Accommodations
There is one process to request or renew any accommodations (e.g. academic, dining, housing, temporary).
That process is:
- Participate in an intake interview and share documentation.
- Get notified of whether accommodations are approved.
- Share accommodation information with professors (if you have academic accommodations).
- Renew accommodations every year using the same request form.
Students can submit an accommodation request at any time, but accommodations are not retroactive.
Students with qualifying disabilities may require academic accommodations to fully access the academic experience. Common academic accommodations include things like:
- Notetaking support
- Extended time on tests
- Access to the testing center
- Taking breaks during class
- Preferential seating
Hood College is committed to providing reasonable services and accommodations for students with identified disabilities.
Please read the full policy and guidelines for service animals and emotional support animals (ESAs) below:
If you would like to request an ESA as an accommodation or provide veterinary records for your service animal, please use the link below:
Animals may not move into residence halls until it is an approved accommodation (ESAs only) and the student has provided updated veterinary records (ESAs and service animals).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the law say about assistance animals?
Americans with Disabilities Act(s)
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and the Amendments Act of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADAA) of 2008 defines a Service Animal as a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, including physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or mental disability. In the ADAA of 2008, it was clarified that anxiety and seizure disorders are disabilities. Hood College, as a private college, must provide equal access to postsecondary students with disabilities. Title II of ADA covers a publicly-funded university, community college or vocational program. Title III of ADA covers privately-funded schools. Title I cover employees at Hood College. The ADA does state that “accommodations and modifications of policies and practices are not required when it would fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program, or activity or give rise to an undue financial or administrative burden.”
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Section 504 is a federal law that protects individuals from discrimination based on the student's disability. All public or private colleges and universities that receive federal funding are required under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act to make programs accessible to students with disabilities. Fair Housing Act The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination of protected classes within various housing transactions, including college dwellings. A group of students, in and of themselves, are not considered a protected class; FHA includes a person with a disability as a protected class.
Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination of protected classes within various housing transactions, including college dwellings. A group of students, in and of themselves, are not considered a protected class; FHA includes a person with a disability as a protected class.
What is a service animal?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 defines a Service Animal as a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, including physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. As defined by ADA regulations (35.136(i)), a trained miniature horse may be used as an alternative to a dog; however, beginning in 2011, only dogs are recognized as Service Animals under Titles II and III of the ADA. (Title II: Covers Public/Government Employers and Employees with Disabilities. Title III: Covers Places of Public Accommodation and Public Areas in Commercial Facilities.)
The work the Service Animal has been trained to do must directly relate to the person’s disability. This might include tasks like helping a blind or low-vision person with navigation or other tasks or alerting and protecting a person with a seizure disorder or other type of acute-onset medical condition
There are only two ADA-approved questions that may be asked to a person with a service animal:
- Is the animal required because of a disability?
- What work or task has the animal been trained to do?
The person cannot be asked to define his or her disability, provide medical documentation, provide proof of training or ask the service animal to demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task. Service animals are generally permitted in all areas of campus (e.g. residence halls, dining hall, classrooms, etc.)
What is an emotional support animal (ESA)?
An Emotional Support Animal (ESA), as defined by the Fair Housing Act (FHA), may provide the person, emotional support, calming, stability, and other kinds of support in a housing environment. An ESA is one that is necessary to afford the person with a disability an equal opportunity to engage in residential life on the Hood College campus. The presence of the ESA must be necessary to provide the resident with the disability the use and enjoyment of the dwelling. Under FHA, there must be an identifiable relationship between the student’s disabilities and the assistance or support the ESA provides in a residential setting.
An ESA is not specifically trained to perform tasks for a person who suffers from disabilities, rather ESA provides comfort and companionship; therefore, ESA’s are not qualified as Service Animals under the ADA. An ESA is can be an animal other than a dog.
Why is it important to know the difference between a service animal and an emotional support animal?
Students who wish to have a service animal with them in the residence halls must only provide updated medical records each year for the animal. Service animals can travel with students to classes, around campus, and back to the residence halls. ESAs, however, must be approved through the Office of Accessibility services as a reasonable accommodation. Students who wish to have an ESA with them on campus must register and provide supporting documentation for their disability as well as veterinary records for the animal. ESAs must remain in a student's room at all times and are not permitted in residence hall common areas, classrooms, or other campus buildings.
What veterinary records will you need for my assistance animal?
