Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities
Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities
This page is under construction! Stay tuned for updates and additions. Please contact the Coordinator if you don't find what you are looking for.
Welcome!
Alverno's commitment to an inclusive and equitable campus community includes students with disabilities. The Student Accessibility Office, housed within Instructional Services, is the centralized campus resource designated to determine reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities to ensure access to their education in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the ADA Amendments Act.
Derek Blemberg
Student Accessibility Coordinator
P: 414-382-6722
F: 414-382-6354
StudentAccessibility@alverno.edu
Self-Identification
Applicants must self-identify a disability and make request for accommodation. Early connection with the Student Accessibility Office in the application process is encouraged (as much as eight weeks in advance).
Timelines
Every effort will be made to respond to requests from both applicants and current students at any time; however, accommodations can take time and coordination to provide, and there is no guarantee they can be provided with late notice.
Provisional Accommodations
Provisional accommodations may be available while the college engages in an interactive process to determine whether ongoing accommodation is appropriate and, if so, which reasonable accommodations are needed. Temporary accommodations do not reflect a determination that ongoing accommodation will be granted and/or which reasonable accommodation are appropriate, and they do not create an obligation on the part of Alverno to continue accommodation.
Facility Access
Any student requiring physical access or facility accommodation should contact the Accessibility Coordinator as soon as possible to make a request. Some possible examples include accessible classrooms, elevator access, adjustable chairs, etc.
Potential Accommodations
The following is a non-exhaustive list of possible accommodations approved by Student Accessibility. A custom accommodation plan is developed for each eligible student.
- Alternative formats (document conversion, large print, audio)
- Alternative testing (extended time, private room)
- Note taking support
- Preferential seating
- Classroom access
- Laboratory assistance
- Residence hall accommodations (single room, emotional support animal)
How to Request Disability-Related Accommodations
1. Complete and submit the Student Accessibility Information Form.
Click link: Student Accessibility Information Form
The form can be submitted to the Coordinator by
- Email: StudentAccessibility@alverno.edu
- Fax: 414-382-6354
- Mail: Derek Blemberg
Student Accessibility Coordinator
Alverno College
PO Box 343922
3400 S. 43rd Street
Milwaukee, WI 53234
Once the form is submitted, it will take at least five business days for the Coordinator to respond.
2. Provide appropriate documentation to the Student Accessibility Coordinator in a similar manner as the information form.
All information and documentation submitted to the office is kept separate from academic records and is considered private under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). HIPAA privacy and confidentiality guides do not apply to documents submitted to Student Accessibility, as they are not being used for medical treatment. Under FERPA guidelines, the office cannot guarantee complete confidentiality as they may be times when sharing some information with other Alverno staff/faculty with an educational need to know is necessary in the facilitation of the accommodation process.
Documentation Guidelines and Forms
1. Link: Documentation Guidelines
2. Link: LD Documentation Guidelines
3. Link: Verification of Physical, Sensory or Health-Related Disability
4. Link: Verification of ADHD or Mental
Health Disability
5. Link: Verification of Dietary Accommodations
Form
Note: External agencies who administer standardized tests as part of licensure may have different, more stringent documentation guidelines than Alverno College. Students may need to supply additional documentation for any certification or licensure test they plan to take in the future.
3. Schedule a meeting with the Student Accessibility Coordinator
Prior to the meeting
a. Review information about access verses success
Link: Access versus Success
Link: Differences between High School and College
At the meeting
b. Discuss and confirm appropriate and reasonable accommodations related to you documented disability.
√ Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis through an interactive process between Alverno and the student.
√ Alverno may provide an alternative reasonable accommodation rather than the specific accommodation requested by the student. Not all accommodation
requests will be granted and Alverno will not have to fundamentally alter its programs in order to accommodate a student.
c. Review next steps with the Coordinator in working with instructors to receive accommodations in each course or elsewhere on campus.
d. Agree to the plan discussed with the Coordinator by signing the Coordinator’s Summary of Accommodations Agreement form.
Link: Accommodations Agreement Form
4. Share memo with instructors as soon as possible after receiving it.
a. Accommodations that are approved by the Student Accessibility Coordinator are not effective retroactively (meaning students will not be able to re-do assignments or re-take assessments with accommodations that they originally took before they asked for and received accommodations from an instructor).
b. A new accommodations request memo will be generated for the students and shared at the start of each semester they are enrolled.
5. Set up a meeting to discuss accommodations with the instructor.
Use the following support documents to play your conversation.
Link: Guidelines for communicating with
instructors
Link: Preparing to meet with your instructor
6. Alert the Student Accessibility Coordinator as soon as possible if accommodations are not provided or do not meet your needs.
Non-Academic Access to Alverno Campus
Dietary Accommodations
If you are a resident student and want to request accommodations for a meal plan, please visit this page: https://catalog.alverno.edu/collegepolicies/studentnon-academicpolicies/diningservices/ Click here to access the Verification Form that is required in order to receive accommodations: Dietary Accommodations Form.
Accessible Parking
Accessible parking is available on campus. For information, click this link: https://catalog.alverno.edu/collegepolicies/studentnon-academicpolicies/parking/
Pregnancy and Parenting
Under Title IX, students have the right to continue your education activities regardless of pregnancy, childbirth, or pregnancy termination-related conditions. This includes school sponsored internships, clinics, lab work, athletics and extracurricular activities. Harassment or intimidation because of a pregnancy-related condition is sex discrimination in violation of Title IX and is illegal. Alverno’s Title IX Policy can be reviewed by clicking this link: College Policies: Student Non-Academic Poliicies; Pregnant- Parenting
Students wanting to request accommodations related to their pregnancy should contact the Student Accessibility Coordinator who will engage in an interactive discussion with the student, instructor, and other need-to-know personnel regarding requests. Once decisions are made, notification to student and instructors will be made in writing.
Contact Information:
Derek Blemberg
Student Accessibility Coordinator
Founders Hall, FO 408
414-382-6772
Temporary Disability
Alverno College is committed to supporting the academic success of all students, but recognizes that certain life events may inhibit this process. Students who experience temporary impairments such as broken bones, temporary illnesses, and/or are recovering from surgery or medical conditions may not be substantially limited enough to be considered as having a disability, however, Student Accessibility may be able to provide some assistance and referrals in these situations. The Coordinator is available to discuss student need and offer suggestions. In some cases, documentation may be necessary to provide in order to receive certain services.
