Especially for Parents: Disabilities Services and Support For Students with Disabilities at Brandeis University
Brandeis University is committed to creating a diverse community that includes students with documented disabilities - including mobility, visual, hearing, medical, psychological, or learning disabilities. Below you will find information about the kinds of accommodations and support that are available at Brandeis and how to provide documentation in support of a request for accommodations. You can also contact us for more specific information; we are happy to address individual questions and concerns.
What academic and residential accommodations and support are available at Brandeis University for students with disabilities?
Academic accommodations for each student are determined on a case-by-case basis. In general, students attending Brandeis access a range of accommodations that include extended testing time, use of a peer notetaker, books on CD, and use of adaptive technology. Students with disabilities have access to the range of academic services and support that is available to all undergraduates, such as the Brandeis Tutorial Service, the Writing Center, and the academic advising network that includes faculty advisors, class advisors, and trained peer academic advisors. Beth Rodgers-Kay, Director of Disabilities Services and Support, can meet individually with students to advise and support them. Specifically, she promotes the use of academic strategies, development of the student's self-knowledge, and good communication with faculty. Students who need a disability-related housing accommodation should consult the Need-based Housing Brochure, available on-line at the Office of Residential Life website. Reasonable accommodations for housing are determined on a case-by-case basis, through consultation between personnel from the Office of Residential Life, Health Services, Psychological Counseling Center, and Disabilities Services and Support.
What is the process for requesting accommodations at Brandeis University?
Specific accommodations are based on the receipt and review of documentation. Documentation submitted early can be reviewed over the summer before first year students arrive on campus, preparing the way for timely launching of advising and accommodations in the fall. Soon after arriving on campus the student should meet with Beth Rodgers-Kay, Director of Disabilities Services and Support, to discuss the types of support s/he anticipates needing and the accommodations that may be appropriate. Once the accommodations have been determined, confidential letters are prepared for the student to share with his or her instructors.
What documentation is required for learning disabilities and/or AD(H)D?
Documentation of learning disabilities and/or Attention Deficit Disorder that is submitted in support of a request for accommodations must:
- Be current (no more than 3 years old) and specific;
- Be provided by a qualified professional (who is not a family member or relative);
- Substantiate the disability; and substantiate the need for accommodations.
IEPs or 504 plans from a student's high school may be included, but are not sufficient documentation as a stand-alone - a comprehensive evaluation that includes testing instruments, scores, and a specific diagnosis must be included.
Guidelines can be found at the Educational Testing Services website at www.ets.org or at the Association of Disabilities in Higher Education website at www.ahead.org.
What documentation is required for psychological disabilities?
Helpful guidelines for documenting psychological disabilities at the college level can be found at the Educational Testing Services web site at www.ets.org or at the Association of Disabilities in Higher Education web site at www.ahead.org.
What documentation is required for physical or medical disabilities?
A medical doctor or specialist must provide the documentation that is appropriate to a student's physical or medical condition.
Where do we send documentation?
Direct documentation of a psychological, attention deficit, or learning disability to:
Lois Finstein, Department Administrator
Psychological Counseling Center
MS 061
P.O. Box # 9110
Waltham, MA 02454-9110
Direct documentation of a physical or medical disability to:
Kathleen Maloney, Co-Director
Golding Health Center
MS 034
P.O. Box # 9110
Waltham, MA 02454-9110
What if the semester is beginning, and we haven't submitted documentation?
If your son or daughter is in need of accommodations, but you are still in the process of submitting documentation, it is important that s/he make an appointment to see Beth Rodgers-Kay as soon as possible so that next steps can be discussed. At times, provisional accommodations may be warranted if documentation is being updated.
Who can I contact for more information, or if I have concerns during the academic year?
Beth Rodgers-Kay, Director of Disabilities Services and Support
Office of Academic Affairs
781.736.3470
brodgers@brandeis.edu
Beth Rodgers-Kay will be happy to answer any questions about services and support, and talk with parents about services and support for students with disabilities at Brandeis. We do encourage students to be their own advocates and to establish an ongoing relationship with those who can provide support and guidance.
