Getting Started
Student Accessibility Services, support staff, and faculty work collaboratively to provide reasonable accommodations for students. Students may be eligible to receive accommodations based on the nature and functional limitations of a documented disability.
Key things to know
- Accommodations are intended to reduce or eliminate barriers to equal access, they do not waive academic requirements considered essential.
- Accommodations are not a guarantee for student success.
- Accommodations are intended to promote equal opportunities. Accommodations are determined through a review process based on documentation received in regards to a student’s disability.
- Temporary illness or impairments (recovering from surgery) are not considered a disability, but still may be eligible for accommodations.
Eligibility
In order to establish eligibility, the student must provide current, comprehensive documentation that establishes the diagnosis/es and describes the impact on major life activities. Guidelines for documentation can be found under each heading below. Student Accessibility Services encourages students who are concerned about documentation to contact us at sas@trinity.edu to discuss their options.
Accommodations Process
- Students initially apply through one of our two online applications.
- Once the appropriate documentation has been submitted, the student will meet individually with an Accessibility Specialist to discuss their accommodation request.
- After approval, students will request their Faculty Notification Letters (also known as accommodation letters) through SAS. Once these letters have been sent, students are asked to meet with professors to discuss their accommodation plan; however, professors are encouraged to invite students to start these conversations.
- Check Trinity email for updates from SAS representatives.
- Feel free to reach out to SAS representatives any time there is a question or concern.
Accommodation Letters
Each semester, students will need to request new copies of their Faculty Notification Letters be sent to their approved professors.
Requesting Letters
Students must request these letters each semester through SAS. These letters may take up to 3 business days after the date of the request to be sent to the approved professors.
While Faculty Notification Letters can be requested at any point during the semester, accommodations are not retroactive and ONLY apply moving forward from the date of request.
Returning Students
Students may forego the semester meeting and request their accommodation letter online if they meet the following criteria:
- Previously registered with SAS
- Have above a 2.5 GPA (semester and overall)
- No changes to current accommodations
- No changes to disability/conditions
If any of the following pertain to you please schedule an appointment with an SAS representative via sas@trinity.edu
- You are returning from temporary withdrawal
- You have below a 2.5 GPA
- You are requesting changes to your accommodations
- There has been a change in disability/condition
- This is your first time registering with SAS (requires an initial meeting of about an hour)
- You prefer meeting in person with an SAS representative to discuss accommodations
For Faculty and Staff
If you have questions or concerns about how to create a more accessible learning environment, please contact us. We are always happy to collaborate!
Academic and Classroom Accommodations
Once a student has been approved for accommodations, a Faculty Notification Letter will be sent to approved professors indicating the accommodations requested for each of the approved courses.
Common Accommodations / Implementations
While these are common accommodations, it is important to note that this is not an exhaustive list of accommodations. Our students are diverse and have individual needs and we try to meet them where they are and address condition-specific needs with accommodations as necessary.
- Extended Time
Extra time allows students who have the knowledge to successfully complete the assessment but face barriers due to the assessment’s format and require additional time to convey their understandings and to be assessed appropriately.
Example Implementation: Scheduling students to start exams or quizzes early or to stay later is often the easiest way to implement this accommodation. It is also possible to schedule exams in the Accommodated Testing Center.
- Reduced Distraction
For some individuals, the testing environment itself can be a barrier - constant noise/activity creates a distraction. A reduced distraction environment allows the student to be assessed in a quiet, separate location with minimal distractions.
Example Implementation: Reduced distraction environments can be created by students taking exams/quizzes in an empty room, during a professor's office hours, in a departmental room, scheduled with the Accommodated Testing Center.
- Laptop Use
Access to laptop use supports students who face barriers created by assessment format. Allowing students to take notes via laptop promotes independent note taking strategies. Laptops are also used for written portions of exams.
Example Implementation: Some students may be able to use a personal laptop in the classroom for notes or for exams. Laptops are also available for use in the Accommodated Testing Center.
