Accessibility Services
The purpose of the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) is to uphold Barry University’s commitment to legal standards for students with disabilities (Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990). Students in higher education are entitled to reasonable accommodations if they have a disability. Accommodations are modifications or adjustments to the environment or to the way things are usually done so that students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in an academic program and campus life. The OAS staff collaborate with administrators, faculty, and the students they serve to develop an accommodation plan that allows the student access to all curricular and co-curricular opportunities offered by Barry University.
Procedures and Guidelines
To get started with the OAS, students with disabilities should visit the OAS webpage at www.barry.edu/accessibility-services. Then the student should make an appointment with the OAS Director. To do so, call the OAS at (305) 899-3488 or visit us in the Landon Student Union, Room 102. If possible, students should bring documentation of their disability to the meeting. Documentation requirements vary according to each student’s disability and situation. In general, documentation is provided by a licensed healthcare professional who establishes the existence of the student’s disability, describes the nature of the disability, explains the limitations of the student, and offers accommodation recommendations. Documentation should be current (no more than three years old), but in some cases older documentation may be accepted. The OAS has forms to help a healthcare provider easily communicate the information needed. Students may access healthcare provider forms and comprehensive information about the OAS at the webpage.