The Office of Student Accessibility Services strives to advocate for equal access for all students and the development of an institutional environment that provides members of the Heidelberg community opportunities for personal and academic success.
The Owen CTL maintains up-to-date resources for all students in Canvas. At the start of each semester, all Heidelberg students are added to the Academic Support Canvas Course that contains current academic support schedules, academic advising resources, information about accessibility services, and information about study abroad programs.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact us at accessibilityservices@heidelberg.edu or 419-448-2484, or visit us in the Owen Center, Room 314 of the Campus Center.
We are committed to providing an educational experience and environment that is accessible for all. The Office of Student Accessibility Services works with individuals with disabilities to provide appropriate and reasonable accommodations for accessible opportunities to learn and achieve based on each student's abilities and needs.
Process
We work with students who identify as having a disability or accessibility need through an interactive process.
Application:
Submitted through the Incident Report Form under type “accommodation request” OR
Stop by the Office of Student Accessibility Services in Campus Center 314.
Intake:
Review of provided documentation
How your disability impacts you in university programs
Discussion of reasonable accommodations
How accommodations work in college
Lots of time for questions
Verification/Documentation:
Heidelberg requires supporting documentation for the following reasons:
To verify the existence of a disability
To support the request for each specific accommodation
To review the nature of the disability and its impact in the post-secondary environment
To assist in the collaborative determination of eligibility for auxiliary aids and services
*Documentation accepted by Heidelberg might not be accepted by other institutions, agencies and/or programs. Please check with the specific institutions and/or programs to determine their documentation requirements.
Implementation:
Coordinator of SAS delivers Letter of Accommodation to professors.
Students are required to inform professors that they want to use their accommodations.
This will begin a dialogue on how the student and the instructor can work together to meet the student’s learning needs and academic requirements throughout the semester.
We offer a special test taking environment for individuals who may require distraction-free testing or extended time. To utilize the testing center, students must be registered through the Office of Student Accessibility Services for testing accommodations. Arrangements for each test must be made with the professor and the coordinator of Student Accessibility Services.
Location: Campus Center
Hours: 8 am - 5 pm (Last scheduled test time at 3 pm)
The Office of Student Accessibility Services at Heidelberg University does not discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, sex, gender expression, disability, sexual orientation, religion, location of origin, and/or socioeconomic status. Alongside the rest of the Heidelberg community, SAS is responsible for complying with applicable local, state, and federal laws and statutes. Beyond compliance, our offers interpretation and guidance on complying with the following major federal legislations: The Fair Housing Act of 1968; the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, particularly Title III; and the Americans with Disabilities Act
Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008. We are responsible for following emerging best practices from relevant professional associations, legal decisions, the findings of the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) from the federal Department of Education, and other sources in guiding the University in maintaining legal compliance.
Students who believe their rights have been violated in regard to their disability may pursue further legal remedies outside of Heidelberg University. Students may consult their own attorneys. Additional information is available from the United States Department of Education Office of Civil Rights; ocr@ed.gov; 1-800-421-3481; or 1-877-521-2172. Available on the Office of Civil Rights website is a publication titled "Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know your Rights and Responsibilities," which explains student rights and may be useful. Additional information is available from the Director of the Academic Success Center.
Heidelberg University will not interfere with or retaliate against any individual who utilizes this appeals process or files a complaint.
What is the Office of Student Accessibility Services?
Our mission is to advocate for equal access and development of an institutional environment that provides members of the Heidelberg community opportunities for personal and academic success.
Who do you work with?
We work with all students with accessibility needs, ranging from students with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, mental health concerns, chronic health issues, allergies, and more.
How do you work with students like me?
Through an interactive process, we determine what individualized accommodations would remove or minimize the barriers between you and equal access to your education.
What kind of accommodations are available?
It is always tailored to each individual student, and we coordinate housing, dining, and academic accommodations.
What do I need to do?
Schedule an appointment and we’ll have a confidential conversation about your unique situation. You may have to provide documentation from health care providers, high school, or other sources.
