Disabilities Policy

POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Jones International University (JIU) recognizes and fulfills its obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.), as amended (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and similar state laws. JIU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified students with disabilities in its educational programs and services as required by applicable law.

The determination of reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities, as well as compliance with the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act, are the responsibility of JIU’s Office of Disability Services. JIU’s Coordinator of Disability Services is the principal point of contact for students seeking or requiring further assistance with a disability accommodation and with any questions or concerns in connection therewith.

POLICY

JIU prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and provides training and resources to its personnel in order to encourage and increase sensitivity and awareness of disability issues.
JIU is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. JIU will strive to provide services and access to academic courses and programs in accordance with these policies and procedures.
JIU respects the independence, rights, and dignity of people with disabilities, therefore identifying oneself and/or requesting accommodations is completely voluntary.
JIU understands the sensitive nature of a student’s personal information and other data, including those students with disabilities, and will handle such information in a confidential manner in accordance with applicable data privacy laws.

STUDENTS’ RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

People with disabilities at Jones International University have the right to:

Inclusion in courses, programs and services offered through JIU;
An equal opportunity to learn and to receive reasonable accommodations;
Appropriate confidentiality of information regarding such disabilities and the ability to choose to whom this information may be disclosed, except for disclosures that are required or permitted by law; and
Information available in accessible formats, when providing such information could be a reasonable accommodation, or as otherwise required by applicable law.

People with disabilities at Jones International University have the responsibility to:

Meet JIU qualifications and adhere to JIU standards for courses, programs and services;
Voluntarily identify themselves as an individual with a disability when an accommodation is considered necessary and to seek information, counsel, and assistance as needed;
Provide written documentation from a licensed health care provider qualified in the area of the disability that describes the nature of the disability, indicates how it would limit participation in the student’s educational program at JIU, and recommends possible academic accommodations; and
Contact JIU’s Coordinator of Disability Services to request reasonable accommodations.

JONES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY’S RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Jones International University has the right to:

Request current documentation for assessing the need for reasonable accommodations;
Deny a request for accommodations if appropriate documentation is not provided, or if the documentation received does not support the need for accommodations;
Decide on reasonable accommodations that may be different from, but equally effective as, those requested by the student; and
Refuse an unreasonable accommodation that would impose an undue burden on, or would fundamentally alter, JIU or its courses, programs or services.

Jones International University has the responsibility to:

Present information to people with disabilities in accessible formats upon request when doing so would be a reasonable accommodation, or is otherwise required by applicable law;
Provide reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities in JIU’s courses, programs and services;
Maintain confidentiality of records and communication, except where permitted or required by law.

PROCEDURES FOR DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION

Students may begin the process of requesting an accommodation at any time after being formally admitted to JIU.

Step One: Self-Disclosure of Disability and Accommodation Request. Self-disclosure and a request for accommodation are a student’s first steps in advising JIU of their disability so that a reasonable accommodation may be made for the student to pursue an education at JIU.

To begin the process, a student must submit a Self-Disclosure of Disability(ies) form to JIU’s Office of Disability Services, together with or followed by a Disability Accommodation Request form.

These two forms are available on JIU’s Web site at: /about/faq/forms/accReq.php or may be obtained by contacting JIU’s Coordinator of Disability Services at:

Jones International University, Ltd.
Attention: Office of Disability Services
9697 East Mineral Avenue
Centennial, Colorado USA 80112
Phone: 800-811-5663 ext. 8368
Email: disabilities@international.edu

Step Two: Medical Documentation. A student requesting a disability accommodation from JIU must provide appropriate and timely verification of their disability. JIU requires current written documentation from a certified diagnosing professional. Documentation should state the nature of the student’s disability, its likely duration, the kind and extent of learning impairment caused by the disability, and suggested means of accommodation. For a complete list of medical documentation requirements, go to Accomodation Requests and select the form that most closely relates to your disability. JIU may, in its sole discretion, require the submission of additional information regarding a student’s disability.

Step Three: Release of Information for Disability Services. Students should complete and sign the Release of Information for Disability Services (Health Care Provider) form and forward it to their licensed health care provider(s) (Note: A health care provider may prefer to have the student sign the provider’s form of release). This Release of Information form permits the student’s health care provider to share information concerning the student’s disability with JIU’s Office of Disability Services. This Release of Information form may be found in the Disabilities Accomodation Request Packet and will also be emailed to the student upon receipt of the student’s accommodation request.

The student should give the completed and signed Release of Information form and a copy of the applicable medical documentation requirements for their disability to the student’s health care provider(s) with instructions to forward all documentation directly to JIU’s Office of Disability Services at the address set forth in Step One above.

In addition to the health care provider release described above, students requesting accommodations must complete, sign and return a Release of Information for Disability Services (JIU) form to the Office of Disability Services at the address set forth in Step One above. This Release of Information form permits JIU’s Office of Disability Services to share information concerning a student’s disability, on an as-needed basis if there is a legitimate reason to do so, with other individuals involved in the delivery of services to such student, including professors and textbook or other course material suppliers, medical professionals, or if otherwise required by law. This Release may be found in the Disabilities Accomodation Request Packet or will be emailed to the student upon receipt of the student’s accommodation request.

Step Four: Reasonable Accommodation. JIU is committed to providing equal access to its educational programs for all students. Once JIU receives documentation of a student’s disability and the accommodation suggested by the student’s diagnosing professional, JIU will review and consider the accommodation request. If the accommodation request is approved, JIU will endeavor to meet the student’s needs in a prompt, reasonable and effective manner. Please note, however, that different accommodations may require different amounts of time to arrange, from several days to several weeks.

Step Five: Communication. JIU’s Coordinator of Disability Services will communicate the accommodation decision to the student. If the student’s accommodation request is granted, the Coordinator of Disability Services will notify the student’s Academic Service Counselor, the student’s professors and any other parties having a legitimate interest, of the accommodation provided by JIU to such student.

PLEASE NOTE:

Any substantial change in a disability, or any new disability, that occurs while a student is enrolled at JIU necessitates a return to Step One in the above accommodation request process.
Employment issues related to ADA compliance at Jones International University should be directed to JIU’s Human Resources Department.

Portions of this policy and procedures document were adapted from ADA materials in use by other universities
Policy updated April 1, 2009