UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
Procedures for Students Requesting Reasonable Accommodations Under the
Americans with Disabilities Act
Academic Year 2007-2008
These procedures outline the general process the College of Medicine will follow with respect to student claims of disability and requests for reasonable accommodation. Students who have questions should consult with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) administrator at their assigned site. Please consult the site student affairs officer to determine who serves as the site ADA administrator. Students also may confer directly with the College of Medicine ADA officer: Associate Dean Lillye Hart (312: 996-3500).
Requests for reasonable accommodation are considered at any time during the academic year. However, reasonable accommodations are granted for one academic year only. Requests beyond the initial application for accommodation must be done through re-application each academic year.
After reading the following, click here to download the form for claims of disability and requests for reasonable accommodation.
Procedures
I. Students requesting accommodation under the ADA:
A. are advised that the entire process for requesting accommodation, beginning with the student completing and submitting forms and providing appropriate documentation and concluding with the ADA Committee taking action on the request, may require six or more weeks;
B. are advised, but not required, to talk with their advisor about their request;
C. are required to talk with their site ADA administrative officer about the disability they believe they have and the accommodations they believe are reasonable.
D. must obtain the Student Disability and Accommodation Request Form from the site ADA administrative officer, complete, and attach all relevant diagnostic documentation to support the diagnosis of a disability. Additionally, attach copies of all undergraduate and graduate profiles.
1. a recent, comprehensive evaluation of disability is most beneficial for assessment of reasonable accommodation.
2. if accommodated, students previously diagnosed with a disability under the ADA may be asked to provide a yearly medical evaluation update/report, in those instances when doing so is judged necessary by the College of Medicine ADA officer, and
3. any cost incurred in obtaining additional documentation when the original records are inadequate is borne by the student.If the documentation is complete but UIC desires a second professional opinion, UIC bears the latter cost.
4. evaluators conducting the testing must be appropriate to the area of disability. In case of a learning disability the evaluator must be a licensed clinical professional with experience working with adults, preferably board certified.
E. In specific cases of Disability, the diagnostic evaluation should contain the following:
1. the testing must be comprehensive and consist of more than one test. The evaluation must contain, at a minimum, information on cognitive processing, achievement and aptitude. Background information regarding the student’s history with respect to age at diagnosis and educational interventions are valuable.
2. clear, specific evidence and identification of a learning disability
3. a detailed description of the current functional limitations of the disability
4. actual test scores and data (learning disability, ADD)
5. specific recommendations for the amelioration of the substantially limiting effects of the disability
6. the evaluation reports must include the testing dates and the names and titles of the evaluators.
7. in cases where there is no prior testing or accommodations granted, the current evaluator must state why accommodations are needed now.
F. are advised, but not required, to review the completed form with their advisor and obtain his/her signature; and
G. are required to review the completed form with the site ADA administrative officer to ensure the form is complete; sign and date the form; and obtain the signature of the site ADA officer.
II. The site ADA administrative officer forwards the completed and signed Student Disability and Accommodation Request Form with accompanying documentation, to the College of Medicine ADA officer. All material must be submitted to the College of Medicine ADA officer at least one month in advance of the date of the requested accommodation.
III. The College of Medicine ADA officer distributes all material to the ADA Committee members for their review and action at the regularly scheduled meeting.
IV. The College of Medicine ADA Committee (a) receives all material provided by the student; (b) if necessary, meets with students and their advisors ( if students request their participation) to discuss the student's request; (c) evaluates the information provided by students; (d) identifies reasonable accommodations if ADA criteria are satisfied and if requested accommodations do not compromise academic standards or alter the nature of the curriculum; and (e) takes action within 45 calendar days of the date the request is received by the College of Medicine ADA officer.
V. The College of Medicine ADA officer writes students to inform them of ADA Committee action with regard to their requests and provides information about alternate dispute resolution (ADR) procedures should the student wish to take issue with the committee's action.
VI. The College of Medicine ADA officer interacts with each site ADA administrative officer, apprises the site officer of ADA Committee action, and answers questions about implementing accommodations.
VII. Students who take issue with ADA Committee action must first attempt to resolve their concerns through alternative dispute resolution (ADR) procedures within 15 calendar days of the date the student reasonably could have been expected to know the decision (e.g., was informed orally by the College of Medicine ADA officer) or of the date of official written notification, whichever occurs first.
VIII. Alternate dispute resolution procedures (ADR) allow students to attempt to resolve concerns stemming from action of the ADA Committee without requiring the student to file a formal grievance. Students and the College must state clearly their concerns in writing and address them to the ADR officer.
IX. Students direct their written request for resolution to the College of Medicine ADR officer. There is one ADR officer for the entire College; this individual is appointed by the Dean to serve a three year term.
A. The College of Medicine ADA officer furnishes the ADR officer with all material given to the ADA Committee, as well as relevant portions(s) of Committee minutes.
B. The ADR officer reviews all material and gathers any additional information thought to be necessary.
C. Within 15 calendar days of receiving the student's written request for resolution, the ADR officer determines the resolution, if any, between the ADA Committee and student. The ADR officer returns his/her resolution to the Vice Dean and ADA Officer of the College of Medicine.
X. The College of Medicine ADA officer informs the student in writing of the resolution determined by the ADR officer.
Students who continue to take issue with decisions about their disability and/or reasonable accommodation after pursuing resolution through ADR procedures must file a formal written grievance with the Office of the Dean within 45 calendar days after the date the student reasonably could have been expected to know the decision (e.g., was informed orally by the College of Medicine ADA officer) or of the date of official written notification, whichever occurs first.
To download forms, return to the top of the page.
Approved: ADA Committee, 4/01
