Jacque Knedler, Director
unmcasc@unmc.edu
Phone: 402-559-7276
https://www.unmc.edu/student-success/support-services/accessibility/index.html
Determination and Provision of Reasonable Accommodations
The Accessibility Services Center (ASC) aims to cultivate an accessible and inclusive community where students with permanent and temporary disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in all aspects of campus life. We facilitate student advocacy, learning and access through partnerships with students, faculty and staff.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center is obligated to provide reasonable accommodations, adjustments, and/ or auxiliary services only to the known limitations of an otherwise qualified student with a disability. It is the responsibility of the student with a disability to inform the ASC that an accommodation or change in accommodation is needed and to participate in the interactive process to formulate a reasonable accommodation plan. When a qualified student with a disability requests accommodation, reasonable efforts to provide the accommodation, adjustment and/or auxiliary service that is deemed effective will be made.
Documentation of Disability
To be eligible for disability-related services, students must have a documented or visible impairment as defined by the Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 1990 and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. The ADA regulations broadly define impairments to include a wide variety of disorders or conditions affecting any number of body systems, including the neurological or musculoskeletal systems, special sense organs, respiratory, cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, genitor-urinary, hemic, lymphatic, or endocrine systems, or the skins. Impairments also include mental or psychological disorders, including intellectual disability, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and certain learning disorders.
The University of Nebraska’s Medical Center student interactive accommodation process relies on the student's self-report of the barrier(s) present, documentation from a treating provider and any historical supplemental information related to the disability of medical condition. Supplemental information examples could include but are not limited to educational information such as Individual Education Plan (IEP), 504 plan, Summary of Progress (SOP) or other information about a student’s education and accommodation history, and intake interview information received from the student.
Documentation received from the treating provider must include:
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Typed, dated and signed on the treating provider’s office letterhead
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A statement of diagnosis or specific medical condition
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Description of the evaluation or tests conducted and results of those tests
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Detailed description of the life activities and day-to-day functional limitations occurring due to the diagnosis
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Recommendations of possible accommodations in the academic setting
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The cost of obtaining documentation will be borne by the student. If the initial documentation is incomplete or inadequate and the student interview does not provide the relevant information, the ASC will have the discretion to request additional information focused on providing the clarification needed to provide the student reasonable accommodation.
Accommodations Process
ASC offers accessibility related services to students who have a documented medical condition or disability in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the ADA Amendment Act of 2008. Each accommodation request initiates the interactive process that provides a 1:1 approach with the student and ASC staff to find what accommodations and services best meet a student's needs.
Students are responsible for initiating the accommodation request process.
- Register with ASC by completing and submitting the Self-Identification Form
- Submit documentation related to the diagnosis via email at UNMCASC@unmc.edu or by fax at 402-559-9671. (Please find more information needed for documentation under the heading, Documentation of Disability).
- Schedule an intake meeting with an ASC staff member to determine reasonable accommodations.
- If deemed reasonable by the ASC and approved, the student is responsible for meeting with necessary faculty to discuss accommodation plans each semester.
- Each semester upon approval, check in with the ASC regarding accommodation concerns and implementation.
The Accessibility Services Center is a unit within the Division of Student Success.