Rights and Responsibilities

Students with disabilities are entitled to reasonable and appropriate accommodations
according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended in 2009. These federal laws protect students
from discrimination based on actual or perceived disability. Once a student has
registered with Accessibility Services at Wheaton College, MA, a student has the
following rights:

1. Equal access: equitable access to courses, programs, services, activities and
spaces available through the College.
2. Reasonable & Appropriate Accommodations: access to reasonable and
appropriate accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids, as
determined on an individual basis and facilitated by Accessibility Services.
3. Privacy: expectation of privacy regarding personal information and
documentation related to the disability.
4. Appeal: Students have the right to appeal the decisions made by using the appeal
form.
If students are still dissatisfied with the decision an appeal may be made to the
Section 504 Coordinator and Vice President for Student Affairs, Darnell Parker
Ed.D.  Secondary Appeals Process
5. Grievances: This Grievance Procedure is established to meet the requirements
of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as amended 2009 (“ADA”) Grievance Procedures

Students have the right to:

    •  Expect all disability-related information to be treated confidentially
    • Receive appropriate accommodations in a timely manner; students should have
      the opportunity to meet privately with faculty to discuss needs.
    • Appeal decisions regarding accommodations and auxiliary aids.Faculty do not review disability documentation or determine eligibility for appropriate
      accommodations.

Students have the responsibility to:

    • Submit appropriate disability documentation to Accessibility Services
    • Make an appointment with faculty to facilitate privacy when communicating about
      accommodations
    • Initiate requests for specific accommodations in a timely manner, and follow the
      appropriate process to request and access them.
    • Notify faculty or staff right away if an accommodation is not being provided
      completely/correctly.
    • Meet/communicate regularly with the Accessibility Services team to ensure
      access to appropriate academic accommodations, and provide updated
      documentation as required.

Faculty have the right to:

    • Access verification of a student’s disability for any requested accommodations.
      This verification is in the form of a letter written by Accessibility Services
      personnel, delivered to faculty by the student.
    •  Expect the student to initiate communication about academic accommodations.
    •  Expect Accessibility Services to help facilitate appropriate testing
      accommodations, and can request support from the Accessibility Services team
      as needed.
    • Consider incorporating principles of Universal Design for Learning within your
      teaching practices.Faculty do not have the right to ask students if they have a disability, or about the nature of a disability.

Faculty have the responsibility to:

    •  Identify, establish and assess the fundamental requirements/outcomes of their
      courses; all students must meet the same expectations in order to successfully
      complete each course.
    •  Provide accommodations only to students who are registered with the Institution
      as having disclosed a disability; faculty are not responsible for accommodating
      students who have not gone through the accommodations process.
    • Use a syllabus statement and announcements to invite students to disclose their
      needs, and provide information about how to do so.
    •  Act immediately upon receiving a request for accommodations (please contact
      Accessibility Services with questions and support regarding appropriate
      accommodations).
    • Work to make sure that all audio-visual materials used in class are accessible
      (for example, closed-captioned videos, transcripts provided, etc.).
    • Treat all disability-related information as confidential information.