Frequently Asked Questions

Accommodations are available to all currently enrolled students who have a documented disability that substantially limits them in one or more of life’s major activities.

All accommodation requests require information from the student’s provider. Supporting documentation must be current, comprehensive, professional documentation that consists of a diagnosis of the limiting disability. Documentation should include an evaluation by an appropriate professional describing the current impact of the disability, the diagnosing professional’s recommendations for management of the limitations of the disability, and how these recommendations relate to the accommodation(s) requested.

The information in an IEP, 504 Plan or Transition Plan may be appropriate documentation. A student may also wish to include a psycho-educational evaluation report/neuropsychological evaluation as supportive documentation. Please note: A student must request this information separately from their request for high school transcripts. The documentation should be sent to Champlain College’s Office of Accessibility.

For students transferring from another college or university, information related to your disability must be requested separately from a request for transcripts. You must request that documentation regarding your disability be sent directly from your current college or university’s disability services to Champlain’s Office of Accessibility.

If you have a temporary condition or disability and require temporary accommodations, contact the Office of Accessibility and speak with our staff about your needs. The Office of Accessibility will request current, comprehensive, professional documentation of your temporary condition or disability and may ask to meet for further discussion of your needs.

Yes. It is the student’s responsibility to request that their Accommodations be sent to their instructors every semester. This allows the student to self select if they would like to use accommodations in each course. Some students find that there are certain courses that are already accessible and therefore they do not need their letter of accommodation sent to that professor. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm that their letter of accommodation has been received and to discuss the accommodations requested with each instructor.

Services may include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Accessible classrooms
2. Course aids (such as; extended time for exams, test taking in a low distraction setting and texts in alternate format).
3. On-campus housing accommodations

Find out how to request an academic accommodation here and a housing accommodation here.

Yes, but you must contact the Office of Accessibility as soon as possible and supply the proper documentation of your disability. There may be some delay in providing full accommodations.

No. Legally, accommodations must be determined on a case-by-case basis. Some students with disabilities will not need accommodations. The Office of Accessibility must determine the accommodations based on documented individual needs.

Specific accommodations are determined during a meeting with the Office of Accessibility. Students should request general accommodations as early as the first to second week of classes. Every effort will be made to provide accommodations in a timely manner, but last-minute requests may not be feasible. Students will use the accommodation letter to take the initial step to meet with their instructors at the beginning of each semester to discuss academic accommodations.

Students with more specialized accommodations, such as the need for a sign language interpreter or transcription services, should request their accommodations at least 6 weeks prior to the semester starting.

Find the deadlines for requesting academic accommodations here and housing accommodation deadlines here.

Champlain College has many academic resources available to support all students. It is up to the student to take responsibility to access the available resources. One resource is Champlain’s SMART Space, which provides free academic coaching and tutoring services to Champlain students.

In college, a student with a disability, who is qualified for admission, will have the same access to programs, services, and activities as all other students. Champlain will make appropriate and reasonable accommodations unless doing so would fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program or activity, or if it poses an undue administrative or financial burden. Often, the reason certain accommodation requests are not granted is that they go beyond the scope of this objective.

Accommodations may vary from college to college. Students transferring from one postsecondary institution to another may experience differences in the types of accommodations offered.

The ADA stands for The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and is a federal civil rights law designed to provide equal opportunity for people with disabilities. The ADA ensures equal access and opportunity and also protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination. The ADAAA stands for The American with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and broadens the scope of the ADA in some instances.  Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education.

In post secondary education the ADA, the ADAAA and Section 504 ensures that a student with a disability, who is qualified for admission, will have the same access to programs, services and activities as all other students.

Champlain College may not, by law (FERPA), contact parents about a student’s academic performance, unless the student gives the College permission to do so. Champlain encourages parents and guardians wishing to know how their student is doing to ask their student directly. We appreciate and value communication that is student initiated and student directed. Academic Records & Registration has more information on FERPA at Champlain College.

Yes. The complete Student Accessibility Handbook is available for download.

The Office of Accessibility is available to provide further resources and information upon request.