Student Accessibility Services

You can make a request for accommodations pertaining to learning, psychological, and/or physical disabilities at the time of your acceptance to Gwynedd Mercy University or any time thereafter. The request must be made by you, the student, in person, by email, or via submission of the Student Accessibility Services Accommodation Application (PDF). Please note that other forms of contact such as phone calls or disclosures to other University staff or faculty are not recognized as requests for accommodations.

If you self-identify as having a disability and request accommodations, you are responsible for submitting appropriate documentation and following the procedures listed below. Please allow sufficient time for the administrative processing of the application. GMercyU cannot make any accommodations without completing this process. 

Accommodation requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and the accommodations are based on each student's individual and unique needs. Please be aware the review, approval, and orientation process can take up to six weeks. It will benefit you to submit your application and documentation at least six to eight weeks before the start of your first course. If all documentation is not submitted, additional time may be needed.

Please follow the steps below to apply for accommodations. 

1. Please email AccessibilityServices@gmercyu.edu to discuss your request. 
2. If this is your first time requesting accommodations from The Office of Accessibility Services, please complete the Student Accessibility Services Accommodation Application (PDF).
   1. The Health Care Professional Form section must be completed by an appropriate, certified professional and not a family member. 
   2. Gwynedd Mercy University reserves the right to request additional documentation. 
3. All completed documentation should be submitted to accessibilityservices@gmercyu.edu.   
4. The Director of Accessibility Services will contact you once documentation has been received and reviewed to request a meeting. At the intake meeting, you will have an opportunity to discuss your experiences and how your disability impacts your education. You can also discuss some accommodations you find helpful. This meeting is a collaborative and individualized process.
   1. Please be aware the review, approval, and orientation process can take up to six weeks. It will benefit you to submit your application and documentation at least six to eight weeks before the start of your first course. If all documentation is not submitted, additional time may be needed. 
   2. Accommodations are not retroactive and cannot be applied to previous tests or assignments. 
5. The Director of Accessibility Services will contact you to request a meeting once your documentation has been received and reviewed.
6.  If a student qualifies for specific accommodation(s), a letter outlining the approved accommodation will be developed and given to the student either in person or electronically.
   1. The Director of Accessibility Services will forward letters to students for all of their classes and instruct students to give each of their professors a letter.
   2. Students must provide their letters to their professors to activate their accommodations. Not all accommodations may be approved for all courses; some accommodations are unique to a specific course or prohibited in a certain course.
7. Students should meet privately with their professors to explain their needs and accommodations for each individual course.
8.  If the Director of Accessibility Services determines the student does not qualify for an accommodation, a letter outlining the decision and reason for the decision will be developed and forwarded to the student.
9. If the student disagrees will the decision regarding eligibility or the reasonable accommodation offered, then the student can discuss their concerns with the Director of Accessibility Services. 

If they would like to file a formal complaint, a student may choose this option if attempts at prior resolution have been unsuccessful. A signed, written summary of events must be submitted to the Dean of Student Success within 30 days of the initiation of the grievance process (see the Undergraduate Catalog for the process).

All documentation in support of a disability should be reflective of the current, functional impact of the condition or impairment. Current testing and evaluations should have been completed within the past three to five years. Additionally, updated documentation may be requested, in some circumstances, where documentation is outdated or when ongoing treatment is being provided. Interviews with the student and other involved persons are viewed as an important part of the process and can provide valuable information to augment the documentation.

Documentation for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Physical, Neurological or Psychological Disabilities:

• Health Care Professional Form in the Disability Application OR an original letter from the evaluating professional that includes the following areas: a clearly stated, specific diagnosis; a description of the symptoms; a description of the current functional limitations of the condition; an explanation of the impact of the condition on the academic and/or housing environment; and recommendations of appropriate accommodations.
• A written evaluation by a psychiatrist, neurologist, licensed psychologist, or other qualified professional.
• 504 Plan and the completed Health Care Practitioner form. 504 Plans submitted without supporting documentation will be accepted as supplemental information only and not the primary supporting document.

