Medaille College is dedicated to ensuring equal access and does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities in its policies, procedures, programs, or employment processes. Medaille College, in accordance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 2008, recognizes the need to provide an environment that does not discriminate against persons with disabilities. The Office of Disability Services (ODS) was created to specifically answer the needs of our students with disabilities.

If you have specific concerns or need more in-depth information about the services we offer, please contact our office directly.

What is the definition of a disability?
A disability is defined as: a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, or working. In addition, students with chronic illness (e.g., AIDS, diabetes, seizure disorder, lupus, and psychiatric disabilities) may be eligible for services. Individuals with temporary disabilities may also be eligible to receive services through our office.

Who is eligible for services?
Any currently enrolled Medaille student with a documented disability and who is registered with the Office of Disability Services is eligible to be reviewed for services. However, the student is responsible for initiating contact and submitting appropriate documentation to the ODS to determine if he/she is eligible for services at Medaille College.

Medaille College is committed to making reasonable accommodations, as determined on a case-by-case basis, for any individual with a documented disability. All students, even those currently in the admissions process, should contact our office immediately if you feel you are eligible for services.

Whom do I contact?
The only way to know for certain if you are eligible for services or accommodations is to contact our office directly:

Jeffrey Siefert
Coordinator of Disability Services
Student Support Center
(716) 566-3088

What type of documentation is needed?
Current documentation from an authorized expert in their field, such as a medical doctor, audiologist, psychologist, etc., that verifies your disability.The intake and documentation forms are required to accompany any documents. The following guidelines are provided in the interest of ensuring that documentation is appropriate to verify eligibility of a disability AND supports requests for reasonable accommodations, adjustments, and auxiliary aids and services on the basis of that disability.

1. Documentation of disability should be provided in writing, be comprehensive, and include the following information: Clear and specific evidence of a disability: the functional limitations related to the diagnosis and medical treatment of which affect the student's current level of functioning in the university environment.
2. In some cases, assessment procedures and evaluation instruments, including all test scores and sub-scores or test results, used to make the diagnosis.
3. An Individualized Educational Plan (IEP), 504 Plan, or high school exit summary of performance may be submitted; however, such documents must contain or be accompanied by the testing and/or other diagnostic evaluation upon which these plans are based. A submission of these plans are not a guarantee of receipt of accommodations but are helpful in making a decision.
4. Documentation for eligibility should be current, preferably within the last three years. It is in a student's best interest to provide recent and relevant documentation because the provision of all reasonable accommodations and services is based upon assessment of the current impact of the student's disability on his/her academic performance.
5. Professionals conducting assessment and rendering diagnoses of a disability must be qualified to do so. Diagnostic reports should include the names, titles, and professional credentials (e.g., licensed psychologist) of the evaluators as well as the dates(s) of testing. Experience in working with an adult population is essential. The diagnostician must be impartial and not a family member.

If your disability is temporary, the verification must also state the earliest date at which services will no longer be needed.

It is the student's responsibility to obtain appropriate documentation and submit it for consideration. The student will bear the cost, if any, of obtaining such documentation. Pending receipt of documentation, the College reserves the right to deny services or accommodations until such documents are received and reviewed.

When and where should documentation be sent?
Documentation should be sent directly to the ADA Compliance Coordinator in the Office of Disability Services. Documentation should be submitted as soon as possible. It will then be reviewed and a decision will be made in a timely manner as to the nature of the disability and what, if any, accommodations will be made. Information forwarded to our office will be kept confidential, within the Disability Services Team. The information will not be given to Admissions, Faculty, or other areas not directly related to the Office of Disability Services without the student's written consent. It can be faxed to:

Our office is located in the first floor of the Academic Support Center, H107. We can be reached by phone at (716) 566-3088.

Once a student is registered with ODS their responsibilities are:

1. Prior to or at the beginning of each semester meet with the Coordinator to verify accommodations are sought for each class. Notify the Coordinator if all, some or none of your instructors should be notified.
2. In the case that you do not meet with the coordinator all of your professors will be notified of the accommodations you have sought.
3. Open a dialogue with your professors. It is your responsibility to make them aware you will need to take a quiz or test in the Academic Support Center or need to sit in a specific location. They have more students to remember than you have professors.
4. Meet the requisite qualifications and essential technical standards; both academic and institutional, including the student code of conduct
5. Follow specific procedures for obtaining reasonable and appropriate accommodations, academic.
6. Feel free to contact the Coordinator of Disability Services at any time during the semester if you want to talk about your academic progress, to discuss your academic adjustments, etc.

For more information please review the Office of Disability Services manual.