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Berea College

Disability &amp; Accessibility Services (DAS) works toward making programs, services, and activities accessible for all students. Every student should be able to take part in all facets of the Berea experience. Collaboration with the college’s diverse community is crucial. The office follows the <a href="https://next.berea.edu/our-inclusive-mission">mission of Berea College</a> to create an environment that “frees persons to be active learners, workers, and servers as members of the academic community and as citizens of the world.” Disability &amp; Accessibility Services recognizes disability as a valued aspect of diversity, embraces access as a matter of social justice, and supports welcoming and inclusive environments for all.
 
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Mission

<h2 data-start="169" data-end="475">What are accommodations?</h2>
Accommodations are adjustments that remove disability-related barriers so students can access and participate equally in Berea’s classes, services, activities, and facilities. They ensure equal opportunity while preserving the essential requirements of a course or program.
Examples include:
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Extra time on exams
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Audio recording lectures
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Accessible classroom locations
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Use of assistive technology
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Key Information:
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Accommodations do not change academic standards, fundamentally alter a course, or create an undue burden.
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If you or your instructor have concerns about how an accommodation will work, DAS will collaborate with you to find a solution.
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Professors cannot deny an accommodation on their own. If they believe it may alter essential requirements, they must work with DAS to determine next steps.
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<h2 data-start="1057" data-end="1092">What Accommodations Are Not</h2>
Accommodations are designed to ensure equal access, not to give an unfair advantage or guarantee success. They are not:
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Personal services (e.g., tutoring, personal aides, or counseling)
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Changes to grading standards or waiving essential course requirements
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A guarantee of a perfect environment (e.g., total quiet, ideal roommate match)
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Unlimited flexibility (e.g., open-ended deadlines or blanket exemptions)
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Accommodations 101

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<li>Submit an Application 
Complete the <a href="https://rainier.accessiblelearning.com/s-Berea/ApplicationStudent.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Student Application</a> if you&#8217;re not already registered with DAS. To qualify for DAS services, your condition must meet the ADA definition of a disability: a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.</li>
<li>Provide Documentation 
Documentation should explain how your condition rises to the level of a disability, how it creates barriers, and documentation should explain the need for accommodations. Before sending any documentation, make sure you and your provider are on the same page and that you have a valid email address for them. Health summaries, medication lists, or after-visit notes are not sufficient on their own.
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<li>Preferred: Ask your provider to complete our <a href="https://na2.docusign.net/Member/PowerFormSigning.aspx?PowerFormId=1c28f4cb-72f6-4f7c-ac51-563342ffc3c7&amp;env=na2&amp;acct=03542c71-d3ea-44d2-96f3-d418f38a9ef4&amp;v=2">Provider Verification Form</a> via DocuSign (fast, secure, and sent directly to DAS).</li>
<li>Other options: A signed letter or evaluation on official letterhead. Upload through AIM, email it to <a class="decorated-link cursor-pointer" href="mailto:dasoffice@berea.edu" rel="noopener" data-start="914" data-end="933">dasoffice@berea.edu</a>, or bring it to DAS (Hutchins Annex 0247).</li>
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<li>Meet with DAS 
After reviewing your application and documentation, a DAS Specialist will meet with you to discuss your experiences and barriers. Accommodations are then determined on a case-by-case basis through this interactive process. If you are approved for accommodations, you will receive instruction on how to notify professors of your accommodations. Students without documentation are still encouraged to meet with us; provisional accommodations may be possible. You can also schedule a meeting with our Director directly through <a href="http://www.calendly.com/hollyhatfield">Calendly</a>.</li>
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Please note: Single room and ESA requests have their own request process beyond the standard DAS application because they involve additional offices and policies. They may also require additional time for review. Detail and forms for single room and ESA requests can be found on our <a href="https://www.berea.edu/disability-and-accessibility-services/academic-accommodations">Accommodations page</a>

How to Apply

<h2 data-start="163" data-end="192">Documentation Guidelines</h2>
Berea College follows the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and guidance from the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD). Documentation helps us:
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Confirm the presence of a disability
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Understand its impact in a college environment
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Determine reasonable accommodations
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<h3 data-start="535" data-end="571">Who Can Provide Documentation?</h3>
Documentation must come from a credentialed professional with relevant training and experience in diagnosing and treating your condition. The provider should not be related to you.
Documentation should be:
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On official letterhead or completed through the DAS Provider Verification Form (preferred method, via DocuSign)
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Recent enough to reflect your current functioning
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<h3 data-start="958" data-end="997">What Documentation Should Include</h3>
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Diagnosis of the disability and date of diagnosis
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Severity and functional limitations (how it impacts daily life and college demands: academic, social, medical, physical, emotional)
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Expected progression or stability of the condition
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Required medical equipment (if applicable)
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Medications and possible side effects that may affect learning
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Recommendations for accommodations based on functional limitations
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For Learning Disabilities: please include a copy of your psychoeducational assessment. Supporting documents such as medical reports, IEPs, or 504 Plans may also be submitted but may not be sufficient on their own.
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<h3 data-start="1652" data-end="1673">Important Notes</h3>
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Documentation is kept private and handled under FERPA guidelines. Limited information may be shared only on a need-to-know basis.
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Other colleges, universities, or testing agencies (GRE, PRAXIS, etc.) may have stricter requirements, so you may need to request updated documentation for those purposes.
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Disability and Accessibility Services