- Notes Assistance
Providing students with notes assistance during lectures, minimizes barriers that may exist in a lecture format class. Notes assistance grants students access to lecture information that may be missed.
Example Implementation: Notes assistance can be carried out in a number of ways: making powerpoint/presentation slides and notes available prior to class, have a class student volunteer to submit notes on the TigerPaws page, encourage students to record lectures (create contracts with them asking them to delete the material after the semester if that is a concern) - these all create a community of support for all students.
- Alternative Text
Alternative text format provides supports to student in reading text.
Example Implementation: Alternative texts can be provided by offering students the publishers' information of course textbooks. The Accessibility Specialist can also help teach students how to convert texts to alternative/audio formats.
- Accommodated Testing Center
The Accommodated Testing Center (ATC) is a resource available to students who are approved for testing accommodations by Student Accessibility Services.
- Graduate Exam Assistance
You may be eligible for accommodations on exams (e.g., GRE, Fundamentals of Engineering Exam, LSAT) if you have been receiving services during your time at Trinity. An SAS representative can assist you in the process of applying for accommodations. Please schedule an appointment at least 2 months prior to your intended exam date (as these requests may take extended time to process).
How to Apply
1. Application Form
To register for accommodations, students must fill out an online application through the online portal.
2. Supporting Documentation
Submit appropriate documentation to SAS. Documentation should include:
Credentials of the evaluator (generally psychologists, psychiatrists, licensed counselors, or medical doctors).
A clear diagnostic statement and information regarding the impact of the disability condition, including any side effects of medications or other treatments.
A description of the diagnostic methodology used. Information on the current functional limitations and prognosis of condition.
Provider Verification Form
SAS is happy to offer a Provider Verification form that students may provide to their doctor or medical/mental health provider to fill out for documentation purposes.
3. Schedule an Appointment
Schedule an intake appointment with the assistant director or accessibility specialist – this meeting lasts about an hour and allows the student the opportunity to discuss the college experience, how the accommodation process works, and where to find resources on campus and in the community.
Housing and Dining Accommodations
Students may qualify for housing and dining accommodations based on the functional limitations of the documented disability.
SAS, Residence Life (for housing accommodations), and Dining Services (for dining accommodations) work collaboratively to provide appropriate accommodations for students who are eligible to live on campus. Residence Life assigns rooms based on availability.
Emotional Support Animals
An emotional support animal (ESA) is an animal that provides emotional support to alleviate symptoms of an individual's disability.
Support animals provide companionship, relieve loneliness, and sometimes help with depression, anxiety, and certain phobias, but do not have special training to perform tasks that assist people with disabilities. They are not considered service animals under the American's with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Service Animals
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal means any dog or miniature horse that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.
Service Animal Policy and Procedures
Key things to know
- No other species of animal may serve as a service animal.
- Service animals are not pets.
- Service animals are not assistance animals: emotional support, therapy, or comfort animal.
- Individuals assisted by service animals should be prepared to answer the following two questions
- Is the service animal required because of a disability?
- What work or task is the dog trained to perform?"
How to Apply
There is no application to bring a service animal to campus. We do request vaccination records be submitted to sas@trinity.edu.
Temporary Accommodations
Students with temporary impairments (e.g., broken arm or sprained ankle) can contact SAS with any questions or concerns.
Possible supportive services
Depending on the nature of the impairment, the student may be able to receive some form of assistance.
- Notetakers and/or the use of an audio-recorder
- A scribe or use of laptop for written exams/assignments
- Permission to use an electric scooter
How to Apply
If you are seeking temporary accommodations, please follow the procedures listed above under Academic / Classroom section. Acceptable documentation includes but is not limited to:
- A letter from your provider
- Visible evidence of an injury
- A temporary accommodation verification form completed by the appropriate medical provider.
Records Request
If at any time you need to request a copy of your records, please contact the SAS office and complete a Records Request form. Records Request may take up to 2 weeks to prepare and process.