Accommodation Information

Western holds a commitment to diversity and inclusion—specifically to students with disabilities. Federal legislation, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (as amended) requires schools to provide effective services, and to modify policies/procedures in order to afford qualified students with disabilities equal access to all curricular and co-curricular opportunities. To this purpose, the University is responsible for delineating an interactive process, which allows students to self-identify as having a disability, and which determines appropriate individualized accommodations based on each student`s experience and healthcare provider documentation. University Policy 1600.03 identifies the Disability Access Center (DAC) as the office responsible for facilitating this process. DAC staff maintain confidential records, determine whether a student has a disability, and what accommodations are necessary to afford equal access to students with disabilities. The WWU/UFWW Collective Bargaining Agreement, in Section 13.1, outlines the faculty`s compliance responsibilities with respect to University Policy 1600.03 and the implementation of the accommodations established by the DAC. Once DAC staff have determined the necessary accommodations required by law, they are happy to serve as a resource to faculty on best practices in facilitating accommodations in academic environments.