StudentHandbook

Student Affairs Office.

Appendix B - Students with Disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) SUNY College of Optometry is committed to providing students with disabilities equal access to all of its programs and services by providing reasonable accommodation, as governed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), SUNY policy, and notwithstanding the Functional Requirements for the Profession of Optometry. If a current or newly admitted student has historically been provided accommodations in their previous school, he or she may wish to consider disclosing his or her disability and to formally applying for accommodations at SUNY Optometry. If a student receives a new diagnosis from a licensed medical professional or psychologist while studying at SUNY College of Optometry, and if reasonable accommodations are recommended by this provider, he or she may also wish to disclose the disability and to formally apply for accommodations at the College. Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation under ADA Formal requests for reasonable accommodations must be submitted to the Student Disability Liaison, in the Student Affairs office, six weeks before the student needs a particular accommodation, or as soon possible. The Student Disability Liaison will make every effort to keep the matter confidential, but complete confidentiality cannot be always guaranteed. Students do not have to discuss their diagnoses with their faculty members, unless they choose to disclose the information. Documentation:  Recommendations of licensedmedical professional or psychologist;  Proof of past testing accommodations (generally sufficient for the same testing accommodations);  Results of psycho-educational or other professional evaluations;  An applicant’s history of diagnosis; and  An applicant’s statement of his or her history regarding testing accommodations. Typically, students with learning or psychological disabilities are required to undergo adequate testing or examination by a licensed and qualified medical doctor or psychologist, disclose their diagnosis and verify that they are being properly medicated (if applicable) for the condition in question. Also, it is important for the attending physician or psychologist to provide a statement that recommends the accommodation(s) that the student needs and to explain how the provision of the particular accommodation will help the student be more successful in a College program. Students will be notified by the Student Disability Liaison, in writing, when a final decision is made to grant or deny a request for a reasonable accommodation. The liaison will notify college faculty when a student has been approved for a specific accommodation. The liaison will also notify the College’s director of human resources/Title IX officer, who maintains records of the accommodations granted for SUNY system compliance. IMPORTANT: It is the student’s right and sole responsibility to disclose or not disclose a particular disability. Disclosure must always be done in writing, as outlined below.

SUNY College of Optometry reserves the right to verify the information provided by a student and to request additional information, as necessary, until a decision is reached.

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