Documentation Requirements:
A student requesting an accommodation under the ADA for a qualifying disability can begin the confidential process of requesting accommodations for a documented disability with the submission of:
- The online Accommodation Request Form (found in the MWU student portal on the Student Services page), along with
- Submission of a Universal Third-Party Disability Form (Universal Third Party Form) completed by the student's provider. The student is responsible for ensuring the provider has completed all sections of the Third-Party form; blank, N/A, or "see attached document" responses are not accepted. Incomplete Third-Party forms will not be processed.
Provided documentation must:
- Be provided on the MWU Third-Party form. Substitute forms are not accepted;
- Identify the disability with specificity;
- Be from a provider qualified to diagnose and/or treat the disability;
- Include diagnostic testing done within the last 36 months. Self-evaluation questionnaires, self-assessment surveys, or online diagnostic tests are not accepted as diagnostic of a disability;
- Identify with enough specificity how the disability substantially limits one or more life activities; and
- Cover all disabilities for which the student is seeking accommodations.
A student’s request for accommodations will not be moved forward until all supporting documentation has been received. Requesting accommodations is a process; students should anticipate the process taking several weeks, depending on submission of documentation and the request review process. MWU does not provide provisional or temporary accommodations for accommodation requests in process.
A Course Director or others within the student's college or program cannot approve accommodations. Accommodation requests and approvals can only be made by the student through Student Services utilizing the online process stated above. While Course Directors may make allowances pursuant to a syllabus or course catalog, those allowances are of uniform applicability to all students, regardless of disability status, and are not accommodations and should not be construed as accommodations for a disability.
Mandatory Intake Interview:
Once the proper documentation is received by Student Services, a mandatory, in-person intake interview as part of the interactive process with the student will be conducted by the Associate Dean of Students/Disability Services representative in Student Services to gather additional subjective information and history. The application will then move on to a review of the accommodation request(s) by the Disability Services Committee.
Disability Services Committee Review of Accommodation Requests:
The application will be reviewed by the Disability Services Committee for recommendations for appropriate accommodations at the Committee's next scheduled meeting.
Notification of Accommodations Following the Committee Meeting:
The student will be advised if accommodations are approved, if additional documentation is required, or accommodations are denied. All application documentation is considered confidential. In order to activate the approved accommodations, it is the student’s responsibility to notify in writing their individual Course Directors and/or clinical rotation preceptors each quarter if the student chooses to utilize their approved accommodations. Students must advise their Course Directors and/or clinical rotation preceptors of the approved accommodations in advance of receiving accommodations. Students do not need to disclose the nature of their disability in communicating with Course Directors, clinical rotation preceptors, or course instructors.
The Associate Dean of Students/Disability Services representative will advise the student’s college/program of approved accommodations. It is the responsibility of the college or program to inform all appropriate Course Directors and instructors each quarter of the approved accommodation(s) for student(s) in their program.
Accommodations start on the date the student is notified of approved accommodations and cannot be applied retroactively to courses, exams, assignments, or other course work that has already been completed.
Denial of Accommodation Requests:
If a request for an accommodation is denied, there is an appeal process for reconsideration of the decision. Within one week of notification of the denial of an accommodation request, a student can submit a written appeal via MWU email (using the student's MWU email address) for consideration to the Dean of Students on the student's campus. The appeal should include the accommodation(s) requested that were denied and the date of denial by the Disability Services Committee.
Requesting Additional Accommodations:
If a student discovers that the approved accommodation(s) are in any way unsatisfactory, the student must discuss the issue with the Associate Dean of Students/Disability Services representative in Student Services. The student must not, under any circumstances, discuss amendments to the approved accommodations with a Course Director, preceptor, or others in the student's program or college. Students who require additions, deletions, and/or new accommodations must meet with the Associate Dean of Students/Disability Services representative in Student Services.
Confidentiality:
Faculty, staff or college/program Administration cannot access an accommodations application and detailed records without the student’s written consent.
Accommodations for Licensing Boards and Licensing Certification Exams:
Receipt of accommodations from Midwestern University does not constitute the granting or guarantee the granting of accommodations from a licensing board or licensing certification exam administration.
Students requesting documentation of accommodations received at MWU should email their request to: disability_accommodations@midwestern.edu allowing at least seven business days for completion of requests.
Contact Information:
For any questions on the process, email Student Services at: disability_accommodations@midwestern.edu.