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Services and Accommodations

Services for Students

The ODS collaborates with students with documented disabilities and instructors to provide reasonable accommodations, auxiliary aids, and support services that are individualized and based upon disability documentation, functional limitations, and a collaborative assessment of needs. Students are taught to use advocacy skills to request authorized accommodations specific to class needs and personal preference. The ODS may not be able to meet all personal preference requests but does provide reasonable accommodations/auxiliary aids, in order to provide equal opportunity to access the university’s programs and services. In order to receive accommodations, students must follow the following accommodation process:

  1. Student requesting an accommodation must begin by registering with the ODS and submitting their documentation.
  2. The ODS will review the disability documentation.  The following questions need to be asked and answered to identify eligibility and the reasonable accommodations:
    • Is the individual a “Person with a disability?”
    • What are the functional limitations of the disability?
    • Is the individual “Otherwise qualified?”
    • What are the barriers resulting from the interaction between the documented disability and the campus environment?
    • What are possible accommodations, modifications, or adjustments that might remove the barriers?
    • Without these accommodations, would the individual still have meaningful access to the program,service, or activity?
    • Would these accommodations compromise the essential elements of the curriculum?
    • Would these accommodations require a fundamental alteration in the nature of the program, service, or activity?
  3. The student initially meets with an ODS professional staff member to design and develop reasonable accommodations
  4. If the plan calls for accommodations from the faculty, the ODS will communicate a student’s accommodation in writing by creating a faculty contact sheet.  It will be the responsibility of the student to deliver the accommodation letter to the faculty member at the beginning of the semester or as soon as the accommodations have been determined.  This letter serves as a catalyst for discussion of how the accommodations will be provided.  The letter also informs the faculty who to contact if they need assistance with providing accommodations or if they question the reasonableness of the accommodation.  Faculty will not provide accommodations unless a current faculty contact sheet is provided.

    * Some classes require more creative accommodations due to the nature of the course or the complexity of the functional limitations.  When this occurs, the ODS will facilitate a dialog with the student and faculty member to clarify the essential elements of the course and identify creative and reasonable accommodations, considering the functional limitations of the student.  It is important for the faculty member, the student, and the ODS to be clear about their roles in the accommodation process.

Possible Accommodations

Student needs will vary according to the individual course requirements and the nature of the disability. The university is not required to provide every accommodation that a student may request. Students should note that the requirements for accommodations for postsecondary education are different from the requirements for high school and that the accommodations themselves may differ. The student’s preferences are considered but are not determining. Accommodations may take many forms and generally apply to three broad categories: teaching and learning, demonstrating knowledge, and meeting academic requirements.

The following are examples of each category:

Teaching and Learning

  1. Use of recorder for lectures
  2. Use of assistive technology
    • The mission of the Assistive Technology Initiative (ATI) is to provide individuals with disabilities access to technology that is available to all Mason employees and students so that they have the tools needed to be as independent and successful as possible in the university’s academic environment. ATI is a joint project supported by the University Equity Office, the Helen A. Kellar Institute for Human disAbilities, and ODS.
    • ODS works directly with ATI to provide services to qualified students with disabilities
  3. Use of American Sign Language interpreters
  4. Use of particular types of desks and other furniture
  5. Use of comprehensive syllabi (i.e., more detailed syllabi)

Demonstrating Knowledge

  1. Examination modifications (e.g., extended time, oral exams, readers, testing in a quiet environment, use of a word processor for essays)
  2. Extended time for assignments:
    • Under certain conditions, “extended time on assignments” may be an appropriate accommodation. This accommodation must have supporting documentation. Granted on a case-by-case basis, this accommodation must be negotiated with the professor in advance of the assignment due date. The student and professor should come to an agreement on the specific amount of extended time and due date for each assignment receiving this accommodation.

Meeting Academic Requirements

  1. Substitution or waiver of certain classes:
    • Students who wish to request an exemption because of a specific disability should contact ODS so that they may be referred to the correct college or department for further information. ODS does not make any determinations regarding course substitutions or waivers.
  2. Scheduling accommodations:
    • Priority registration is available to students who are registered with ODS.
  3. Reduced course load:
    • Students who need reduced course load status should make an appointment with an ODS advisor to discuss the process for making this request.
  4. Housing accommodations
    • A student requiring specialized accessibility needs as a residential student must first contact ODS when seeking housing accommodations. The student will need to provide documentation of the disability. The director will handle each request on a case-by-case basis.
  5. Extended time to complete course requirements
  6. Use of a scribe or note taker
  7. Use of assistive technology
  8. Physical access:
    • Every effort is made to reduce barriers to classrooms and other university facilities. Students with accessibility problems should contact ODS as soon as they become aware of the need for an accommodation.
    • Parking accommodations are handled through George Mason University Parking Services. Students may contact Parking Services at 703-993-2710.

Examples of Accommodations Not Made

The university is not required to provide personal assistants, individual personal tutors or coaches, or personal assistive technology. Whenever possible, ODS will refer students to agencies that may provide personal assistance of that nature. The university is not required to make, and does not make, accommodations that would reduce academic expectations or standards or eliminate essential components of any course. Open-book tests or exams are not provided as an accommodation, but may be a part of any particular professor’s methodology for instruction and testing.