About Student Accessibility Services
Rockhurst University will provide reasonable accommodations, adjustments, and/or auxiliary services to students who are substantially limited in one or more major life activities because of their disabilities. The student must inform Student Accessibility Services that an accommodation, or change in accommodation, is needed. The student is responsible for participating in the interactive process to formulate a reasonable accommodation plan. When a student with a disability requests accommodations based on a clear need, reasonable efforts to provide the accommodation, adjustment, and/or auxiliary service that is deemed effective will be made.
Rights and Responsibilities
To receive disability-related services, students must have a documented or visible impairment as defined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 1990, and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. The ADA regulations broadly define impairments to include a wide variety of disorders or conditions affecting any number of body systems, including: the neurological or musculoskeletal systems, special sense organs, respiratory, cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, genitor-urinary, hemic, lymphatic, or endocrine systems, or the skins. Impairments also include mental or psychological disorders, including: emotional or mental illness and certain learning disorders.
STEP ONE- Place request for accommodations:
Complete and submit a DRC accommodation request form in one of the following ways:
- Request online
- Pick up a physical copy in Van Ackeren 200F (in the Learning Center)
STEP TWO- Provide documentation:
If you encounter a barrier while attempting to access the documentation our office requests, please email drc@rockhurst.edu, explain your situation, and someone will be in contact to assist you.
Our documentation guidelines are listed below.:
- A qualified healthcare professional with appropriate credentials and relevant expertise must provide the diagnosis. Documentation should include the following information about the professional:
- Name, title, professional credentials, and area of specialization
- Documentation should be current- i.e., completed within the:
- Last 5 years for learning disabilities (LD), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability (ID)
- Last 12 months for psychiatric disabilities (non-exhaustive list): anxiety and panic disorders, concussion, depressive disorders, eating disorders (ED), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), personality disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- This requirement does not apply to physical or sensory disabilities of a permanent or unchanging nature
- Documentation should include:
- A specific diagnosis, date of diagnosis, and length of contact with student
- A description of the diagnostic testing done to determine the diagnosis (if relevant to the disability)
- A description of symptoms which meet the criteria for the diagnosis
- Documentation should include an interpretative summary, which:
- Satisfactorily verifies the substantial limitation of one or more major life activities, based on the disability
- Indicates how accommodations would mediate symptoms
- Documentation should be submitted on the official letterhead of the service provider.
The DRC relies on documentation from appropriate licensed professionals, but will accept alternative documentation in some instances, which may include: an Individual Education Plan (IEP), 504 plan, Summary of Progress (SOP) or other specific information about a student’s education and accommodation history. The cost of obtaining documentation will be borne by the student. If the initial documentation is incomplete or inadequate, and the student interview does not provide the relevant information needed to make a determination, the DRC will have the discretion to request additional information focused on providing the clarification needed to provide the student reasonable accommodations.
Submit documentation via email, fax, mail, or deliver in person:
Email: drc@rockhurst.edu
Fax: 816-501-4822
Office: 1100 Rockhurst Road, Van Ackeren 200 F- Disability Resource Center, KCMO 64110
STEP THREE- Schedule appointment:
The DRC Coordinator will contact you with an appointment time to discuss your accommodation requests. A request form and documentation must be provided before an appointment will be scheduled.