Accommodations

If a student has a documented need for their tests to be reasonably modified so they can better access it, SAS will approve necessary accommodations. Whenever possible, testing accommodations should be administered through the specific academic department. When this is not possible, students can request to take their tests with SAS. Here are examples of some testing accommodations SAS can approve:

• Extended time on all timed in-class tests/exams
• Reduced distraction testing environment
• Proctored breaks
• Use of a computer for tests

If a student has the accommodation of computer access for exams/quizzes, computer access can be made available through the specific academic department or Student Accessibility Services. Students are not allowed to use their own laptops for tests without permission from their faculty member.

Here are examples of some notetaking accommodations:

• Audio recording lectures
• Use of a computer for all in-class notetaking

If a student has a documented need for their texts and other classroom materials to be in alternate formats (such as PDF, mp3, Braille, etc.) SAS will help procure those materials in a format that is more accessible to the student. The student is still responsible of purchasing/renting their books themselves in whichever format they wish to do so in, but after they do so SAS will help students find their books in a different format.

SAS works together with Residential Life and Housing (RLH) to approve and implement housing accommodations for students with disabilities who qualify. Housing accommodation requests need to be submitted in a timely manner for consideration. There is no guarantee that RLH will be able to deliver these accommodations. If a student requests an accommodation during the semester they should understand that the process could take some time as occupancy can dictate what options are available. Having an approved housing accommodation does not move a student to the top of a wait list.

For new incoming students, students should self-identify when filling out housing forms with RLH and make the same requests there that they are requesting through SAS.

Here are some examples of housing accommodations SAS can approve:

• Medical Single Occupancy
  Medical singles are physically the same as traditional singles. Singles being used as medical singles are due to an accommodation approval and will be billed as comparable doubles instead of being billed as a single.
• Accessible/Semi private bathroom
  Clark does not offer 100% private bathrooms due to the layout of its residence halls. Some of its halls, like Dana, Hughes, and JSC, offer multiple lockable single stall bathrooms per floor and are considered semi-private. Those with this accommodation can be placed in a room in close proximity to at least one of these bathrooms. SAS and RLH will work hard to meet the needs to students with this accommodation as much as is reasonably possible.
• Accessible room location
  Some students need a room on the first floor, or a room in close proximity to an elevator. These are some examples of this accommodation in effect. SAS and RLH will work with students with a need for this type of accommodation and determine what options are available to meet their needs.
• Emotional support animal
  Animals are typically not allowed student housing, but if a student has a documented need for an emotional support animal (ESA) then RLH will allow a student to live with one if reasonable for the animal and the space it will occupy.
• Air Conditioning unit
  Clark typically does not allow air conditioning (AC) units be installed in the windows of rooms, but if a student has a documented need for one then Clark’s Physical Plant will provide the AC unit and install it, then, later on, will uninstall it when necessary. Students should not bring their own AC units to campus.
• Assistive Technology
  Assistive technology (AT) is a broad term to describe any piece of technology that can help mitigate a challenge due to a person’s disability. AT in this case refers to reasonable purchases such as bed shakers, flashing fire alarms, etc. Clark will cover reasonable purchases like this based on the student’s need.

Clark is committed to providing access throughout all parts of a student’s experience, even outside the classroom. Following this goal, here are some examples of accommodations that take place outside the classroom:

• Reduced course load
  If a student needs to take less than four courses a semester, they may request this accommodation to take three instead. Some Clark activates or policies require a student to be taking four courses, but when approved for this accommodation that rule will be waived for that student.
• Classroom relocation
  Students with mobility impairments or chronic medical conditions who feel that a class location is not accessible may request classroom relocation. The director of disability services will work with the Registrar’s Office to process these requests.

Early registration
For classes Students with mobility impairments or chronic medical conditions who require to have their class schedule balanced in a particular way in order to better access their education can request this accommodation. Just like all accommodation decisions, these requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.