INTRODUCTION

The University of Notre Dame ensures that qualified students with disabilities have access to the programs and facilities of the University. This access is mandated by federal laws which require post-secondary institutions to provide reasonable, individualized academic modifications for students who have disclosed their disability and have requested accommodations. Examples of reasonable accommodations may include readers, note takers, sign language interpreters or a modification in the way a student takes an exam. Reasonable accommodations do not lower the standards of a course or alter essential degree requirements. Instead, the accommodation gives students a better opportunity to demonstrate their academic abilities.

The Coordinator of Disability Services is responsible for coordinating reasonable accommodations at Notre Dame. While each request for an accommodation must be handled on a case-by-case basis because of the differences in disabilities and classroom environments, there are three general principles that must be applied to all requests.