Learning Disabilities and Learning Assistance
Academic Support Services
Academic Services is dedicated to fostering the University’s Mission to ensure that qualified students with disabilities who are admitted to the University are afforded equal access and opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs, services and activities of the University. Students who would like to become eligible to receive reasonable accommodations can follow the steps below to initiate the eligibility review process. The process to become eligible to receive reasonable accommodations can take 2-3 weeks after completing an intake meeting.
Any student with an appropriately documented disability is eligible for services. The Learning Support Specialist will serve students with documented permanent, temporary or episodic disabilities. Any student with documented special needs or difficulties in learning and/or completing course requirements should complete the steps listed below to advance the anticipated need for services.
Students Follow These Steps for Eligibility Determination
1. University Enrollment
Students must be admitted to and enrolled in the University.
2. Collect Documentation
Documentation may include educational or medical records, reports, evaluations and assessments created by health care providers, school psychologists, teachers, or the educational system. This information is inclusive of documents that reflect education and accommodation history, such as an Individual Education Program (IEP), Summary of Performance (SOP), and teacher observations. Depending on a student’s disability required documents may differ. Students in the Nursing program need to submit a neuropsychological evaluation.
3. Submit Documentation
Once collected, students submit their documentation in person to the Student Accommodations Office in the Student Success Center on the St. Augustine Campus at 1345 W. Argyle Street, Chicago, or scan and email it to dderezotes@lewisu.edu.
4. Attend the Intake Meeting
Once documentation has been received and reviewed, the Learning Support Specialist will contact the student for an intake meeting. The meeting will include a conversation about the student’s medical history as well as their current and past experiences in various learning environments. Students must attend the scheduled intake meeting to complete the eligibility review process. Submission and/or receipt of documentation by the Student Accommodations Office or other offices at Lewis University does not make a student automatically eligible for accommodations.
Eligibility Determination
Based on a review of the documentation provided and the outcome of the intake meeting, a decision of eligibility for reasonable accommodations will be made by the Learning Support Specialist. In some cases, additional documentation or an additional meeting may be requested prior to determining eligibility. Students will receive an email regarding the outcome of the intake meeting within 1 week of the meeting.
What a Student Who Becomes Eligible for Accommodations Can Expect
An Accommodations Memo is Sent to Instructors
An Accommodations Memo that outlines the accommodations, services and supports that the student is eligible for based on the intake process is developed. The memo does not describe the student’s disability. At the beginning of each term, the Accommodations Memo is sent to each of the student’s instructors. If a student becomes eligible for accommodations during the term, the memo is sent once the determination is made.
Contact Your Course Instructors to Discuss the Details of the Accommodations
Once the Accommodations Memo is delivered to the instructor, it is the student’s responsibility to contact course instructors to have a discussion about the details of the request and plan implementation of accommodations. Students are not required to disclose the nature of their disability to their instructors. Arranging or Scheduling Accommodations for Eligible Students
Exam Accommodations and services are arranged by the student. The Learning Support Specialist can help students during this process. Examples of services are alternative testing services, note-taking services, books or materials in alternative formats, communication services (such as interpreters or CART services).
Contact Information
Location: Student Accommodations Office in the Student Success Center, St. Augustine Campus at 1345 W. Argyle Street, Chicago
Phone: (773)878-7119
Email: staaccommodations@lewisu.edu
