In order to provide services for students with disabilities, IUP requires that students provide verification of their temporary disability to the Department for Disability Access and Advising (D2A2) at the time services are requested. This information will be utilized to establish appropriate accommodations.
A temporary injury or acute medical condition does not necessarily qualify as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); however, the severity and duration of the temporary injury, medical, or psychological/emotional condition will be taken into consideration. D2A2 will make every effort to accommodate temporary disabilities when possible.
The following guidelines will provide information about services and resources thatD2A2 and the university can provide for a student with a temporary disability. Some common examples of temporary disabilities addressed by these guidelines include broken extremities, hand injuries, torn ligaments, etc.
Who Can Verify a Temporary Disability, and What Documentation is Required?
Documentation will be accepted from a certified, licensed, or professional health care person whose training is commonly accepted for establishing a specific diagnosis. The documentation must be on official letterhead and include the following: a statement that classifies the individual's diagnosis; onset, nature, duration, and severity of the temporary disability; any adverse side effects caused by medication; recommended assistance to accommodate the individual's temporary disability; and a signature from the diagnosing professional. The documentation must be recent enough to describe how the disability currently affects the individual. This process will assist D2A2 in establishing appropriate accommodations. Accommodations for a temporary disability are usually approved for one semester or less and will be determined after a review of the documentation.
Documentation should be submitted to D2A2 (246 Stouffer Hall), and an appointment should be scheduled to meet with a D2A2 advisor in order to arrange for and implement appropriate temporary accommodations.
Services for Students with Temporary Arm, Hand, or Upper Extremity Impairments
Examples of accommodations that may be available for a temporary arm, hand, or upper extremity injury include:
- Extended test times
- Permission to audio record lectures
- Volunteer note takers
- Scribes for exams
- Use of word processors for essay exams
If needed, exams can be scheduled with the D2A2office and administered with approved accommodations.
Services for Students with Temporary Mobility Impairments
Examples of accommodations that may be available for temporary mobility impairments include:
- Information on accessible routes and elevator access on campus
- Referral to the IUP Parking Services for temporary on-campus disability parking access (updated copies of temporary disability documentation must be provided to IUP Parking Services every two weeks while the need for disability parking access persists)
- Information on Indiana County Transit Authority (IndiGO) public transportation
D2A2 and the university do not provide personal assistance in the form of building-to-building transportation or in getting to and from classes, including the transport of books or other personal items. D2A2can offer the short-term temporary loan of an electric or manual wheelchair, mobility scooter, or knee scooter (when available, on a first-come, first-served basis) for use while a student is working to secure their own mobility assistive device for longer-term use. Wheelchairs/scooters and other mobility assistive devices are considered personal devices and are not guaranteed or provided long-term for loan by D2A2.
Services for Students with Other Types of Temporary Disabilities
Appropriate services for other types of temporary disabilities will be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the nature of the injury, medical or psychological/emotional condition, and the information and recommendations contained within the documentation of such.
Absences from Class, or Missed Exams and Assignments
If you must be absent from class because of your temporary disability, it is your responsibility to stay in contact with your professors. Generally, class attendance is considered an essential component of a course. Excused absences from class (beyond those normally allowed by the professor for all students in the class) or make-ups for missed exams or assignments, whether or not due to disability or medically related reasons, are not necessarily considered a reasonable accommodation. Our office can, however, verify your disability or medical condition for any professors who you wish for us to contact.
Some professors may choose to allow for excess absences (or allow you to make-up missed exams), but they are not necessarily required to do so. In any case, you should make arrangements to get and complete any work that you may have missed.
If you wish to have the class lecture notes for the days you are absent, you should either contact a classmate and/or send an audio recorder to the classroom to record the lectures. If it appears that the extent of your absences from class (or missed exams or assignments) will seriously affect your overall grade(s) or ability to complete the course(s), it is advised that you communicate withD2A2to explore your options, including whether it would be in your best interest to seek a withdrawal from the course(s).