Disability Policy
Aspen University’s Disability Services will work to uphold the mission of the University by providing reasonable accommodations to all students with disabilities in order to help them achieve their academic goals. Aspen University complies and adheres to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
Aspen University’s policy and practice is to provide students with disabilities full and equal use of services, facilities, and privileges. Aspen University does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its admission, recruitment, academics, research, financial aid, counseling, or employment assistance processes. Furthermore, Aspen University does not screen out, exclude, expel, limit, or otherwise discriminate against an individual seeking admission as a student, or an individual enrolled as a student, based on disability. Aspen University promotes an environment of respect and support for individuals with disabilities.
Students are responsible for disclosing disability information and requesting accommodations, in accordance with University requirements. Students who need assistance, even on a temporary basis, are encouraged to utilize the services available through the Office of Disability Services. For more information please contact disabilityservices@aspen.edu.
Request for Accommodation Based on Documented Disability
If you are requesting accommodation based on a disability, please make your request in writing using the Accommodation Request Form and disclose your disability in accordance with University requirements. Accommodations are authorized by Disability Services staff through an interactive process, which may include a combination of the student’s account of disability or its impact, observations of the Disability Services staff member, and supporting documentation provided by the student.
Please understand that accommodations are not retroactive and the determination of reasonable accommodation resides with Disability Services staff.
Aspen University requirements for documentation are based on the Best Practices published by Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD).
Requesting Accommodation
Any student seeking accommodations will need to submit the Accommodation Request Form and subsequent documentation as outlined below to disabilityservices@aspen.edu.
It is the responsibility of the student to advise Disability Services of the disability impacts they experience in the learning environment and the potential accommodations that may support their learning. Accommodation requests are authorized by Disability Services staff based on the guidelines below for disability documentation.
Prior Accommodation
If the student has received an accommodation from a prior institution, those decisions may be submitted as documentation to validate student’s self-reported information.
Information from External or Third Parties
Documentation from external sources may include educational or medical records, reports, and assessments created by health care providers, school psychologists, teachers, or the educational system. This information is inclusive of documents that reflect education and accommodation history, such as an Individual Education Program (IEP), Summary of Performance (SOP), and teacher observations. External documentation will vary in its relevance and value depending on the original context, credentials of the evaluator, the level of detail provided, and the comprehensiveness of the narrative. However, all forms of documentation are meaningful.
Aspen University Accommodations
After reviewing the student’s Accommodation Request form and subsequent documentation, Disability Services staff will determine reasonable accommodations for the student. These reasonable accommodations will be outlined on the Student Accommodations form, which will be given to each student granted accommodations for use in their courses/proctored exams. This form will remain valid for one year. At the end of one year, either a new Accommodation Request form must be provided by the student or a new interview must be conducted between the student and Disability Services staff to assess the student’s progress, the appropriateness and effectiveness of the student’s accommodations, and to make changes to the accommodations as needed.
It is the responsibility of the student to provide the Student Accommodations form to their instructor within the first week of their course. Failure to comply with this rule will not hold the instructor to the accommodations. A student may request accommodations at any point in their program. However, accommodations will not take effect until the beginning of the student’s next course after the accommodations have been granted. A student cannot retroactively request accommodations for any past courses/proctored exams.
Aspen University strives to accommodate the needs of all of our students. If a student requires accommodations, please email: disabilityservices@aspen.edu.