California State University East Bay

Student Disability Resource Center

Documentation and Accommodations

  • The Law: Section 504 & The Americans with Disabilities Act
  • Definitions & Categories of Disability
  • Documentation Procedures and Verification Guidelines
  • Guidelines for Use of Accommodations
  • Accommodations Appeal Policy & Process

The Law

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 states that: "No otherwise qualified person with a disability in the United States shall, solely by reason of ... disability, be denied the benefits of, be excluded from participation in, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is the civil rights guarantee for persons with disabilities in the United States. The ADA upholds and extends the standards for compliance set forth in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to employment practices, communications, and all policies, procedures and practices that impact the treatment of students with disabilities.

For more information on the laws see: What Disability Laws Say.

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Definitions & Categories of Disability

A "person with a disability" includes "any person who (i) has a physical or mental impairment which limits one or more of such person's major life activities; (ii) has a record of such an impairment, or (iii) is regarded as having such an impairment."

A "qualified person with a disability" is defined as one who meets the requisite academic and technical standards required for admission or participation in the postsecondary institution's programs and activities.

The California State University has established the following categories of disabilities for reporting purposes:

Visual Limitation

Blindness or partial sight to the degree that it impedes the educational process and necessitates procurement of supportive services or programs.

Communication Disability

Limitation in the processes of speech and/or hearing which impedes the educational process and necessitates the procurement of supportive services or programs.

Deafness

Limitation in the process of hearing which impedes the educational process and necessitates the procurement of supportive services or programs. Students in this category shall require sign language interpreters or transcribers.

Mobility Limitation

Limitation in locomotion or motor functions which indicated a need for supportive services or programs. Also included in this category would be persons who have asthma, cardiovascular problems, or who do not have motor functions necessary to lift or carry items normally used in an academic setting (i.e., books and supplies)

Learning Disability

A generic term that refers to a heterogeneous group of disorders manifested by significant difficulties in the acquisition and use of listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning, or mathematical abilities. Students must have verification of a learning disability supported by appropriate diagnostic test results as reviewed and determined by qualified program staff. In order to be certified as "learning disabled," the student must meet the official criteria as specified by the CSU Chancellor's Office.

For more information regarding learning disability documentation and accommodations, please click here.

Other Limitation

Any other dysfunction of a body part or process which necessitates the use of supportive services or programs, and which does not fall within the categories listed above.

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Documentation Procedures and Verification Guidelines

The student is responsible for submitting valid documentation when registering with SDRC. This documentation is required by the CSU and serves to assist us in determining the appropriate accommodations. The following are used to document disability. Please call SDRC at (510) 885-3868 for a copy of the following guidelines and forms.

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Guidelines for Use of Accommodations

The Student Disability Resource Center offers a wide variety of accommodations to students registered with our office. Students are expected to take an active role in asking for and arranging their own accommodations. The Academic Accommodations Coordinator oversees the implementation, facilitation and evaluation of the services and is available to assist students in making these arrangements. The following are the general guidelines for using accommodations. Refer to the individual service links for specifics on each type of accommodation.

  • Register with SDRC: Students requesting accommodations must have completed an intake and have a current Determination of Accommodations form on file.
  • Plan ahead: While SDRC responds as quickly as possible, due to the complexity and high volume of requests, we must ask for 10 working days from the date of the request to arrange for the accommodation.
  • Be responsible: Ultimately, students are responsible for ensuring that support services and accommodations meet their needs. If an accommodation is not appropriate or is lacking, students must contact SDRC to schedule an appointment with a counselor and/or the Academic Accommodations Coordinator.
  • Adjusting services: Any changes in needs or requests for additional accommodations must be supported by documentation, evaluated by an SDRC counselor and changed on the Determination of Accommodations form before the additional accommodation is provided.
  • Follow the policies: All policies and procedures must be followed to ensure timely, effective services. Any breach of SDRC or University policies may result in a suspension of accommodations.

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Accommodations Appeal Policy and Process

This policy is restricted to academic and access accommodations. Questions and concerns related to student discipline/behavior, academic fairness, etc. should be referred to the appropriate office(s) or committees.

Accommodations are determined in the following way:

  • The student provides full documentation on disability.
  • Following SDRC policies, a counselor determines the most appropriate accommodations and services at CSUEB.
  • A Determination of Accommodations form is generated. The student and his/her counselor both sign and the student receives a copy. If the student asks for additional accommodation(s) that a) CSUEB does not currently offer or b) the counselor has determined are not reasonable or appropriate, the student can appeal the accommodation(s) through the Accommodation Appeal process.
  • Students with questions or concerns about accommodations must inform SDRC as soon as he/she becomes aware of the problem. Students should discuss the specific issue(s) with an SDRC counselor and/or the Academic Accommodations Coordinator in order to explore together possibilities and solutions.
  • Students with further questions, concerns or disagreements about accommodations should complete an Accommodation Appeal Request Form -(Word) Format, citing specifics regarding his/her request or challenge. If more complete documentation is required to support the request, the student bears the responsibility of providing such documentation. The review will not progress without full documentation.
  • It is anticipated that disagreements will be resolved as expeditiously as possible. During the process, current accommodations as determined by the counselor will continue to be in effect in order to provide access during the appeals process.
  • The Accommodation Appeal Request form is forwarded to the SDRC Director or designee. The SDRC Director/designee will evaluate the matter and make appropriate recommendations within 10 working days of receiving the issue.
  • Students seeking further redress of the SDRC Director's recommendation may direct their concerns to the Accommodation Appeal Committee under the University regulation for complaints about discrimination due to disability. A formal complaint must be filed within 180 days after the student knows or could be expected to have known that an action of discrimination has occurred.

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