Disability Services
Mission
Loyola University New Orleans is committed to ensuring equal access and reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and to providing support services which assist qualified students with disabilities to benefit from their educational experience. The policy of Loyola prohibits and discourages discrimination against students with disabilities in all areas of the university. Disability Services was created to ensure the careful implementation of this policy by faculty and staff and to assist its students with disabilities in meeting the demands of university life. Disability Services is located in the Academic Resource Center, Monroe Hall 405. The staff can be reached by email at enrich@loyno.edu and by phone at (504) 865-2990.
The Director and Special Needs Counselor assist students in meeting the demands of university life by coordinating campus services for students with disabilities and offering academic support services. These services include but are not limited to the following:
- Verification of a documented disability
- Specialized counseling for students with disabilities
- Advocacy services
- Implementation of accommodations
- Note-taking and transcription services
- Tutorial services
- Assistive Technology
- Assistance in obtaining other services
- Course substitution for math and foreign language requirements
Frequently Asked Questions for Students with Disabilities
Who is considered disabled?
Persons who meet the definition of disabled according to Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act are considered persons with disabilities. That is, a person is considered to have a disability if the individual has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities, has a record of such impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment. Note: The law includes learning as a major life activity.
What kind of documentation is needed to verify a disability?
The disability documentation must be provided by a qualified professional. The documentation must be current, must provide a clear diagnosis of the disability, and must include sufficient information to determine the extent of the disability and what accommodations are appropriate.
If the documentation provided by the student is incomplete or inadequate, the university reserves the right to require further documentation of the disability. The cost of obtaining documentation is borne by the student. Documentation should include the following:
1) A brief education and/or medical history
2) Formal medical, psychological, neurological, and/or educational assessment data from tests administered and interpreted by a qualified professional.
3) A formal diagnosis of a disabling condition.
4) A description of how the disability affects educational performance or other major life functioning.
5) Recommendations for educational accommodations.
What is considered a reasonable accommodation?
A reasonable accommodation is a modification to a non-essential aspect of a course, program, service or facility which does not pose and undue burden and which enables a qualified student with a disability to have adequate opportunity to participate and to demonstrate his or her ability. Such accommodations are determined on an individual basis depending upon the nature and extent of the disability. However, it is the responsibility of each student with a disability to inform Disability Services of his or her concerns in order to receive the assistance he or she requires.
How do students register with Disability Services and receive accommodations?
Newly admitted students may self-identify with Disability Services by the Special Needs Assessment form provided by Admissions in the acceptance packet. Students may also register directly with Disability Services by contacting the Director or Special Needs Counselor and providing the appropriate information.
Registration with Disability Services is voluntary, but if a student wishes to receive accommodations they must meet with the Director or Special Needs Counselor and provide appropriate documentation. Accommodations are determined on an individual basis in consultation with the student.
What procedures must be followed in order to receive exam modifications?
It is the responsibility of the student to contact Disability Services in a timely fashion if testing or other accommodations are needed.
Undergraduate procedures:
The Director or Special Needs Counselor must certify the documented disability and resultant accommodations via an accommodation form. The student is responsible for obtaining an accommodation request which is signed by the Director or Special Needs Counselor and the student. Once an accomodation has been certified and to ensure alternative administration of a test, the student must notify Disability Services and their instructor in a timely fashion so that the necessary procedures can be carried out.
Graduate students in the colleges of Business, Humanities and Natural Sciences, Music and Fine Arts, and Social Sciences follow the same procedures as undergraduates in these colleges.
College of Law procedures:
Law students are responsible for providing documentation and obtaining accommodation approval at least six weeks before the final exam period begins. Because law exams are graded anonymously, law students deal directly with Disability Services and do not self-identify to professors regarding exam accommodations.
Sarah Mead Smith, Director
504-865-2990, e-mail: ssmith@loyno.edu
Kacey McNally, Special Needs Counselor
504-865-2990, e-mail: kamcnall@loyno.edu
Location: Academic Resource Center, Monroe Hall, Room 405
Map of Main Campus
Hours:
Fall/Spring semesters:
8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday - Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Friday
Summer semester: 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday - Friday
Mailing Address:
Loyola University New Orleans
Academic Resource Center
6363 St. Charles Avenue
Campus Box 041
New Orleans, LA. 70118
Office Phone: 504-865-2990
FAX: 504-865-3543
E-mail: enrich@loyno.edu
