Disability Accomodation Forms

First Year Students

The transition from Secondary (high school) to Post Secondary (college) education provides the opportunity for students to advocate for themselves and their needs. By providing the required documentation to the Center for Student Success as soon as possible, accommodations can be implemented as close to move-in/first day of classes as possible.

Students will start the process via a request and/or scheduling an intake meeting. Appropriate and reasonable accommodations will be determined based on the required documentation submitted to the Center for Student Success. All requested accommodations must be consistent with the data contained in the required documentation. Processing documentation can take up to 2 weeks.

The Center for Student Success will not be informed automatically of any conditions you disclose to the following offices: Health Services, Counseling and Wellness Services, or Admissions. When a condition requires accommodations, including academic, housing and/or dining, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the Center for Student Success. All information and documentation received by the Center for Student Success relating to disability status and accommodations requests will be treated with respect to privacy.

It is important to note that not all accommodations will transfer from one setting to the next.

How to Request Accommodations

Request: Email accommodations@gettysburg.edu to request accommodations/set up meeting to discuss student need for accommodations. Required documentation will be determined at this time.
Intake Appointment: Schedule an appointment with the Assistant Dean for Student
Accessibility, Dean Theresa M. Hoover (Schedule an Appointment) If you need further assistance, you can contact the Center for Student Success by calling 717.377.6579 or emailing student_success@gettysburg.edu
Appointments can be held virtually or in-person. The Intake meeting generally occurs prior to the submission of all documentation. During this meeting we will discuss your requested accommodations as they relate to your time at Gettysburg College. We will discuss your concerns and any accommodations you may have had in the past.
Documentation: Submit required documentation for review.
Review Meeting: This meeting will take place with the Assistant Dean for Student
Accessibility. During this meeting, your approved accommodations will be reviewed. If accommodations are not approved, this will also be discussed at this meeting. Additional campus resources will also be shared, when appropriate.

Decision Process for Accommodations

Once all documentation has been submitted and the Intake meeting has occurred, the review will begin with one of the following outcomes:

Approval: This occurs when the documentation supports the requested accommodations as reasonable accommodations as described above.
- Academic Accommodations: Students will meet with the Assistant Dean of Accessibility to review the approved accommodations and their Verification of Accommodations Letter (VAL). Students will sign the VAL and distribute it to their instructors. Students should follow up by meeting with their instructors to review their accommodations and how they will look in each course.
- Housing Accommodations: Students approved for housing accommodations will receive an email outlining the approval and the next steps. Residential Education will work with the student to implement the approved accommodations.
- ESA: Students who are approved for an ESA will receive an email indicating they have been approved. They are then required to schedule a meeting with the Assistant Dean of Accessibility to review the ESA Policy and sign an acknowledgement form related to this policy prior to bringing their ESA to campus.
- Dining: Students who are approved for dining accommodations receive an email indicating approval of their request. Students will work with Residential Education and/or dining services for implementation related to their accommodations. Please note that some requested dining accommodations may met through dining services including some allergies, gluten free diets, and other special dining requests. Reasonable accommodations will be granted on a case by case basis in collaboration with dining services.
Request for Additional Information
- This occurs when additional information is required to determine the need for accommodations and/or appropriate accommodations. A student will be notified via email for the need for additional information. A meeting with the Assistant Dean of Student Accessibility may also be required.
Denial
- When a student’s request for accommodations is denied, a student will receive an email explaining the reason the request was denied. Students may also be asked to meet with the Assistant Dean of Accessibility to go over the denial of requested accommodations.

Transfer and Newly Disclosing Students

The Accommodations Review process begins as soon as a student emails to request accommodations and/or schedules a meeting with the Assistant Dean of Student Accessibility. All students requesting accommodations will be required to meet with the Assistant Dean of Student Accessibility to discuss their request and review the provided documentation. Processing documentation for accommodations can take up to 2 weeks.

