Disability Guidelines

Notification of Disability: It is the student’s responsibility to submit the Request for Disability Services form and to provide adequate and appropriate documentation of a disability in order to receive academic accommodations. [A link to the form and full information about documentation is shown below.] Documentation must be provided in a timely manner to ensure full resolution of accommodations prior to the term for which the student requests accommodations. This will allow time to make all necessary arrangements prior to the initial class meeting. Documentation should be submitted to disabilityservices@park.edu or fax # 816-505-5445. A copy of the Student Request for Disability Services and documentation will be securely retained in the student’s electronic file.

Students who have received disability services in high school will find helpful information regarding their rights, responsibilities, and transition from high school to university from the Missouri Association for Higher Education and Disabilities (MO AHEAD). Student resources are available at MO AHEAD.

Additional information can also be found at the Department of Education Office of Civil Rights.

In the case of temporary disabilities, every effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodation for the duration of any disability. To insure prompt and appropriate action, the Assistant Director of Academic Success should be notified immediately of the arrangements believed to be necessary to accommodate a given temporary disability.

Park University recognizes the best practices recommended by the national Association on Higher Education and Disability. We also realize that each individual and each disability is unique. Specific documentation requirements will vary according to the type of disability, but the following guidelines define acceptable documentation:

1. It is prepared by a licensed professional who is knowledgeable in the field of the student’s particular disability, and provide a description of the diagnostic methodology and/or a description of the diagnostic criteria, evaluation methods, procedures, tests and dates of administration, as well as a clinical narrative, observation, and specific results. Where appropriate to the nature of the disability, having both summary data and specific test scores (with the norming population identified) within the report is recommended.
   • Learning Disabilities (LD/ADHD): Students must provide supporting diagnostic test results from a licensed psychologist or certified specialist in learning disabilities. All testing should be based on adult level norms.
   • Physical Disabilities: Students must provide documentation from a physician that specifies the nature of the disability or disabilities.
   • Psychiatric Disabilities: Students should provide documentation from a licensed professional qualified to diagnose and treat psychological disorders.
2. It is no older than three years. (Certain long-term medical and health conditions may not be subject to this element. Ex: blindness). Park University will evaluate, but may reject, documentation over three years old. We reserve the right to request updated verification of disability and necessary accommodations.
3. It includes a statement of diagnosis.
4. It includes a description of the student’s current functioning and/or the current status of the disability.
5. It describes how the disability affects the student’s learning/functioning in a post-secondary educational setting.
6. It includes recommendations for appropriate post-secondary accommodations.
7. It is dated and signed by the licensed professional and presented on letterhead of the professional.
8. It should include information regarding medication the student may be using and treatment he/she may be undergoing. This also should include the medication or treatment’s impact on the student’s ability to function in an academic setting.

HELP US HELP YOU!

The Academic Success Center at Park University is pleased to serve our students with special needs. If you are seeking accommodations for a disability, here are the steps you should follow:

1. Download and complete the Student Request for Disability Services.  This lets us know a little about you, your needs, and how we can serve you.
2. Print this form and return via mail or email to:

Learner Access and Disability Services
Park University
8700 River Park Drive
Parkville, MO 64152
P: 816-584-6313
disabilityservices@park.edu

3. Carefully read our policies and documentation requirements shown above. Submit your documentation. You may need to contact your doctor, psychologist, school counselor, VA counselor, or other qualified medical/educational professional to send your information. Use the same contact information shown above. Your information will be handled appropriately to protect your confidentiality. [Please note: your submission of the Request form begins the process, but no accommodations can be determined or provided until the documentation is received.]
4. Become familiar with the information in the Handbook for Students with Disabilities, so you will know how and when your instructors are notified, how accommodations are arranged, and other important aspects of receiving your services.

Once your documentation is received, it will be reviewed and determine appropriate accommodations. If your documentation does not satisfy the requirements above, you may be asked to submit updated or more complete information. Be sure to submit your documents in a timely manner to allow adequate time for the review process before the term begins.

When your request has been reviewed, you will receive notification of the approved accommodations. Your accommodations will be handled by the Learner Access and Disability Services Office.

If you are not satisfied with the accommodations you have been granted, please contact the Learner Access and Disability Services Office at disabilityservices@park.edu to discuss the situation. In some cases, we may be able to make adjustments. In others, additional documentation may be needed.

For more information on filing a grievance, please see the details in the Handbook for Students with Disabilities.

PLEASE DO NOT ask your instructor, campus director, regional director, or proctor to provide accommodations until you have received a notification of approved accommodations from Disability Services. Please keep in touch with us to let us know how you are doing, and inform us immediately if you need additional assistance.

Your disability information is CONFIDENTIAL. We will inform the appropriate faculty or campus personnel of the accommodations you require, but we do not disclose the nature of your disability. In some cases, you may find that sharing this information with your instructors may help them understand you better, but that choice is up to you.

NOTE: Disability files are updated each year at the beginning of the spring and fall terms. If you are not enrolled for the current term, your file will be marked “inactive,” and you will be notified by email. To reactivate your file and your accommodations, simply notify the Assistant Director of Academic Success by email when you enroll again.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

Service animals may accompany students, employees, and visitors with disabilities to Park University events, activities, and locations with rare exceptions. Local, state, and federal laws regulate the use of service animals at Park University.

DEFINITIONS

1. Service Animal: According to the U.S. Department of Justice, service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual’s disability. Examples of work or tasks include, but are not limited to, assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing non-violent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting individuals to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors. The crime deterrent effects of an animal’s presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition. On a case by case basis, Park University may also permit the use of a housebroken miniature horse by an individual with a disability if the miniature horse has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of the individual with a disability. Persons wishing the University to consider use of a miniature horse should please contact the Learner Access and Disability Services Office.

SPECIFIC PROVISIONS

1. Generally, Park University will permit the use of a service animal by individuals with disabilities. Park University may ask an individual with a disability to remove a service animal from the premise if (1) the animal is out of control and the animal’s handler does not take effective action to control it; or (2) the animal is not housebroken. If a service animal is properly excluded under this provision, the individual with a disability will be given the opportunity to participate in Park University’s service, program, or activity without having the service animal on the premises.
2. A service animal may be excluded if Park University makes an individualized assessment based on reasonable judgment and best available objective evidence that the service animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others that cannot be mitigated by reasonable modifications.
3. A service animal must be immunized against diseases common to that type of animal.
4. A service animal must be under the control of its handler (e.g., harness, leash, voice control, signals, or other effective means).
5. A service animal may accompany an individual with a disability to all areas of Park University’s facilities where students, members of the public, and participants are allowed to go.

At Park University, our Disability Services staff will at all times:

• Respect the privacy and maintain confidentiality of students with disabilities as appropriate.
• Inform students of their rights, and obtain consent when asked to share confidential information.
• Be fair, impartial, and objective in our interactions with others.
• Handle requests and complaints promptly.
• Maintain the scholarly integrity of our students and programs.
• Adhere to institutional policies regarding ethical and legal use of software and technology.
• Avoid any conflicts of interest, or appearance thereof, in the performance of our work.
• Exercise responsible use and management of institutional funds.
• Recognize the limits of our training, expertise, and competence, and when limits are exceeded make referrals to others with appropriate qualifications.
• Adhere to institutional policies regarding research and assessment with human participants, confidentiality of data, and students’ rights and responsibilities.
• Hold ourselves and each other accountable for maintaining these ethical standards in our behavior.