Oregon State University is committed to student success; however, we do not require students to use accommodations nor will we provide them unless they are requested by the student. The student, as a legal adult, is responsible to request appropriate accommodations. The student must take the lead in applying to Disability Access Services (DAS) and submit requests for accommodations each term through DAS Online. OSU students apply to DAS and request accommodations at DAS Online Services. Students are expected to work in concert with DAS to specify, arrange, and follow through on accommodations. Should problems occur, students should alert DAS in a timely fashion so that together we can address them.
Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) as amended by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, and other applicable federal and state regulations prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. Under these laws, students with a documented disability have a right to receive reasonable accommodations. Students also have responsibilities under these laws.
Students with disabilities have the right to:
- An equal opportunity to learn. If the location, delivery system, or instructional methodology limits your access, participation, or ability to benefit, you have a right to reasonable alterations in those aspects of the course (or program) to accommodate your disability, as long as it does not fundamentally alter the nature of the program or activity, lower academic standards, present an undue financial or administrative burden on the university, or pose a threat to personal or public safety.
- You have a right to an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from the academic community. This includes access to services, extra-curricular activities, housing, and transportation at a comparable level as that provided to any student.
Students with disabilities shall be responsible for:
- Submitting appropriate documentation of a disability from an appropriate professional prior to receiving requested accommodations.
- Providing documentation that demonstrates how the disability affects a particular delivery system, instructional method, or evaluation criteria when requesting accommodations.
- Meeting and maintaining the University's fundamental academic and technical standards.
- Identifying themselves as needing accommodations in a timely fashion to the Disability Access Services department (DAS). In addition to registering with the DAS office, students with disabilities must register the CRN numbers of their classes online, early enough for the DAS office to arrange accommodations. Our service request timeline states the minimum amount of notice our office needs to arrange accommodations.
- Meeting with their professors and other service providers to discuss accommodations. Information about the disability is confidential. Anonymity is not guaranteed.
- Notifying DAS of any issues, concerns or delays in receiving requested accommodations.
Personal Services
The law does not require that colleges and universities provide "personal services" to students with disabilities. Students can contact DAS for referrals to resources that are available to all students, or available within the community (campus tutoring resources, university shuttle, dial-a-bus, etc). Below are some examples of common personal services:
- Tutoring
- Personal care attendant (PCA)
- Personally prescribed medical devices (eyeglasses, wheelchairs, hearing aids, etc.)
- Personal transportation (OSU shuttle system serves the campus on fixed routes and is wheelchair accessible)
- Personal assistance to transport books or other personal items