Student Accessibility Services

Office of Student Accessibility Services

The Office of Student Accessibility Services (OSAS) is here to support you during your enrollment. Our office is the central point where students request and obtain reasonable classroom, course, program and/or possibly housing accommodations. OSAS can also help you with obtaining external accommodations, referrals to educational testing sites, academic counseling, self-help resources, and most of all serve as a guide and liaison for you. The goal is to help level the "playing field" for students in compliance with the American Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Accommodations are arranged on a case-by-case basis each semester.

Students who have a documented disability such as ADHD, a learning disability, a psychiatric disability (i.e. major depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder or personality disorder), a physical/medical disability (i.e. chronic illness, traumatic brain injury) and/or Vision/Hearing impairments may be eligible to receive reasonable academic accommodations.

Getting Started

Starting the Accommodations Process

Start your semester right by completing these simple steps (see documents and forms tabs):

Fill out the Request-for-Services Form
Fill out the Release of Information and Disability Verification Form
Only a licensed and/or certified professional (i.e. licensed psychologist, educational psychologist, psychiatrist, medical doctor, or other professionals) that is most familiar with you and your disability and educational needs can complete this form.
Attach current diagnostic assessment measures (current within 3 years for ADHD or Specific Learning Disability; 6 months for Psychiatric or Medical Disabilities.
All materials are kept confidential and are only used to help determine reasonable accommodations.
Assessments must include neuropsychological or psychoeducational testing, a clinical summary/evaluation, a specific diagnosis and recommendations for reasonable accommodations

Documentation Guidelines

Fisher College complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regarding access and release of student records and information.

Students who seek academic accommodations through the OSAS must complete the Disability Verification Form in addition to providing comprehensive diagnostic measures that document a disability. We request this information to determine eligibility and verify the appropriateness of a request for accommodation in compliance with ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Here are general guidelines for you and your provider to follow when documenting a disability:

Provide documentation for Learning Disabilities and ADHD, completed within the past 3 years from enrollment. An IEP is not sufficient documentation.
For psychiatric, physical, medical, traumatic brain injury and vision/hearing impairments, please provide a clinical summary/evaluation, completed within the past 6 months from enrollment. An IEP is not sufficient documentation.
Documentation of Learning Disabilities must include Neuropsychological and/or Psychoeducational testing. This includes a cognitive measure (ie. Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale) and a measure of achievement that assesses reading, mathematics, written expression, and oral language (ie. Woodcock-Johnson). Scores and all Subtest results must be included in the documentation.
Diagnostic measures/documentation must be on letterhead, dated, signed and include the professional's name, title, organization, license or certification.

Include in all documentation:

A specific diagnosis and a description of how it substantially limits a major life activity.
A description of assessment procedures, current symptoms, and fluctuations in condition that affects any academic demands.
The licensed professional's recommendation for accommodations that are specific to the disability.