Documentation for Learning Disability:

• Comprehensive Psycho-educational Evaluation Report or Re-evaluation Report by a school district, neurologist, licensed psychologist, or other qualified professional; the report should include results of psycho-educational testing.
• An IEP, Summary of Performance will be accepted as supplemental information only and not the primary supporting document. The AHEAD Best Practices: Disability Documentation in Higher Education was used in developing these guidelines.

All requests for Housing accommodations for returning students are due to the Director of Accessibility Services by April 1 of each year. If the accommodation is approved, the Housing accommodation letters must be submitted to the Director of Residence Life before housing assignments are made on April 12th.

This procedure is NOT a housing application, but a request for accessibility-related housing accommodations only. You must also comply with Residence Life housing applications, guidelines, forms, and deadlines to apply for campus housing

If you are seeking housing accommodations, please make your request via the Student Accessibility Services Accommodation Application (PDF). Determinations are based on the documentation and information received. An application that is incomplete or received after the deadline may result in a housing assignment that does not meet your needs.

Factors given consideration for special housing requests:

1. Is the impact of the condition life-threatening if the request is not met?
2. Is the request an integral component of a treatment plan prescribed by a medical professional for the condition in question?
3. Is space available to meet the student’s need?
4. Can space be adapted without creating a safety hazard?
5. Are there other effective means that would achieve similar benefits as the requested accommodation?
6. How does meeting the documented need impact housing commitments for other students?
7. Is the cost of meeting the need prohibitive?
8. Was the request made by the deadline?

Please note: Private room accommodations are rare. We make every attempt to find reasonable accommodations for those conditions that are covered under the ADA.

Once a determination is made regarding a housing accommodation, written notification will be sent to you. You should review the notification and sign it and return it to the Director of Accessibility Services. If you are approved for housing accommodations, you must meet with the Director of Accessibility Services annually to renew your request.

If you are planning to live on campus and have the need for an Emotional Support Animal (ESA), you can make a request through the Office of Accessibility Services. Before making your request, please thoroughly read GMercyU's ESA Policy. Upon reading the policy, please sign the last page. You will also need to fill out both the ESA Registration form and the ESA Animal Information form. Please send all completed documentation to accessibilityservices@gmercyu.edu.

ESA Policy (PDF)
ESA Registration Form (PDF)
ESA Animal Information Form (PDF)

Each semester, students testing with accommodations are required to submit their Letter of Accommodation to their professors and the Testing Coordinator. Students should email TestingAccommodations@gmercyu.edu to send their letter to the Testing Coordinator and to schedule tests at the Testing Center. Each test should be scheduled with the Testing Center at least a week in advance.

• Testing Center Hours
  • 8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday
  • Additional hours in evenings and on weekends are available by request.
    
    
• Testing Center Guidelines
  Learn about the process for scheduling a test with the Testing Center
   
• Testing Center Rules
  Learn about the rules students must follow when testing with the Testing Center

Financial Aid and Tuition
Learn more about the Financial Aid process at Gwynedd Mercy University.

Scholarships & Awards
The National Center for Learning Disabilities webpage with available scholarships and awards.

The University of Washington's DO-IT Center: Scholarship Opportunities
Find more information about scholarships for people with disabilities, including deadlines, award amounts, and eligibility.

Please see Additional Info on Financial Resources to learn more.

Career Development Center
Learn about Gwynedd Mercy University’s Career Development Center and the resources it has to offer.

College & Career Guide for Students with Disabilities
An all-inclusive article with tips for navigating college, scholarships, and careers for students with disabilities.

Mindfulness and meditation can have a positive impact on both our mental and physical health. Learn more about the benefits of mindfulness, meditation, and breathing from these links.

• Benefits of Mindfulness
• What is Mindfulness Meditation?
• Exhale. Repeat: The Benefits of Controlled Breathing

Here are some apps to help you learn and practice meditation in your daily life. These links go to websites with information about the app, but to download the app, go to the App Store or Google Play Store on your phone or tablet and search for it.

• Calm
• Headspace
• Simple Habit

Association on Higher-Education And Disability (AHEAD)
AHEAD is the leading professional membership association for individuals committed to equity for persons with disabilities in higher education.

A Handbook for Parents and Students with Disabilities
A handbook created by The University of Montana, Missoula to help students transition from high school to college.

An Open Letter to Parents of Students with Disabilities about to Enter College

Please see Additional Info on Other Resources to learn more.