Student Access and Accommodation Services (SAAS)

Student Access and Accommodation Services is part of the Center for Student Success. This service provides for equal access; the School is committed to making individuals with disabilities full participants in its programs, services and activities through compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended.

Student Access and Accommodation Services is committed to enhancing student’s academic development and independence, and will work with students on an individual basis to assess reasonable academic accommodations that provide equal access to full participation in the college environment.

Please contact:

Requesting Accommodations

We will analyze each request on a case-by-case basis within the specific context of the activity in which the student plans to participate. The institution has the right to select among equally effective methods of accommodating a student with a disability. The institution also has the right to refuse an accommodation based on undue hardship to the institution. Accommodation requests and services are not retroactive, and therefore requests for accommodations should be made it a timely manner.

To be eligible to receive accommodations, students must complete a three-step process of self-identification.

1. Complete the Request Form

   Students seeking accommodations and disability support must complete the Request form. This form provides students the opportunity to describe their accommodation needs in their own words, which helps guide their meeting with a Student Access and Accommodation Services (SAAS) team member.

2. Submit the Documentation of Disability Form

   All students seeking accommodations must provide professional documentation of their accommodation needs. This starts with submitting the Documentation of Disability form to their medical professional. This form must be completed and supplied by a licensed professional. Documentation that does not provide answers to the questions on the Documentation of Disability form cannot be considered until all information is provided to the SAAS team Students are responsible for following through on their request with their medical professional.

3. Review and Registration

   Once the Request form and Documentation of Disability forms are received, they will be reviewed within one business week after receipt to determine available services and supports. Following the review, the students will be contacted by the SAAS team to schedule a SAAS registration meeting. These meetings are a chance for students to clarify their needs and concerns, as well as to become acquainted with with the SAAS staff, procedures, and testing center if applicable. Students can expect for their meetings to be an open and interactive dialogue regarding their request form, documentation, and learning experiences. Intake meetings typically take less than 20 minutes, and are scheduled during regular business hours.

Document policies, including definitions, regarding the School's commitment to equal access

Policies: https://www.somi.edu/policies

Specific policies, number and title:

• ADM 3.03 - Student Access and Accommodation Services
• ACA 1.02 - Essential Technical Standards