Accessibility and Disability Services

Overview
FAQs

Overview

Mission

To ensure all students at Southern California University of Health Sciences receive equal and fair access throughout their education, regardless of disability.

We Promise to…

Ensure services for students with disabilities follows the student code of ethics set forth by the Association of Higher Education and Disabilities.
Serve as an advocate for a student with disabilities to ensure equal access
Provide disability representation on relevant campus committees
Provide referral information to students with disabilities regarding campus and community resources
Provide consultation with faculty regarding academic accommodation and compliance with legal responsibilities as well as instructional, programmatic, physical, and curriculum modifications
Provide individual disability awareness training for campus constituencies
Maintain records that document the plan for the provision of selected accommodations
Determine appropriate academic adjustments consistent with student documentation

How do I request accommodations?

Students seeking reasonable accommodations or support services while enrolled at SCUHS can do so through the Student Services Office. We encourage you to register with SSO as early as possible to allow sufficient time for the approval and notification process.

Step 1: Review and complete the following forms:

Documentation Requirements and Verification Form ***Please review this for requirements on appropriate supporting documentation. Incomplete letters and forms will not be accepted***
Request for Accommodations
Accommodation Agreement
Documentation Guidelines

Step 2: Submit your complete request and schedule an appointment with the Student Services Office

Email your completed forms and supporting documentation to StudentServices@scuhs.edu. A complete request includes your supporting documentation from a qualified examiner and a Request for Accommodations form completed by you.

Important Notes about Accommodations

We strive to review completed accommodations applications within 1 week of receipt. Requests made on short notice will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
A request for accommodations does not guarantee approval. It does guarantee an interactive process to reach a decision on the request and a full review of the request and the student’s file.
Accommodations cannot fundamentally alter a student’s program or impose an undue burden. An accommodation provided at a previous institution may not be appropriate for your program at SCUHS.
Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis and are dependent on a student’s current functional limitations.
Accommodations are not retroactive. They are active from the time they are approved.
Students are responsible for providing reasonable notice of intent to use an accommodation. For example, students receiving extra time on exams should notify their instructor 1 week in advance of an exam.

For questions please email: StudentServices@scuhs.edu

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Americans With Disabilities Act Amendments Act?

The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) is a civil rights law that was originally passed by Congress in 1990 (as the Americans with Disabilities Act-ADA) and protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination in the workplace, as well as in school and other settings. The ADA was amended in 2008 and became effective on January 1, 2009. The law does not provide funding for services or accommodations. https://www.ncld.org/get-involved/learn-the-law/adaaa/

What are disabilities that will be considered for accommodations?

Major life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.
Major Bodily Functions include, but are not limited to, functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions.

How does SCU provide equitable access to education?

Student Services Office reviews appropriate medical documentation, and consistent with laws and best practices determines reasonable accommodations, as well as auxiliary aids and services.

What does this mean for students?

This allows students to request a modification or reasonable accommodation to allow them to fully participate in the classroom and campus life. Once a modification or reasonable accommodation is approved, the student has the choice and responsibility to notify their instructors in a timely fashion.

It is important for students to know that accommodations and services may not cause a fundamental alteration to core requirements of the course, the program of study, or University requirements. Students, faculty, and Student Services staff work together to define the limitations, if they exist, for accommodations.

How are religious accommodations implemented for students?

Reasonable accommodations are determined on an individual basis and depend on the circumstances. Students have a right to express religious beliefs without discrimination and have a safe place for worship and prayer. Examples of religious accommodations include rescheduling an exam, allowing a group presentation to be given on a different date, and adjusting a due date if the said item falls on a religious event or Holiday.

Accommodation requests that will fundamentally alter program requirements, classroom curriculum, learning objectives, or student expectations will not be approved. Accommodation requests that will create an undue and unfair burden on others, including students, will not be approved.