Disability Support Services

The Dean of Students' office is a university resource promoting barrier-free environments (physical, program, information, attitude) and assisting the university in meeting its obligatino under federal statutes and school tradition in regard to the rights of students with disabilities.  The office also coodinates the provision of services necessary and appropriate for students with special needs.  Upon receipt of appropriate documentation of disability, this office assits by providing or arranging appropriate auxiliary aids and services, resonable accomodations, academic adjustments and consultation.  In some instances, the dean of students' office acts as a liaison with other appropriate state and federal agencies.

The Office of the Dean of Students coordinates the provision of services necessary and appropriate for students with special needs.  Upon receipt of appropriate documentation of disability, this office assists by providing or arranging appropriate auxiliary aids and services, reasonable accomodations, academic adjustments and consultation.  In some instances, the dean of students; office acts as a liaison with other appropriate state and federal agencies.

Students are expected to meet individuallyy with the dean of students to determine what specific services and reasonable accomodations are needed.  It is the responsibility of the student to make requests for auxiliary aids or special services at least three weeks prior to the start of a program or class.

Initial inquiries about receiving learning accomodations, should begin with the Dean of Students' office. 

Services Available

Students who have documented their disabilities through the dean of students' office will be able to come to the Academic Enrichment Center to work with Learning Disability Specialists and a number of Assistive Technologies, including the following:

• Draft Builder (for Writing Assistance)
• Dragon Naturally Speaking (Voice Recognition Technology)
• Kurzweil (Reading and Writing Assistance Equipment)
• Inspiration Graphic Organizer 

Prospective Students

Transition to college can be difficult for students with disabilities.  Students who come to Dominican after receiving services through their high schools must adjust to the different laws regarding access to services.  At the elementary and secondary levels, the school districts' services were mandated by the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, P.L. 94-142, which puts the responsibility on the school district to identify students with special needs, test them, and provide them with accomodations.

At the college/university level, however, procedures change dramatically for the student with a disability.  The law changes and speical needs services are governed by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990.  Now the responsibility shifts, and the student becomes responsible for self-identification to the college/university.  The student must find the disability support services provider on campus and provide appropriate documentation of the disability.  While the institution is responsible for providing the student with reasonable accomodations, it is the student who must deomnstrate eligibility and ask for services.

Self-advocacy is a skill that students with disabilities must learn and practice inside and outside of classroom.  Students benefit when they understand the limitations and strengths of their disabilities and can communicate these to their instructors.  Students must also know what kind of classroom assistance will help them maximize their academic abillities.  Students are encouraged to approach their instructors early in the semester in order to explain their disabilities and request accomodations.

Current Students - Frequently Asked Questions

Who is disabled under the law?
Dominican University is committed to providing equality of opportunity and meaningful access for qualified students with disabilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  This means a student who would like to receive accomodations has to meet certain requirements.  The qualified student has to have a disability and is substantially limited in major life activities.  A qualified student with a disability at Dominican is someone who with reasonable or no accomodations, is capable of meeting the academic standards.

I have an IEP or 504 Plan.  Is that acceptable documentation for accomodations?
No.  An IEP or 504 plan is insufficient documentation for accomodations.  However, it can be included as part of a more comprehensive assessment battery.  A comprehensive assessment battery and the resulting diagnostic report should include a diagnostic interview, assessment of aptitude, academic achievement, information processing and a diagnosis.  The provision of all reasonable accomodations and services is based upon a case-by-case assessment of the impact of the student's disabilities on his/her academic performance and/or college participation at a given time in the student's life.  Therefore, it is in the student's best interest to provide recent and appropriate documentation that is not more than 3 years old for a learning disability or psychiatric disorder and not more than 5 years old for physical disorders.

What if my documentation is older than the recommended amount of years?
Based on the type of disability, some documentation may be outdated or inadequate in scope or content.  It may not address the student's current level of functioning or need for accomodations because changes may have occurred since the previous evaluation was conducted.  In such cases, the university may request an updated report.  Since the purpose of the update is to determine the student's current need for accomodations, the update should include a request and rationale for ongoing services and accomodations.

How do I get accomodations?
Documentation of the disability must be on file with the Dean of Student's office before any accomodations will be recommended:

In order for accomodations to be provided, documentation must clearly state that a disability exists.  After sending documentation to the Dean of Students office, the student will make an appointment with the Dean of Students in order to review the documentation and discuss accomodations.  At that time, an accomodation approval form will be provided.

I would like to only use my accomodations during finals week, can I do that?
Yes, a student can choose when and where accomodations are used.  However, the request should be made at least two weeks in advance of the need for accommodations.

I think I have a disability but I have never been tested, what should I do?
For students attending Dominican without documentation but suspected of having a disability, outside referrals for comprehensive evaluation are available.  The testing cost is the financial responsibility of the student.

What kind of documentation is accepted?
Dominican is a member of the Association of Higher Education and Disabilities (AHEAD) and follows their best practices recommendations on appropriate documentation.

Special Needs Process

Submit your Documentation
Students seeking support services under the ADA must have adequate documentation on file in the Dean of Student's office in a timely manner before accomodations can begin, preferably as soon after admission as possible.  Students should not assume that this disability information is known to the Dean of Student's merely because the student's application indicated the presence of a disability, or another office such as Residence Life or the Wellness Center was notified.  Although documentation can be from a variety of sources, it must be from a competent credentialed authority who can address the functional limitations due to the diability and its impact in an academic setting.  The law stipulates that in the post-secondary setting, a student does not qualify for services until they have registered with the disability office and have been certified for eligibility.  Retroactive accomodations are not made. 

Staff

Judy Paulus
DSS Coordinator
Lewis 132
jpaulus@dom.edu
(708) 524-6822

Rebecca Berezin
LD Specialist
Parmer 010 A
rberezin@dom.edu
(708) 524-5177

Mari Callahan-Ross
MEd - LD Specialist
Parm 010 A
mcallahan-ross@dom.edu
(708) 523-5177

Services Available

Prospective Students

Current Students - FAQ

Special Needs Process

Faculty Resources

Schedule a Test