The Office of Disability and Support Services provides and coordinates a variety of accommodations, auxiliary aids, and services for qualified students with disabilities. All accommodations are based on the current nature of the student’s disability or disabilities, supporting documentation, and the specific requirements of the course, program, or activity. Accommodations and services are paid for by Vassar College unless otherwise specified. Personal services, such as prescriptive devices, health-care aids, personal computing equipment, or private tutoring, are the responsibility of the individual with a disability. Disability accommodation requests can be made at any time; the availability of the accommodation, auxiliary aid, or service may be affected, however, by a request made later than suggested periods.
Commonly offered academic accommodations include, but are not limited to,
Academic modifications and the provision of accommodations, auxiliary aids, and services may be instructional or programmatic in nature. Because College and departmental requirements are implemented for sound pedagogic and academic reasons, it is not the policy of the College to waive requirements. Students in need of modifications to their academic program may petition the Committee on Leaves and Privileges, in consultation with the Office of Disability and Support Services.
The Office of Disability and Support Services is committed to helping students with disabilities meet the academic demands of college through access to appropriate technology tools. Technology can assist college students with the tasks of notetaking, reading, writing papers, and accessing information on the Internet. While it is the student's responsibility to provide any equipment needed for personal use or study, the Office of Disability and Support Services provides information on adaptive equipment available at Vassar College, and will review requests for equipment loan, repair, or modification on a case-by-case basis. State rehabilitation agencies may also be of assistance in providing equipment such as a personal computer, cassette recorder/player, variable speech compressor, or Braille accessories.
Vassar is committed to taking into account the needs of people with disabilities in connection with all of its programs, including attendance and participation in conferences, meetings, lectures, and other events sponsored by the College. The ADA requires all events and programs sponsored by the College and open to the public to be fully accessible. Event planners are responsible to plan for and provide required services for participants with disabilities. The Office of Campus Activities publishes a Programming Resource Guide each year which contains helpful information for event planners on accommodating guests with disabilities. Event planners or individuals with disabilities should contact the Office of Disability and Support Services for more information or assistance with specific accommodation questions.
Students, faculty and staff with temporary or permanent disabilities who are in need of accessible parking are permitted to park in any designated disability parking space on campus. Persons with city or state-issued disability license plates or placards do not need to apply for a temporary permit. To obtain a Vassar temporary disability-parking permit, a physician's letter must be provided to either the Office of Disability and Support Services or Baldwin Health Services stating the reason for the permit and the duration needed.
Vassar College is committed to providing a quality of life for students that will support their academic endeavors and development. The college works diligently to meet the needs of all students, including students with disabilities. Students with mobility or orthopedic impairments, chronic health conditions, psychological disorders, or other disabilities that require modifications to their housing accommodations or meal plan should make their needs known through the Office of Disability and Support Services. Whether a student needs adaptive equipment such as a TTY or an additional handgrip in the bathroom, they should communicate those needs to the Office of Disability and Support Services so that arrangements can be made prior to their arrival on campus. Disabilities are not always apparent and the college is not responsible for accommodating disabilities of which we are unaware. In all instances, requests for housing must be made within the published deadlines. Every effort will be made to accommodate a student’s disability and meet his or her preferences with respect to their housing needs. Documentation must specifically support any request for a modification on the basis of a disability need.
Campus Dining offers a variety of options for meals. The Campus Dining staff are also prepared to work with students to help them meet their special dietary needs. Servers are available to assist students with their trays. Students with medical conditions that affect their dietary requirements should provide the Office of Disability and Support Services with documentation of their medical disability including specific dietary recommendations for the student’s meal plan. Students with mobility impairments or chronic health impairments are also encouraged to work with Disability and Support Services and contact the Director of Campus Dining Services at ext. 5830 to discuss meal plan arrangements which might better suit their individual needs.
The Office of Disability and Support Services can provide assistance to students who have an injury or medical condition that is temporarily interfering with their academic and residential life experience. Depending on the nature of the impairment, DSS can provide notetakers, readers, exam scribes, and other appropriate services. To receive these services, students should schedule an appointment with the director and bring documentation from their health care provider indicating the nature of the impairment, information on functional limitations, and the expected duration of the impairment. Students are also encouraged to meet with Baldwin Health Services, if they have not already done so. Common services include: