Accommodations

Accommodations and services fall into two categories:

1. Academic accommodations, modifications or adjustments
2. Student life accommodations (dining, housing, emotional support animals)

The Office for Accessibility and Educational Opportunity (AEO) provides and coordinates a variety of accommodations, auxiliary aids, and services for qualified students with disabilities. All accommodations are based on the current nature of the student’s disability or disabilities, supporting documentation, and the specific requirements of the course, program, or activity. Accommodations and services are paid for by Vassar College unless otherwise specified. Personal services, such as prescriptive devices, health-care aids, personal computing equipment, or private tutoring, are the responsibility of the individual with a disability. Disability accommodation requests can be made at any time; the availability of the accommodation, auxiliary aid, or service may be affected, however, by a request made later than suggested periods.

Commonly offered academic accommodations include, but are not limited to,

• Alternative print formats such as audiotape, Braille, electronic text, enlarged print, etc.
• Classroom relocation and specialized classroom furnishings
• Course and program modifications, as appropriate
• Closed captioning services
• Exam modifications such as extended time, access to a low-distraction room, or use of assistive technology
• Lab/library assistants
• Notetaker services
• Pre-registration assistance and advising
• Readers
• Scribe and transcription services
• Sign language interpreters

All accommodations decisions are based on your current needs, the nature of your disability, supporting documentation, and the specific requirements of the course, program, or activity.

The College pays for accommodations and services unless otherwise specified. Personal services such as prescriptive devices, health-care aids, personal computing equipment or adaptive software, and private tutoring are the responsibility of the student with the disability.

The College can choose to provide an alternative accommodation other than the one preferred by the student as long as the accommodation method is effective.

Disability accommodations can be made at any time. The availability of the accommodation, auxiliary aid, or service may be affected, however, by a request made later than suggested periods. Accommodations are never retroactive.

Vassar will not provide a disability accommodation, auxiliary aid, or service request if the student does not have a disability; the documentation provided fails to support the need for such accommodation; the accommodation is considered a personal service; or the accommodation requested would result in a fundamental alteration to a course, program or activity.

See Disability Policy and Appeals Procedure for more information.

Students registered with AEO are expected to:

• Be actively involved in the accommodation process
• Provide appropriate disability documentation
• Work closely with AEO
• Request accommodations according to procedures and in a timely manner
• Speak with your professors about accommodations
• Make full use of resources and support services at the College
• Provide feedback about the effectiveness of accommodations