Accommodations

Atlantis University offers various accommodations to all students who qualify as specific-needs students. However, while AU will make an effort to accommodate all disabilities, certain disabilities may not be capable of a reasonable accommodation.
Accommodations are adjustments to a student’s academic routine specifically intended to offset physical differences or other circumstances that limit substantively that student’s ability to succeed academically.
Examples of accommodations are:

• Extra time on exams
• Taking exams in a quiet location
• Recording lectures
• Printed lecture notes or note-takers (scribes)
• Designated parking area

The granting and management of student accommodations are the responsibility of the Atlantis University academic advising office. The University legal obligation is to provide reasonable accommodations as defined by applicable federal and states laws. It is the university responsibility to determine to the best of its ability what accommodations are reasonable.

Confidentiality

Students with specific needs are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Atlantis University respects the confidential nature of the student’s medical information. Access to information provided is used by our personnel on a need-to-know basis and for ongoing support of your accommodations. Information provided to faculty for accommodation purposes will state only approved academic accommodations

Qualifying for Accommodations

Any Atlantis University student or applicant for admission who wishes to be considered for a specificneeds student status must apply to the university in writing. All applications for specific-needs student status, including all supporting documentation, must be completed accurately and truthfully. Inaccurate or fraudulent applications will result in the denial or revocation of accommodations and may subject the student to further disciplinary action.
To apply for specific-needs student status, any student or applicant for admission must submit a fully executed Voluntary Declaration of Disability Form to the Atlantis University academic advising office no later than the Friday during Orientation week.

Supporting Documentation

The submitted Voluntary Declaration of Disability Form must have attached a formally documented clinical diagnosis and treatment plan provided directly to the university by a qualified licensed health care professional. The diagnosis must be given in both written form and as a diagnostic code consistent with the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual nomenclature. The written and coded diagnoses must match. The diagnosis must establish that the student’s condition constitutes a true disability and limits significantly the student’s ability to succeed academically. The specific limitations must be stated clearly and specifically.

A “qualified licensed health care professional” shall be an MD (such as a pediatrician, family physician or neurologist), licensed clinical psychologist, pediatric neuropsychologist, or other clinical specialist licensed to practice and diagnose in the specialty field related to the applicant’s stated disability. Unlicensed persons and school psychometrics do not meet these qualifications.

All communication from the licensed health care professional must be on office letterhead and signed by the provider. Handwritten notes, copies of records, etc. must be accompanied by a provider’s cover letter that meets these requirements. The applicant must provide written evidence of both current diagnosis and current treatment for the stated condition requiring accommodation. Current means within 18 months of enrollment. Treatment must be fully consistent with the stated diagnosis. An applicant who has a current diagnosis, but who is not participating in treatment may not be granted accommodations.
In general, an Individual Education Program (IEP) alone is not sufficient to establish a diagnosable disability. The existence of past service

s does not constitute a present disability. In no case will the college accept an out-of-date (more than 18 months old) diagnosis, IEP or an IEP which indicates either no clear disability or that the student’s academic needs have been resolved. It is the applicant’s or student’s responsibility to communicate these requirements to all appropriate health professionals.

Letter of Accommodation

Students who are deemed eligible for accommodations shall receive a letter of accommodation from the academic advising office. This letter shall describe the accommodations granted.

Specific-Needs Student Responsibilities

Atlantis University may point out to the applicant any discrepancies or omissions which may exist in the applicant’s paperwork and documentation. However, it is the responsibility of the applicant to remedy and resolve any problems with these in a timely manner.

Guidelines for Specific-Needs Students

1. Maintain Close Contact with the Academic Advising Office
   Each student with specific-needs student status must meet with his or her advisor at the start of each semester to review all accommodations and discuss their progress at Atlantis University. It is the student’s direct responsibility to make an appointment with the academic advising office to address this requirement. The appointment should be set to occur on orientation/registration day for each semester,
   even if the student is a returning student and does not participate in orientation. The student must make this appointment well in advance of orientation/registration each semester.

2. Comply Fully with All Treatment Prescribed by Your Physician or Other Licensed Health Care Professionals
   All specific-needs students at Atlantis University must comply fully with all treatment prescribed for them by their health-care provider(s) in order to maintain their special-needs student status and to continue to qualify for accommodations. The reason for this rule is two-fold. First, most disabilities require an ongoing plan of treatment for proper management and best outcome. If a student is unwilling to comply with a prescribed plan to receive the best possible treatment, then in most cases, accommodations will be of minimal value, and they will definitely not make up for the lack of professional care. Second, because the university resources are limited, we want to be sure that accommodations are provided to those students who are appropriate in their self-care and who are genuinely motivated to make the most of their educational opportunities. We believe that compliance with prescribed treatment is valid evidence of appropriate motivation.

3. Keep the Academic Advising Office and Your Course Instructors Up to Date
   From time to time, the circumstances related to a student’s specific-needs student status may change. Examples of such changes are a new diagnosis, a revised treatment plan or a new prescription. Such changes may affect the nature of the accommodations needed by the student. Therefore, it is the student’s direct responsibility to inform the academic advising office of any such change immediately, so that a review of accommodations can be conducted by the academic advising office