All assistance animals will be asked to provide the following:
Required Veterinary Information for Dogs
- Records must show that the dog is in general good health and has completed their adult vaccinations
- DHLLP vaccination
- Heartworm test
- Rabies vaccination (Tag must be worn at all times)
- Bordatella vaccination
- Flea treatments
- Fecal parasite test
Additional Requirements for Dogs
- Current license with Frederick County Animal Control (License must be worn at all times)
Required Veterinary Information for Cats
- Records must show that the cat is in general good health and has completed adult vaccinations
- Distemper vaccination
- Calicivirus vaccination
- Rhinotracheitis vaccination
- Rabies vaccination (Tag must be worn at all times)
- Flea treatment
- Fecal parasite test
Required Veterinary Information for Other Animals
- Records must show that the animal is in good general health
- Animal must have appropriate vaccinations and treatments for that animal type
I have my animal's records but I don't know where to start.
Whether you have a service animal or are requesting an ESA, please start with this form:
My request for an ESA was denied and I don't agree with the decision. What can I do?
Students can appeal decisions made through the Office of Accessibility Services by reaching out to Bryan Robinson, Ph.D., Coordinator for Title IX, Investigations, and Campus Accessibility at brobinson@hood.edu.
Students with dietary restrictions related to a disability may qualify for dining accommodations. Students should complete the Accommodation Request Form and submit any relevant documentation.
Students are able to meet with Hood’s dietitian, dining services director, and accessibility services director to identify dining accommodations that are right for them. Our goal is to identify solutions so that students can fully participate in and benefit from their meal plan.
Students with qualifying disabilities may require housing accommodations to fully access the residential college experience. Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis. Some examples of housing accommodations include access to:
- an ADA accessible room
- a room on a lower floor of a building
- a room close to the bathroom
- a room close to the elevator
- a roommate or roommate-free room
- carpet/no carpet
Students with injuries or those recovering from surgeries may require temporary accommodations. To request temporary accommodations, please complete the Accommodation Request Form or have a trusted party complete it for you.
The most common temporary accommodation plan is for concussions. Please ask your provider to complete Hood’s Acute Concussion Evaluation Care Plan and then submit to accessibilityservices@hood.edu.
A student cannot be forced to receive accommodations.
I have never had accommodations before. What are they?
When a student has a documented disability (defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities), they may need an accommodation to fully participate in the college experience. Accommodations are tools and procedures that help reduce or eliminate barriers related to a disability. At Hood, these generally fall into three categories:
- academic accommodations (e.g. quiet test environment, support with notetaking, breaks in class)
- dining accommodations (e.g. dining plans that accommodate food allergies or medical needs)
- housing accommodations (e.g. access to a room designed to accommodate mobility aids)
If you suspect you might need accommodations, or are experiencing barriers, please fill out the registration form or schedule an appointment to meet with OAS. We will help get you connected with what you need.
I’m not sure if I need accommodations. What should I do?
The transition from high school to college can be challenging. There are many students who did not need accommodations in high school but find out they need them in college. If you are struggling with studying, notetaking, keeping up with assignments, finishing tests in time, or something else, we encourage you to fill out a request form, even if you don’t have a documented disability. You may or may not need a formal accommodation plan, but either way we can connect you to the right resources.
I had accommodations in high school. How does disability support change when I transition to college?
The biggest change students typically experience is around disclosing a disability. In high school, your teachers found you and made sure that you received accommodations and were making progress according to your individualized education program (IEP) or 504 plan. In college, it is your responsibility to let the school know whether you have a disability and need an accommodation. You can do this by registering with OAS.
My parent/caregiver is usually the person who handles documentation and meetings with the school. Will that be the same in college?
No. All the information you share with OAS is confidential and can only be discussed with your medical provider and relevant college staff/faculty members who need specific information to provide you accommodations. Your parents/caregivers no longer have access to your records, grades, accommodation plans, etc. unless you give written permission. You are your own best advocate, and we are here to help you make the transition.
What kind of documentation do I need? I have an IEP/504 Plan. Is that enough?
To be eligible for services, students need to provide appropriate and current documentation of a disability. Students are encouraged to share a disability verification form with their provider and upload it with their initial request, or have the provider send it to us directly. While your IEP/504 Plan may have been helpful to identify services in high school, they often do not provide enough information to determine appropriate accommodations in college. You can submit them as well, but you may still be asked to complete a disability verification form. All documentation is kept confidential in our office.
How can I get involved in disability advocacy on campus?
That’s a great question! There are several ways to get involved from informal clubs to formal public speaking events. When you complete the request form, you can let us know you’re interested!
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