Students with Special Needs
City University of Seattle is committed to providing equal opportunities in higher education to academically qualified students with disabilities who demonstrate a reasonable expectation of college success. Students with disabilities attending this University are integrated as completely as possible into the University environment. City University of Seattle does not offer a specialized curriculum for students with disabilities nor does it assume the role of a rehabilitation center. The University seeks input from students and their healthcare providers to assess individual needs and determines what resources are available for meeting those needs. City University of Seattle has a history of working successfully with students who have disabilities.
City University of Seattle’s facilities and programs are accessible to persons with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation in higher education refers to an “otherwise qualified” disabled student’s ability to fulfill course requirements in the classroom or through distance learning when faculty and staff provide equal access to learning. Appropriate academic support services are provided while academic standards are maintained.
Students are encouraged to contact the Disability Support Services Office to discuss the need for reasonable accommodations. Since it is the student’s responsibility to disclose disabilities, the student is asked to provide recent documentation prepared by a qualified professional about any functional limitations so the Disability Support Services Office may make recommendations for the type of reasonable accommodation available to the student. All disability information provided by the student is kept strictly confidential.
Students with impaired sensory, manual language or processing skills will be allowed to use educational auxiliary aids as appropriate. Such aides may include taped texts, readers, interpreters, note-takers, tape recorders, adaptive classroom equipment and other similar services or equipment. If necessary or appropriate, modification of academic requirements may include a change in the length of time permitted for completion of degree requirements, and adaptations in the manner courses are conducted or teaching is demonstrated. Requirements essential to the program of instruction or related to licensing requirements are not regarded as discriminatory.
Examples of reasonable academic accommodations are:
- Using innovative teaching techniques.
- Providing access to recorded or electronic texts.
- Providing access to tutorial assistance and use of technology.
- Alternative testing arrangements such as adapting tests to assure measurement of a student’s knowledge, not the disability.
- Flexible timelines for completion of courses, certification and degree requirements.