Disabilities Mission Statement & Philosophy

Baker University is committed to providing equal educational opportunities to all students who meet academic admission requirements.

Philosophy for Accommodating Disabilities

Because every student and his or her level of disability is different, Baker University offers a program that is highly individualized. It is an individual's choice to self-identify, and the University works with those who do so on a case-by-case basis. If and when to use available services is up to the student, not the school. Integration, self-advocacy and individual responsibility are promoted and expected.

Students with documented disabilities meet with the director of student services to request accommodations. Upon receipt of the required documentation, accommodations are made individually based on the needs of each student. Examples of accommodations include, but are not limited to advocacy, extended test time, testing environment with minimal distractions, note-taking services, assistive technology, assessment referral, registration assistance, accessibility, and liaison to University academic service areas and to community agencies.

The director of student services provides accommodations only in the sense that they send letters to faculty explaining the nature of the student's disability and suggested accommodations. These support services are designed to equalize opportunities for students with disabilities, not to lower academic standards or to alter the essential nature of the degree requirements.

To that end, accommodations at Baker University do not include the following:

• Reduced standards of academic performance
• Special classes or programs for students with learning disabilities
• Evaluation or diagnostic testing of learning disabilities
• Separate or special tutorial programs for students with disabilities
• Waivers of essential academic courses

Access to Academic Services

The director of student services, in conjunction with the Student Academic Services on the Baldwin City campus, provides reasonable accommodations, auxiliary aids, and support services, based on documentation, functional limitations and a collaborative assessment of needs. Students then select which accommodations and/or auxiliary aids they will use based on what they are authorized to use, specific class needs, and personal preference. In some cases, the auxiliary aid provided may not match the student's preference; however, reasonable accommodations and/or auxiliary aids will be provided.

Because of the nature of the disability, the degree of impairment may fluctuate, accommodation needs may vary throughout the semester. In addition, students must request academic accommodations for each course in which they are enrolled.

General services may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Exam accommodations, including extended time, readers and/or scribes, and computers.
• Adaptive equipment
• Disability counseling and advocacy
• Learning skills specialists
• AD/HD coaching
• Alternative media, such as taped textbooks, scanned text, and enlarged print
• Adaptive technology training
• Access to class notes
• Sign-language interpreter
• Consultations on transitional issues
• Faculty/staff information about student disability issues
• Coordination of adaptive transportation and/or disability parking
• Distraction-free environment for exams
• Referral to campus tutoring services
• Campus access information
• Arrangements with the library for assistance with materials

Other accommodations can be arranged on an as-needed basis.

Waivers

Under the law, institutions are not required to eliminate or substantially alter standards and requirements that they can demonstrate to be legitimate, reasonable and necessary. The courses at Baker University are designed to meet the criteria of being reasonable and necessary. Consideration of a waiver will be made only in an extreme situation; impeccable documentation will be needed. The director of student services will assist the student in determining reasonable and necessary accommodations.