The University is committed to providing an equal opportunity to access a full educational experience. In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended, the University of Arizona Global Campus prohibits discrimination on the basis of a disability. Reasonable accommodations will be granted to students who present appropriate documentation of disability and are otherwise qualified to participate in their specific program of study. The Office of Student Access and Wellness promotes student success and access to education through health and wellness resources, and disability related advocacy, training and awareness.
Complaints regarding allegations of disability discrimination shall be filed in accordance with the Dispute Resolution Procedures for Student Complaints section referenced in this Catalog.
The University of Arizona Global Campus will provide information to interested persons with disabilities concerning the existence of support services and accommodations to ensure accessible programs, services, and activities of the University. The University will ensure that no individual with a disability is excluded, denied services, segregated, or otherwise treated differently than other individuals because of the absence of auxiliary aids and services. The University will furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to ensure effective communication with individuals with disabilities.
Disability Documentation
The University of Arizona Global Campus will provide reasonable accommodation to students with documented disabilities in order to ensure the accessibility of programs, services, and activities of the University. The University requirements for documentation are based upon the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) Best Practices: Disability Documentation in Higher Education.
The process for determining accommodations is a collaborative one that may or may not require third-party documentation. The University reserves the right to request a reasonable level of documentation. One or more of the following documentation categories will be considered in the evaluation of student accommodation requests:
- Primary Documentation: Student’s Self-Report.
The University of Arizona Global Campus believes the student is a vital source of information regarding how they may be “limited by impairment.*” A student’s narrative of their experience of disability, barriers, and effective and ineffective accommodations is an important tool which, when structured by interview or questionnaire and interpreted by professional staff, may be sufficient for establishing disability and a need for accommodation. - Secondary Documentation: Observation and Interaction.
The impressions and conclusions formed by the University of Arizona Global Campus disability professionals during interviews and conversations with students or in evaluating the effectiveness of previously implemented or provisional accommodations are important forms of documentation. The University employs qualified and experienced disability professionals who will observe students’ language, performance, and strategies as an appropriate tool in validating student narrative and self-report. - Tertiary Documentation: 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 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.
A Note about Documentation:
These guidelines apply to students taking the University of Arizona Global Campus classes. Students should be aware that other universities and testing agencies (which administer standardized tests such as the Graduate Record Exam and Law School Admission Test) may require more extensive documentation, and should review their requirements well in advance.
Use of Mobility Devices
The University of Arizona Global Campus will maintain facilities accessible to persons with disabilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended. Individuals with disabilities who utilize power driven mobility devices, (e.g., any mobility device powered by batteries, fuel, or other engines––whether or not designed primarily for use by individuals with mobility disabilities––that is used by individuals with mobility disabilities for the purpose of locomotion, including golf cars, electronic personal assistance mobility devices [EPAMDs], such as the Segway® PT) may do so within University facilities only when operation of such mobility devices does not pose a substantial risk of harm to students, faculty, staff, or visitors to the campus. Use of power driven mobility devices for the purpose of ambulation between University facilities is permitted. Storage of power driven mobility devices within University facilities should not impede path of travel for pedestrian traffic areas. Responsibility for the securing of power driven mobility devices resides with the user. The University does not accept responsibility for damage, loss, or theft of property stored on its premises.
Use of Service Animals
Service animals, performing a specific task for an individual with a documented disability, are welcome in all University facilities and in all activities of the University. If it is not readily apparent that an animal is a service animal, or the service animal does not have visually identifiable apparel, apparatus, or other evidence that the animal is a service animal, faculty and staff may ask to confirm that the animal is a service animal.
A service animal, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), is a guide dog, signal dog, or other animal (generally a dog) individually trained to do work or perform tasks in support of a person with a disability. An animal whose sole function is emotional support does not qualify under this definition.
Students and visitors to the University are responsible for the care and supervision of the service animal while on University premises or while engaged in University activities. Care includes, but is not limited to, feeding, toileting and hygiene.
*Disability is defined by the ADA as “a physical or mental impairment with respect to an individual that (a) substantially limits one or more of the major life activities, (b) a record of such an impairment or (c) being regarded as having such an impairment...” 42 U.S.C §12102
**Revisions to Title III regulations provide, “When considering requests for modifications, accommodations, or auxiliary aids or services, the entity gives considerable weight to documentation of past modifications, accommodations, or auxiliary aids or services received in similar testing situations, as well as such modifications, accommodations, or related aids and services provided in response to an Individualized Education Program (IEP) provided under [IDEA] or a plan describing services provided pursuant to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.” (28 C.F.R. § 36.309(b)(1)(v))
Guidance and Section-by-Section Analysis provides these examples of types of information to consider: “recommendations of qualified professionals familiar with the individual, results of psycho-educational or other professional evaluations, an applicant’s history of diagnosis, participation in a special education program, observations by educators, or the applicant’s past use of testing accommodations.” 28 C.F.R part 36 (2010)
AHEAD. (2012). Supporting Accommodation Requests: Guidance on Documentation Practices. Retrieved from https://www.ahead.org/professional-resources/accommodations/documentation
Contact Information
To pursue accommodations, students should contact:
The Office of Student Access and Wellness at [email protected] or may review general information regarding disability services and accommodations at the Office of Student Access and Wellness.
Students who have a concern about their disability accommodations may contact:
Ashley Kirwan, Director, Student Access and Wellness at [email protected].
Formal complaints will be handled in accordance with the grievance procedures outlined in this section of this Catalog.
Interim ADA Coordinator of the University of Arizona Global Campus, Leah Belsley
Leah Belsley can be contacted at:
Phone:(866) 711-1700 ext. 20705
Email: [email protected]
Mailing Address: 180 South Arizona Avenue, Suite #301 Chandler, AZ 85225
Deputy ADA Coordinator of the University of Arizona Global Campus, Rachel Orlansky, VP of Student Affairs
Rachel Orlansky can be contacted at:
Phone: (619) 374-1556
Email: [email protected]
Mailing Address: 180 South Arizona Avenue, Suite #301 Chandler, AZ 85225