Office of Disability and Accessibility Services
Earlham College is committed to providing equal access to its programs, activities, residences, and services per the Americans with Disabilities Act and Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), the Fair Housing Act of 1988, and Indiana code 16-32-3. The College recognizes the importance of providing reasonable accommodations for academic, social, and residential life for students with documented disabilities to ensure students’ full participation in academic programs and enjoyment of housing and student life. Students with disabilities are provided accommodations through an individualized and interactive process. The College will not retaliate against students because they have requested or received reasonable accommodations.
Access policies and procedures related to the accommodation of students with disabilities.
ODAS provides reasonable accommodation in the following areas:
- Additional time for testing
- Reduced distraction testing locations
- Instructor notes
- Emotional support animal
- Service animal
- Single room
- ADA accessible room
- Reduced meal plans
- Students with documented difficulties learning a second language may qualify for a second language course substitution. The Second Language Course Substitution Policy can be found here.
Technology assistance available from the AEC
Kurzweil 3000 is an assistive technology, text-to-speech, learning tool that supports the concept of Universal Design for Learning with a suite of powerful reading, writing, test-taking and study skill tools that makes curricula accessible to all students. It is particularly appropriate for students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, those who require reading intervention, students struggling with reading comprehension and English Language Learners (ELL).
Record everything you hear, say and write, while linking your audio recordings to your notes. Quickly replay audio from your Livescribe paper or a computer with a simple tap on your handwritten notes. It’s never been easier to take notes and stay organized.
Dragon Naturally Speaking software is a speech recognition program that allows the user to speak into a microphone on a computer with the software translating the spoken words into text in a text program. With a software program such as this, typing isn’t necessary and the user can do away with a keyboard.
Disability documentation
Diagnostic Documentation
The provision of reasonable and appropriate accommodations for students with psychological and/or physical disabilities necessitates comprehensive documentation detailing the functional impact of the disabling condition(s).
The Certification for Disability Status and Accommodation is used for this purpose. This form must be completed by a licensed mental health or medical healthcare provider. All students must submit this form for registration with ODAS with the exception of students with a specific learning disability (SLD). Students with SLD are required to submit a comprehensive psychological, psychoeducational, or neuropsychological evaluation signed by a licensed evaluator and dated within the last three (3) calendar years in place of the Certification of Disability Status and Accommodation. The healthcare provider or evaluator does not have to be licensed in the State of Indiana.
International students may submit certification documentation from a licensed mental health or medical healthcare provider practicing in their home country. Translation of documentation is the responsibility of the student. Translation must be completed by a valid source (e.g., teaching faculty, staff member, administrator, or registered translation service). ODAS will support referral where appropriate. Timelines for evaluation of disability eligibility and reasonable accommodation may be extended in cases where translation of documentation is necessary.
Students may also provide supplemental documentation to show a history of disability status and accommodation. Examples of appropriate supplemental documentation include a recent Individual Education Plan (IEP), 504 Plan, Summary of Performance (SOP), or a comprehensive psychological, psychoeducational, or neuropsychological evaluation. Evaluations must be dated within the last three (3) calendar years. Supplemental documentation does not replace the required Certification for Disability Status and Accommodation or a comprehensive evaluation.
All forms and documentation are confidential. Any information provided to ODAS will not become a part of the student’s educational record but will be kept in a separate, confidential file in the ODAS office.
Academic accommodations and auxiliary aids may include (but are not limited to):
- providing smart pens or note-takers and computer assistance
- extended time for tests and quizzes and/or assistance via technology
- a testing environment with limited distractions
View our guidelines for learning disabilities
Certification forms by disability and reasonable accommodations
Disability Status and Accommodation Certification
Request for Letter of Academic Accommodation Form
Submit a psychoeducational evaluation which has been completed in the last three calendar years, per IDEA 2004 guidelines for triennial evaluation. ODAS does accept evaluations which were completed outside of the state of Indiana.
Local resources for psychoeducational evaluations
Below is a list of nearby Indiana and Ohio providers who complete psychoeducational testing, which is used to identify specific learning disabilities. The time listed next to each location is the estimated drive time from Richmond to the city where the testing would take place.
Affinity Center
7826 Cooper Road
Cincinnati, OH 45242
Phone: 513-984-1000
Roberto Madrigal, Ph.D.
7620 Montgomery Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45236
Phone: 513-891-4621
[email protected]
Inquire regarding testing to be completed at Miami University in Oxford, OH.
The Duke E. Ellis Human Development Inst.
9 North Edwin C. Moses Boulevard
Dayton, OH 45402-6837
Phone: 937-775-4300
Miami University – Psychology Clinic
39 Psychology Building
90 North Patterson Avenue
Oxford, OH 45056
Phone: 513-529-2423
Ann Wengler, Ph.D
Phone: 513-255-5171
Oxford, OH 45056
[email protected]
Below are certification forms for non-learning disabilities. The certification forms are categorized by the type of accommodation one might require. Please review both categories and select the most applicable forms. You should take the applicable forms to your appropriately licensed professional for completion.