods that promote healthy lifestyles including gluten-free and lactose-free options, meals for vegetarian and vegan diets, and various allergy considerations. While Dining Services is committed to the dietary health of each student, it is the student’s responsibility to inquire about the ingredients in the foods served. In all Dining Services locations across campus, nutrition information is either posted or available upon request. Dining Services is almost always able to meet the needs of individual students; however, the student is required to interactively work with them.  Needs that are not met because the student did not interact with the SAA office and/or Dining Services are not an indication of the college’s inability to meet a dietary need. In addition, please note that unused meal swipes at the end of the semester are not evidence that the suggested modification was not provided to the student. 

Dietary Accommodations Process

Step 1: Meet with the Director of Dining Services on Campus

Albright College students with specific dietary needs must meet with the college’s Director of Dining Services. The SAA office will schedule and facilitate this meeting once we are notified of a need.  The student will be sent a meeting invite through their Albright email address for an initial meeting to discuss the student’s dietary needs, available dining options, and meal planning.  

The initial meeting may include consultation with Albright College’s Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, if appropriate, as well as a tour of the Dining Hall, if requested. During the initial meeting with Dining Services, information will be provided to the student regarding the variety of eatery locations on campus available to all students, faculty, and staff. These include Jake’s in the student center, Lion's Brew in the student center, Peg’s in the Schumo Center, and the Dining Hall in the student center.   

Please be aware that the student is expected to meet with the Director of Dining Services or their designee as outlined in this step to determine if a student’s dietary needs can be reasonably met with the dining offerings available to all students on campus prior to any request for accommodations. 

Step 2: Submit your request for Dietary-Based Dining Accommodations with Documentation 

Sometimes students have special needs based on documented health conditions which may necessitate dietary accommodations that exceed the regular food offerings available to the campus community. 

Therefore, if after meeting with the Director of Dining Services or their designee, it is determined by the Dining Services staff that a student’s dietary needs cannot be sufficiently met with the dining offerings readily available and that a specialized diet or plan will be required, the student will be advised to request dietary-based dining accommodations through the SAA office. This is accomplished by completing the accommodations application in the Student Health Portal.   

Documentation to support your request should be uploaded during the application.  A detailed dietary plan with specific nutritional needs should be prepared by a qualified professional and included with your applications. It is recommended that students ask their provider to complete the Dietary-Based Verification form (PDF); however, an official letter that is written, dated, and signed by your medical provider on their professional letterhead, which provides all the necessary information can be accepted as documentation as well. 

Step 3: Documentation Review 

Once a request for dining accommodations is submitted to the SAA office we will review the application, taking into full account the record of interactions with Dining Services and the information provided in the professional’s letter, in determining reasonable dietary-based accommodations. A medical records review may be requested from the college’s physician if necessary.   

There must be a dietary-based disability, documented and verified by a student’s medical provider, to be considered for dietary-based dining accommodations. 

Step 4: Notification 

Personal Care Attendant (PCA)

Albright College is committed to ensuring that all students with disabilities are provided impairment-related accommodations enabling them to have access to college programs and services. Albright College understands that Personal Care Attendants (PCAs) may be necessary to address the personal needs of a student with a disability so that student may fully participate at the college.

Students who provide documentation that meets the college’s requirements may request permission for a personal care attendant (PCA) to be granted the same access to campus facilities as the student. The PCA will be provided access to campus facilities for the sole purpose of assisting the student. The PCA should be an impartial individual qualified to assist the student. Albright College recommends that PCAs are not family members or close friends of the student.

An otherwise-qualified student who requires personal attendant services is responsible for identifying/selecting, hiring, training, supervising, and paying any PCAs. Albright College will not provide personal aids or services, “including help in bathing, dressing, or other personal care,” per Section 504 and Title II of the ADA, nor does the college assume financial responsibilities for personal attendant services.

In addition to applying for accommodations, students requesting a personal care attendant should contact and be approved by the SAA office before the PCA comes to campus. The following forms must be completed by the student and the requested personal care attendant:

Personal Care Attendant Agreement (PDF)

Background Check Attestation: Personal Care Attendant (PCA)/Visiting Medical Personnel (PDF)

Resources

Schedule an Accommodated Exam

If approved, you may choose to take exams in the Accommodated Testing Center (Teel 301). To schedule an exam, please complete the Accommodated Test Administration Form with your professor. This form can be downloaded to complete electronically, or printed to fill out manually. Please email digital copies to testing@albright.edu or return printed forms to the SAA office in the Student Center back hallway.

