Augustana College’s campus is closed Monday, March 16, due to weather conditions. This includes all athletic and evening activities, PepsiCo Recreation Center and Thomas Tredway Library.
Dining services will remain open on a regular schedule.
The goal of Disability & Access Resources is to work with students to make sure they have the tools, resources, and support they need to be successful at Augustana. We know that having a disability makes college life challenging, so we’re here to help level the playing field and make sure students get the access they need to experience all Augustana has to offer.
Disability & Access Resources (DARS) exists to help students identify and put in place academic accommodations that help minimize the impact of their disability on their education so they can learn with fewer disability-related barriers. We coordinate all accommodations related to academic, social, and campus accessibility. We also work with instructors to make sure students are set up for success in their class, help students develop self-advocacy tools, and support students while they navigate college.
We’re not only here to support students with lifelong or long-term disabilities, but we also help students with short-term disabilities like a broken limb, concussion recovery, cancer, or surgery recovery.
Visit the Office of Residential Life’s Accommodation page.
Accommodations are reasonable modifications to the classroom, campus, or the way a class is taught that reduce barriers or minimize the effect of a student’s disability on their education. Accommodations come in a variety of forms, and the types of accommodations provided depend on how each individual student’s disability affects them.
Students may have long-term or short-term disabilities as defined by the ADA. The ADA defines a person with a disability as a person who has a “physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; a person with a record of such impairment; or a person who is regarded as having an impairment” (ADA § 12102). The ADA also contains a non-inclusive list of major life activities, in which things like learning, reading, thinking, and concentrating, that are central to being a college student, are included. Including, but not limited to, disabilities such as:
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Ready to get started with academic accommodations? Here’s what to do and what to expect:
The student completes the Accommodation Request Form to apply for academic accommodations. This gives DARS information about the student, their diagnosis, and their past use of accommodations. It also has a place to upload documentation.
See Residential Life for the housing accommodations process.
If the student’s documentation wasn’t uploaded to the request form or more documentation is needed, documentation can be emailed to disabilityservices@augustana.edu.
Schedule an intake meeting with DARS to create the accommodation letter. The student should keep an eye on their Augustana email for an invitation to schedule their meeting.
*Incoming freshmen or transfers starting before the beginning of the school year will receive this invitation after attending their orientation.
In this appointment, we have a conversation about how their disability impacts their classes and other aspects of college life. We ask a variety of questions and try to get a full understanding of their accessibility needs.
We look at the classes the student is taking and how their disability may interact with them to decide the best accommodations. This is very interactive and may occasionally require the input of the instructor(s) to help decide which accommodations will work without altering the learning objectives of the class. At the end of the meeting, we write a letter with the student’s accommodations and email it to the student. It is up to the student to share this letter with their instructors.
Students’ accessibility needs may change during their time at Augustana. The accommodation letter we create in the first intake meeting is a living document that can change at any time. If students need to make changes to their academic accommodations, they can email DARS or schedule a Support meeting.
Students have the right to make a complaint if they feel their accommodations have not been provided appropriately or if they have been discriminated against or treated unfairly because of their disability. Augustana has procedures to make sure their complaint is heard and taken care of appropriately.
If students have an issue relating to accommodations not being properly provided or denied, they can lodge a complaint. This starts with an informal process by contacting Disability & Access Resources. If we can’t find a solution or the student is not satisfied with the solution, they may formally appeal in writing by submitting an Accommodations Appeal Form. If students feel they have been discriminated against because of their disability, they can submit a Bias Incident Report. The Civil Rights Director will review any appeals or reports and provide a final decision within 10 business days.
Disability & Access Resources supports students with disabilities through individualized accommodations and guidance. We champion holistic disability support through campus partnerships that reduce barriers and develop inclusive learning environments. We foster a climate of empowerment and acceptance through education and communication that encourages students to maximize their potential.
All people with disabilities have legal rights and protections from discrimination. The rights disabled people are entitled to depend on their situation and the environment they are in. College students with disabilities are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), and the Fair Housing Act (FHA). These laws state that students with disabilities are entitled to full and equal access to campus opportunities and housing, including classes, buildings, dining, internships, and other events. They also prevent disability discrimination.
The rights students have in college are different than when they were in the K-12 system because they are covered under a different law, and this difference can cause some confusion or gaps in the transition. K-12 students are protected under Section 504 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). In K-12, students are given accommodations or alternate classes because the school determined that they qualified for the support. In college, we don’t know students need support unless they disclose their disability to Disability & Access Resources and show us why they need it. The accommodations in college may be the same or different from accommodations provided in high school.
Disability information—including accommodations, disclosure, and medical documentation—is covered under FERPA, but is kept by Disability & Access Resources on a very strict need-to-know basis. DARS only shares information with instructors beyond what is already on the student’s accommodation letter if it is crucial to the delivery of accommodation or if the student has given permission to share it.
Disability information will not be shared with other students, other instructors, or parents unless the student has given explicit consent. Instructors also cannot ask for specific information about a student’s diagnosis or disability beyond what the student or DARS volunteer.
Students are covered under different laws, so the process is a little different. Their accommodations from high school do not get automatically transferred, so we don’t know if students have a disability and need support until they tell us. They also need to be their own advocate.
Accommodations are decided through a meeting with the Coordinator of Disability & Access Resources and discussing the student’s accessibility needs, as well as by providing documentation.
Absolutely! We can make changes at any time. A different class schedule or changing accessibility needs can make it necessary to update your accommodation letter.
If you don’t have documentation, we may be able to set up temporary accommodations for one semester until you can obtain documentation. If you are in this situation, please contact Disability & Access Resources for more information.
You don’t have to tell them anything specific about your disability. They will only know what is in your letter unless you choose to tell them more, or give DARS permission to share information for you.
Your classmates will not know about your accommodations unless you tell them.
Disability & Access Resources
Olin Center 320
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Email: disabilityservices@augustana.edu
Phone: 309-794-8818
Fax: 309-794-8942
