Existing Facilities
Each program or activity, when viewed in its entirety, shall be readily accessible to qualified people with disabilities, or made accessible through such means as:
- providing appropriate signage
- reassignment of classes, staff, or services to accessible buildings
- delivery of advisory and other services at accessible sites
- redesign of equipment and/or facility after individual review
Students may not be excluded from a specifically requested course offering, program, or other activity because it is not offered in an accessible location. Priority will be given to methods that offer programs and activities to people with disabilities in the most integrated setting appropriate.
It is not required that every outside entry be accessible, and structural changes in existing facilities are not required where other methods provide program accessibility. If sufficient relocation of classes, programs, or activities is not possible using existing facilities, structural alterations to ensure program accessibility shall be made.
It is the policy of the University and is required by state and federal laws that internships and field placements as a whole* be accessible to students with disabilities. Given the wide range of disabilities and facilities, it is not possible for every site to accommodate every student.
*The “as a whole” requirement of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Acts means that within a program, students with disabilities have the same opportunity as their non-disabled colleagues.
Renovations
Remodeling projects must be consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines of the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards, which promote greater accessibility, and with federal and state codes.
New Construction
Facilities or parts of facilities constructed for the use of St. Bonaventure University will be designed and built so they are readily accessible to, and usable by, people with disabilities. New construction must be planned in accordance with Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards, whichever promotes great accessibility, and with federal and state codes.
Housing
Accessible on-campus housing and food service will be provided at the same cost and with the same program options to qualified students with disabilities as are afforded to non-disabled students.
Off-Campus Programming
When any St. Bonaventure University related classes, programs or activities are held in private facilities, thorough efforts shall be made to obtain facilities that are accessible. The program sponsor has responsibility for making recommendations that ensure success.
Recruitment, Admissions and Registration
Through the recruitment and admissions process, the University seeks to establish diversity in its student body that reflects our pluralistic society. Qualified people may not, on the basis of disability, be denied admission to, enrollment in, or participation in University programs or activities, or be discriminated against in admission or recruitment. The number or proportion of students admitted will not be limited on the basis of disability.
Advising, Counseling and Placement Services
Personal, academic, career-counseling and placement services shall be available in accessible settings without discrimination on the basis of disability. Qualified students with disabilities shall not be counseled or advised toward more restrictive career objectives than are non-disabled students with similar interests and abilities.
This does not preclude providing factual information about licensing and certification requirements, which may present obstacles to people with disabilities in their pursuit of particular careers.
Student Health Services
St. Bonaventure University's Health Services Office will provide the same types and levels of services for all students, with or without disabilities. No student health plan offered by the University shall discriminate on the basis of disability.
Student Employment
University programs that employ students may not discriminate on the basis of disability.
Support Services
No qualified student with a disability may be denied the benefits of, be excluded from participation in, or be otherwise discriminated against in a University program or activity because of the absence of educational support services. Support services include academic and career advising, counseling, and tutorial programs.
Support services may include (but are not limited to) the following accommodations:
- Extended time for tests: 50% or 100%
- Distraction-reduced alternate location
- Oral testing
- Test readers
- Use of scribe for testing (dictated answers)
- Alternate texts
- Use of a word processor and spell-check for written assignments and essay exams
- Note-taker (student must contact Disability Support Services to arrange)
- Interpreter
- Use of a calculator as appropriate
- Enlarged print/magnifiers for all printed materials
- Tape recorder for lectures
Making Requests in a Timely Manner
As long as no qualified person with a disability is excluded from a program because of the lack of an appropriate service, such support need not be on hand at all times. In order to ensure sufficient time to make provisions for auxiliary aids, it is the responsibility of the student to request the necessary accommodation(s) or auxiliary aids in a timely manner.
If a request is submitted after a deadline, DSS will make every reasonable effort to accommodate the request but cannot guarantee that such a request will be met. Untimely requests may result in delay, substitution, or denial of accommodation.
Discriminatory Rules Not Allowed
Prohibitions against the use of tape recorders or brailers in classrooms, guide dogs in campus buildings, or other rules, which have the effect of limiting the participation of qualified students with disabilities in educational programs or activities, must not be imposed.