Harrisburg University provides reasonable and appropriate accommodations to qualified students with disabilities who register with Accessibility Services.
What are "reasonable and appropriate accommodations?"
Reasonable accommodations enable qualified students with disabilities to have equal opportunities by making adjustments or modifications to courses, programs, services, jobs, activities, or facilities. Reasonable accommodations under ADA and Section 504 focus on removing barriers to access rather than focusing on the success of the student. Here is some helpful information that compares accommodations in the K-12 school environment and colleges/universities: K-12 vs. College
The student is still responsible for learning the subject knowledge, demonstrating mastery of content, and meeting the same demands required of all students.
Accommodations cannot require a professor to adjust evaluations of academic performance or result in a substantial change in the curriculum or alterations of any essential elements of a course, program, or activity.
Accessibility Services will work with the student to preferred their preferred accommodations. However, in the event that the documentation and/or self-report does not support a student's request, we may request more information or additional documentation. If the request is deemed unreasonable, inappropriate given the specific barrier, or an undue burden, we will seek alternatives collaboratively with the student.
Examples of Accommodations
Below are some examples of reasonable and appropriate accommodations It is not an exhaustive list and many are not included below. Each individual is unique and the selecting of accommodations will be a collaborative process between the student and Accessibility Services.
- Accessible location/classroom/furniture
- Adaptive technology (e.g. magnifier, screen readers, speech to text software)
- Campus housing access/adjustments
- Priority registration
- Priority seating in the classroom
- Alternative formats for text materials
- Allowance for recording devices
- Extended time on exams
- Separate testing area
- Readers/scribes for exams
- Sign language/oral interpreters/CART services
There is no one-to-one correlation between a specific accommodation and a specific disability. We look at the student holistically and will work with you to help determine the barriers you face and brainstorm ways to remove those.