This PowerPoint presentation can guide you through completing the form. However, you can also stop by the SAA office for assistance.

Information for Faculty:
When possible, please complete and return your portion of the form at least one week before the exam. SAA requests that you provide our office with the exam 24 hours before the exam, either via email or hand delivery to the SAA office in the Student Center back hallway. Exams may also be hand-delivered by students; these must be in a sealed envelope with the professor’s signature across the seal. Please remember to adjust the start/stop times for any online/Canvas exams to match the student’s approved extra time. Every effort will be made to schedule accommodated exams to begin on the same day and at the same time as the rest of the class.

Questions regarding testing accommodations or scheduling can be directed to the SAA office by email at testing@albright.edu or by phone at 610-921-7503

Documentation Guidelines & Standards

Albright College has established documentation guidelines that require students to provide current and comprehensive information from a credentialed professional or medical practitioner. A student’s high school IEP or 504 plan may be helpful but these documents rarely provide information needed to make an accommodation decision in college. In addition, some clinical evaluations can be too old to be of current use. The disability must be understood in relation to the college’s courses, programs, and activities. 

A diagnosis alone may not provide sufficient rationale for accommodations. Information about how the diagnosis affects the student is essential. A diagnosis or documentation of a specific disability does not necessarily guarantee approval for a particular accommodation. All decisions are made through an interactive process with the student.

If the initial documentation provided is unclear or not sufficient, our review process may require clarification or additional information from clinical practitioners. With the student’s written agreement, the SAA office may assist the student by reaching out to the initial evaluator if documentation inconsistencies or unclear information are identified. Please click on the link below to review our documentation guidelines. 

Documentation Standards for ADD With or Without Hyperactivity

Documentation Standards for Learning and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Documentation Standards for Medical Conditions/Physical Impairments (including hearing and vision)

Documentation Standards for Mental Health Disorders/Psychological Impairments

Verification Forms

Verification Forms are designed to help you gather the necessary documentation that aligns with Albright’s document standards. These forms guide your provider with specific questions, ensuring they can offer clear and objective information. This process significantly aids the Director of SAA in evaluating your request. Please ensure that these forms are accompanied by relevant testing results or other diagnostic information from your provider.

The use of verification forms is optional, and we will gladly accept alternative documentation from providers; however, you are responsible for making sure that Albright receives all the information necessary to support your application for accommodations.

To use verification forms, please click on the links below for the form related to your specific accommodation request. If you need assistance in determining which form(s) would be most appropriate for you, please contact our office for assistance.

Attention Impairments
Autism Spectrum (ASD)
Dietary Concerns
Hearing Impairments
Learning Disorders
Mobility Impairments
Neurological Impairments
Physical Health Impairments
Psychiatric Impairments
Vision Impairments

Housing Verification Forms
Requesting Reasonable Housing Accommodations
Housing Accommodations Supplemental Verification Form

Confidentiality

We understand that self-disclosure of a disability, symptoms, or condition is confidential and deeply personal. Students who wish to have a confidential conversation about their previous history of using accommodations, their eligibility for services, or any referrals for a disability-related evaluation are encouraged to request an appointment at their earliest convenience. We recommend that students self-disclose to the Student Accessibility & Advocacy (SSA) office as early as possible so that we can work together on a proactive approach to their learning and academic experience. Because all information is confidential, the SAA office cannot speak with parents unless the student has given permission on their FERPA. Students should directly inform their parents about their choice to use services for students with disabilities.

All disability records are kept separate from a student’s educational record. Utilization of accommodations will not be noted on transcripts, applications, or other permanent records. Further, SAA is responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of a student’s clinical documentation. Without a student’s informed consent in writing, no records will be released to a third party. If a student wishes to have their records released, they should contact the SAA office and complete a record release form. SAA will only release records that were created by the SAA office. Documents that were provided to SAA by a third party will not be released; students should request those documents from the original source.