Accomodation of Disabilities
Bastyr University is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These laws prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities. Bastyr University also complies with applicable state and local laws that provide similar or greater protections.
Under the ADA, an individual is considered to have a disability if they have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, have a record of such an impairment, or are regarded as having such an impairment. Eligibility for accommodations is based on individuals who meet the essential eligibility requirements of the University’s programs or services, with or without reasonable accommodation.
In accordance with Title III of the ADA (42 U.S.C. § 12182; 28 C.F.R. Part 36), Bastyr University does not deny access to its goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations based on disability. The University will make reasonable modifications to policies, practices, or procedures when such changes are necessary to avoid discrimination, unless it can demonstrate that doing so would fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program, or activity.
Students with Disabilities
Bastyr University is committed to providing qualified students with disabilities with reasonable accommodations and appropriate support to ensure equal access to its academic programs and activities. Bastyr University will provide accommodations and make reasonable modifications to policies and procedures, courses, or programs as required by law, unless it can demonstrate doing so would fundamentally alter an essential requirement, lower academic or professional standards, or otherwise impose an undue burden on Bastyr University resources or operations. When a specific accommodation is not feasible, Bastyr University will work with the student to explore effective alternative accommodations through an individualized, interactive process.
What are reasonable accommodations?
Reasonable accommodations are modifications or adjustments to academic programs, courses, policies, procedures, facilities, or activities that provide qualified students with disabilities an equal opportunity to access and participate in the educational programs and services offered by Bastyr University.
Accommodations are determined on an individualized, case-by-case basis, taking into account the student’s documented needs and the essential requirements of the academic program. Examples of reasonable accommodations Bastyr University may provide include:
- Support-based accommodations, such as extended time on exams, use of auxiliary aids (e.g., noise-reducing devices, paper copies of online assessments), permission to use note-taking tools or recording software, or support related to the presence of service animals.
- Flexibility-based accommodations, such as adjustments to attendance or deadline policies, reduced course loads, remote attendance options, or priority registration.
What is an undue burden?
An accommodation may be considered an undue burden if it would impose significant difficulty or expense to Bastyr University and its core academic mission, in light of the following factors:
- The nature and cost of the accommodation
- The overall financial and administrative resources of the University or the specific site(s) involved
- The number of people required to implement the accommodation
- Legitimate safety considerations are necessary for the safe operation of the University; and
- The impact of the accommodation on the scheduling or delivery of essential academic functions
Undue administrative burden may arise when an accommodation would require extensive disruption to faculty or staff workloads, compromise essential academic standards, or require significant rescheduling of courses or activities that would have a substantial impact on others. For example, if a course is only offered once per year and a requested time change would necessitate major adjustments to the schedules of faculty, staff, and other students, this may constitute an undue burden.
Bastyr University will engage in an interactive process to assess a student’s accommodation request and, where an accommodation is not feasible, will explore alternative options whenever possible.
What is involved in requesting an accommodation?
All accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. A student requesting any accommodation should first contact the Student Accessibility and Accommodations (SAA) Director, via the email address studentaccess@bastyr.edu.
The SAS Coordinator reviews documentation provided by the student and determines which accommodations are appropriate to the student’s particular needs and academic programs. The SAS Coordinator may request additional information relevant to the request and will provide the student a reasonable opportunity to obtain and provide necessary documentation. The SAS Coordinator will approve requested reasonable accommodation(s) and communicate the approval to all necessary parties unless the SAS Coordinator can demonstrate that the accommodation(s) would result in a fundamental alteration or undue burden. If the request is denied in whole or in part, the SAS Coordinator will provide a written explanation to the student that documents the reason for the denial and what alternatives were offered.