Academic

Students requesting academic accommodations should submit required documentation prior to August 1 for the Fall semester and December 1 for the Spring semester. It is important to note that requests for accommodations are received throughout the year and are reviewed as they are received by the Center for Student Success.

Housing

Students requesting housing accommodations for the upcoming academic year should do so prior to June 15 for the Fall semester and December 15 for the Spring semester. While accommodation requests are reviewed as they are submitted, providing information prior to the deadlines allows for Center for Student Success and Residential Education to work together to ensure housing needs are met prior to arrival on campus for the upcoming semester. Housing request submitted after the above deadlines are reviewed as they are received and may delay implementation of approved accommodations.

Emotional Support Animal (ESA)

Students requesting an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) for the upcoming academic year should do so prior to June 15 for the Fall semester and December 15 for the Spring semester. While accommodation requests are reviewed as they are submitted, providing information prior to the deadlines allows for Center for Student Success and Housing to work together to ensure housing needs are met prior to arrival on campus for the upcoming semester.

Dining

Many dietary accommodations can be met through the daily offerings of Gettysburg College’s dining services. However, there are situations where more specific accommodations are required. Students requesting dining accommodations for the upcoming academic year should do so prior to June 15 for the Fall semester and December 15 for the Spring semester. While accommodation requests are reviewed as they are submitted, providing information prior to the deadline allows for the Center for Student Success and Dining Services to work together to ensure dining needs are met prior to a student’s arrival on campus.

Current Students with Approved Accommodations

Students who have approved accommodations, in most cases, will not need to submit additional documentation while enrolled at Gettysburg College. When a student’s situation changes, additional documentation may be required.

Academic

Current students do not need to update their academic accommodations unless there has been a change in their needs/situation. If students need a copy of their Verification of Accommodations Letter (VAL) it can be accessed on Navigate via the Notes tab. If students have a change in need, they should contact the Center for Student Success (student_success@gettysburg.edu)

Housing

Current students with housing accommodations will be contacted prior to the housing selection process which occurs in the Spring for the following year. At that time, students will receive an email to verify and/or update their housing accommodation needs. Residential Education will provide information to each student individually about how they will proceed through the housing selection process prior to April 1. Residential Education will work with students to ensure that their approved accommodations are met through this process. Accommodations do not guarantee students will live in a specific housing unit (i.e. dorm, motel, suite, apartment, etc.).

Emotional Support Animals (ESA)

Current students with an approved ESA will be contacted prior to the housing selection process, which occurs in the Spring for the following year. At that time, students will receive an email to verify and/or update the name/type/breed of their ESA as well as their intent to bring the ESA to campus for the upcoming year.

Dining

Current students with dining accommodations will be contacted in the Spring to review the continuation of their dining accommodations for the upcoming year.

Required Documentation

All requests for accommodations require documentation from a qualified provider knowledgeable of the student’s diagnosis and treatment. It is important to note that documentation from a relative is not accepted.

General Documentation Guidelines

Documentation provided to support a request for accommodations must include the following information:

Establishes a disability. A disability is defined as “a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by other as having such an impairment ( ADA Resources )
Explains the current functional impact of the disability on a major life activity. Examples of a major life activity include: walking, sitting, standing, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, working, caring for oneself and performing manual tasks.
Confirms the need for each requested accommodation
Establishes a direct link between the underlying disability and the requested accommodation

It is important to note that Gettysburg College works with each student on an individual basis to provide reasonable accommodations based on the provided documentation and meeting with the student.

Academic

Learning Disability

Students diagnosed with a learning disability can submit their Individualized Education Plan or 504 Plan along with the most recent Reevaluation Report from their public or private high school. Students may also submit a full psychological evaluation. These documents should be within 4 years of the request being made. Documentation may also be submitted using the guidelines below.

Documentation Guidelines for Learning Disabilities: Documentation must be provided by a professional who is knowledgeable in the diagnosis/treatment of Learning Disabilities. The most common professionals completing this type of evaluation include: clinical psychologists, educational psychologists, school psychologists, and neuropsychologists. Documentation may not be from a relative.

Documentation Forms can be requested by emailing accommodations@gettysburg.edu

Support for accommodations can be submitted in a letter on letterhead including the following information:

Name, title, professional credentials including licensing information
Name/Address of the practice

The following information should be completed in detail :

Specific Diagnosis of the student
Assessments used to substantiate the diagnosis
Impact of the diagnosis on student learning. This should include specific information related to the symptoms of the diagnosis and the impact these symptoms have on a major life activity.
Specific academic recommendations that relate to the diagnosis
Rationale for each requested accommodation that shows its connection to the diagnosis
Any other information you would like to share (optional)

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders(ADD/ADHD)

Students diagnosed with ADD/ADHD can submit their Individualized Education Plan or
504 Plan along with the most recent Reevaluation Report from their public or private
high school. These documents should be within 4 years of the request being made.

Documentation Forms can be requested by emailing accommodations@gettysburg.edu

Documentation Guidelines for ADD/ADHD: Documentation must be provided by a professional who is knowledgeable in the diagnosis/treatment of ADD/ADHD. The most common professionals completing this type of evaluation include: clinical psychologist, licensed psychologist, neurologist, neuropsychologist, psychiatrist, or physician known to specialize in the diagnosis/treatment of ADD/ADHD. Documentation may not be from a relative.

Support for accommodations can be submitted in a letter on letterhead including the following information:

Name, title, professional credentials including licensing information
Name/Address of the practice

The following information should be completed in detail :

Specific Diagnosis of the student and supporting documentation to substantiate the diagnosis.
Assessments used to determine diagnosis
Impact of the diagnosis related to student learning. This should include specific information related to the symptoms of the diagnosis and the impact these symptoms have on a major life activity.
Specific academic recommendations that relate to the diagnosis
Rationale for each requested accommodation that shows its connection to the diagnosis

Any additional information you would like to share (optional)

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Students diagnosed with ASD can submit their Individualized Education Plan or
504 Plan along with the most recent Reevaluation Report from their public or private
high school. These documents should be within 4 years of the request being made.

Documentation Forms can be requested by emailing accommodations@gettysburg.edu

Documentation Guidelines for ASD: Documentation must be provided by provider who is knowledgeable in the diagnosis/treatment of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The most common professionals completing this type of evaluation include: licensed psychologist, neurologist, neuropsychologist, psychiatrist, or physician known to specialize in the diagnosis/treatment of ASD. Documentation may not be from a relative.

Support for accommodations can be submitted in a letter on letterhead including the following information:

Name, title, professional credentials including licensing information
Name/Address of the practice

The following information should be completed in detail :

Specific Diagnosis of the student and supportive information to substantiate the diagnosis.
Assessments used to determine diagnosis
Impact of the diagnosis on student learning. This should include specific information related to the symptoms of the diagnosis and the impact these symptoms have on a major life activity.
Specific academic recommendations that relate to the diagnosis
Rationale for each requested accommodation that shows its connection to the diagnosis
Any additional information that you would like to share (optional)

Chronic Health Conditions:

Documentation Forms can be requested by emailing: accommodations@gettysburg.edu

Documentation for Chronic Health Conditions: Documentation must be provided by a health care professional that is knowledgeable in the diagnosis and treatment of the student’s health condition. While not all chronic health conditions require accommodations, the submitted documentation must support how the condition interferes with a major life activity and substantiate the need for the requested documentation.Documentation may not be from a relative.

Support for accommodations can be submitted in a letter on letterhead including the following information:

Name, title, professional credentials including licensing information
Name/Address of the practice

The following information should be completed in detail :

Specific Diagnosis of the student and supportive information to substantiate the diagnosis.
Assessments used to determine diagnosis
Impact of the diagnosis on student learning. This should include specific information related to the symptoms of the diagnosis and the impact these symptoms have on a major life activity.
Specific academic recommendations that relate to the diagnosis
Rationale for each requested accommodation that shows its connection to the diagnosis

Any additional information that you would like to share (optional)