Mission Statement
The mission of the Student Accessibility Office (SAO) is to create an accessible, inclusive, sustainable learning environment, where disability is recognized as an aspect of diversity that is vital to the campus community and to society.
Student Learning Outcomes (SLO’s)
- Create inclusive environments by engaging and supporting the campus community in recruitment, transition, retention, and graduation of students with disabilities.
- Advocate regarding the reduction of barriers for persons with disabilities; and
- Ensure the effective delivery of accommodations.
For Students
Eligibility Statement
To be eligible for academic accommodations at Western New Mexico University you must have a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and be enrolled in one or more hours of study in WNMU courses. The Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act provides for equal opportunity to persons with disabilities. To be protected under the ADA, you must be determined to:
- have a physical or mental impairment that limits one or more major life activities; or
- have a record of such an impairment; or
- Be regarded as having such an impairment.
If a disability exists, reasonable appropriate accommodations are determined to create equal opportunity.
Reasonable Accommodation Policy
Purpose
To establish the definition of a reasonable accommodation when students go through the process of requesting and receiving accommodations. This policy should be considered in all cases and will aid in the determination of approved accommodations per student.
Policy
WNMU is committed to the recognition and the proactive pursuit of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). WNMU makes reasonable accommodations to self-identified students unless such accommodations have the end result of fundamentally altering a program or service or placing an undue burden on the operation of WNMU. Qualified students or program users with disabilities should contact the Student Accessibility Office for information regarding accommodations in the academic setting. For accommodations in the work area, please contact the Department of Employee and Labor Relations.
Accommodation Procedures
Purpose
To provide Western New Mexico University (WNMU) students a clear understanding of the process for requesting accommodations for disability. All requests for accommodation will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Not all requests for accommodation will be approved. Modifications, changes, or denials may occur depending on circumstances.
Reasonable Accommodation Procedure
In order for reasonable accommodations to be reviewed for approval, the student must engage in the interactive process with the Student Accessibility Office (SAO) using the following steps:
- Submitting Documentation: The student must submit a Petition for Services form found online at wnmu.edu/accessibility/students. Students are encouraged to register for services as soon as possible.
- Meeting with WAS: As soon as the Petition for Services form has been submitted to SAO, the office will get in contact with the student and make an appointment to complete a New Student Intake.
- During this appointment, SAO will talk with the student about the current impact or barriers to education they experience and will determine what, if any, reasonable accommodations should be put in place.
- The student will be instructed to gather all necessary medical documentation to continue with the services.
- Accommodation Letter: If accommodations are approved during the SAO and student meeting, the student will receive an Accommodation Letter listing the exact accommodations they are approved for. This letter is generally available within 2-3 business days.
- The student provides a copy of the Accommodation Letter to each individual facilitating their accommodations (ie: professor) and is responsible for discussing their approved accommodations.
- Renewal of Accommodation Letters: Accommodation Letters must be renewed each semester in order for the accommodations to be valid in that semester’s courses. To renew an Accommodation Letter the student should email, call, or stop by SAO with their new semester schedule to request their letters. Renewed letters are available within 2-3 business days.
- Students will meet with SAO yearly to keep their profile updated.
- A new doctor’s note will not be requested upon renewal, but the SAO can request a new note as needed.
It is the expectation of WNMU and the Student Accessibility Office that the student maintains contact with SAO and remains actively involved in the accommodation process throughout the semester. Any questions or concerns regarding accommodations should be communicated to the SAO office as soon as possible and additional appointments made if appropriate. It is important to note that there is no deadline for request of accommodations per semester, but it is strongly recommended that the student get their requests in during the first two weeks of the semester start date as accommodations are not retroactive at any point.
Accessibility Tools
Click here to find resources such as organizational tools, writing tools, and alternative book formats. https://css.wnmu.edu/accessibility/resources/
Student Accessibility Services Handbook
SAO policies and procedures can be found in detail here! https://css.wnmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2015/06/WAS-Student-Handbook-Potential-Updates.docx
Confidentiality Statement
WNMU recognizes that student disability records contain confidential information and are to be treated as such. Therefore, documentation of a student’s disability is maintained in a confidential file and is considered part of the student’s education record. Information related to a disability may be disclosed only with the permission of the student or as permitted by WNMU’s student records policy and federal law. A student’s right to privacy must still be balanced against WNMU’s need to know the information in order to provide requested and recommended services and accommodations. Therefore, in the interest of serving the needs of the student, the provision of services may involve the Student Accessibility Office staff disclosing disability information provided by the student to appropriate university personnel participating in the accommodation process. The amount of information that may be released is determined case by case and will be made in accordance with WNMU’s policy on student records.
Appeal Procedures for Accessibility Services
Purpose
To provide Western New Mexico University (WNMU) students an opportunity to appeal a decision made about their accommodation request based on the grounds of procedural or substantive error.
Procedure
If a student is not granted their requested accommodations due to the reasonable accommodation policy and feels the decision does not best serve their educational needs, the student has the right to submit an appeal for the decision. The appeal must be in writing addressed to the Student Accessibility Office and must be submitted within ten (10) business days of the accommodation decision. General dissatisfaction with an accommodation decision is not grounds for an appeal. An appeal for an accommodation decision must be based on one or more of the following grounds:
- There was a procedural error made during the accommodation review process that substantially impacted the outcome of the decision (e.g. the student was not given an opportunity to participate in an “interactive process,” or the collaborative effort to arrive at a reasonable accommodation)
- There was a substantive error (such as misunderstanding of the accommodation request) made during the accommodation review process that substantially impacted the outcome of the decision
Once the appeal has been submitted, the SAO will reach out to the student about the appeal to revisit possible solutions or alternatives for the accommodation need. Once a decision is made, if the student still does not agree with the decision, they will need to submit a second appeal to the Vice President of Compliance and Communications within ten (10) business days of the decision from the SAO. The appeal should include information about the student’s attempts to work with the Student Accessibility Office and a justification for approving the request. The VPCC will review the appeal and make a final determination. The VPCC shall provide a written copy of the decision to the student and WAS. The student has no right to appeal to the VPCC decision. If the student may file a discrimination complaint to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX the Report it! Link provided here: https://reportit.wnmu.edu/report/ if the student believes discrimination on the basis of a disability has occurred in any step of this process.
Contacts
Deborah Calkins
Accessibility Services Director
Global Resource Center Meeting Room E
P.O. Box 680 | 1000 W. College Ave
Silver City, NM 88061
(p) (575) 538-6277 (e) accessibility@wnmu.edu