
Americans With Disabilities Act
One of the functions of the Office of Retention and Student Advocacy is to assist students who have a documented disability and meet the definition of a person with a disability, as defined in The Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act. Students enrolled at the university who seek accommodations must identify with the Office of Retention and Student Advocacy by contacting the ADA Compliance Officer, request accommodations by completing the request for services and accommodations forms, and provide appropriate, current documentation of their disability.
A student with a disability is entitled by law to equal access to University programs. Two federal laws protect persons with disabilities in postsecondary education: the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Pub. L. No. 93-112, as amended), the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (Pub. L. No. 101-336) and the ADA Amendments Act (Pub. L. No.110-325).
How to Apply:
Request for ADA Accommodations Questionnaire (click here).
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On-campus students should contact Will Atkinson, ADA Compliance Officer (on-campus), at watkinson@uwa.edu or 205-652-3581 to schedule an appointment.
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Online students should contact Dr. Erica Sheffield, ADA Coordinator (online) at esheffield@uwa.edu .
Notification Process:
A review of the documentation will determine the types of academic accommodations that are reasonable and appropriate for the student. The Office of Retention and Student Advocacy will provide notification letters for students on campus to retrieve and deliver to their professors. Students are encouraged to contact the Office of Retention and Student Advocacy prior to the start of the semester to ensure that notification letters will be prepared and ready for the student on the first day of class. Students should present the letter to the instructor and request a private meeting to discuss how accommodations will be provided. Students are to inform the ADA Complaince Officer if accommodations are not provided or if they encounter other disability-related problems in the class.