Office of the Dean of Student Affairs

To ensure that its programs, activities, and services are accessible to all matriculating students, Bowdoin College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Documented disabilities may include a learning disability; attention deficit disorder; a visual, hearing, or mobility impairment; or a physical or mental illness. A reasonable accommodation is one that is consistent with the academic standards of the College and does not require substantial course or program alteration. Final authority for determining the most appropriate and effective accommodation rests with the College and is based on the nature of the course or program and the individual student's disability-related need. [It must be understood that arrangements for equipment, recorded text, interpreters, housing assignments, and other accommodations require advance notice.]

Since the laws guiding eligibility for accommodations in grades K-12 and post-secondary education differ, current documentation including recommendations which correspond with the demands of college will help to support your transition. If documentation is not current or relevant, the College will require an updated evaluation, the cost of which will be covered by the family.

The information you provide will be kept confidential except that relevant faculty and staff will be informed if they are expected to provide accommodations or if emergency treatment might be required.

Students who wish to make a request for an accommodation based on a disability must:

1. Identify themselves to the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs and request accommodations following their acceptance of admission to Bowdoin. A student begins this process by completing the form entitled "Self-Identification and Request for Accommodations for Students with Disabilities and Other Special Needs." New students receive the form in their post-acceptance packet. Continuing students receive notification of the policy and form availability at the beginning of each semester. They may identify themselves at any time and should do so immediately following an injury or illness with permanent or long-term implications. The form will become part of the student's personal file, which is maintained by the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs.
2. Provide, at the student's expense, current (i.e. within 1 to 3 years depending upon the nature of the disability) relevant documentation of a disability that substantially limits a major life function. Documentation must be completed by a qualified, licensed professional. Upon receipt of required documentation, the director of accommodations for students with disabilities in the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs will consult with the student and other appropriate individuals in determining reasonable accommodations.

Criteria For Diagnostic Documentation

1. Documentation for a learning disability, ADD/ADHD, or a psychological illness should be recent and appropriate for post-secondary education. It must provide evidence of a substantial limitation to learning, or another major life activity.
2. The evaluation must be conducted by a licensed professional with training and experience in the assessment of adolescents and adults. It must be submitted on the evaluator's letterhead.
3. Documentation must include a complete DSM-IV diagnosis, and a description of the disability. This diagnosis should be based upon a comprehensive clinical interview and the results of comprehensive testing (when testing is clinically appropriate). Evaluation tools should include standardized, professionally acknowledged measures for adolescent and adult assessment.
4. Documentation must include a description of the impact of the disability on academic functioning and recommended accommodations supported by specific test results and clinical observations.
5. Documentation should include, depending on the nature of the disability, a recommended re-evaluation time period.

Documentation Requirements For A Physical Disability

1. Documentation must be submitted by an evaluator with training and expertise with the particular medical condition identified. The documentation must be signed and dated by this individual and be submitted on that person's letterhead.
2. A current medical diagnosis must be provided and include a full description of the impact of the student's disability in a residential educational setting.
3. Documentation must provide recommendations of reasonable accommodations specific to the diagnosed disability.
4. Documentation should include, depending on the nature of the disability, a recommended re-evaluation time period.

Incoming students with documented disabilities should speak with the director of accommodations for students with disabilities in the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs. After consultation with the student, a review of the student's documentation, and any necessary consultation with outside specialists, the coordinator of accommodations for students with disabilities will determine what accommodations are reasonable and appropriate. The director of accommodations for students with disabilities will communicate in writing with the instructor of the course involved regarding specific accommodations. The student must speak with the instructor during the first week of classes to confirm the accommodations.

Students who experience academic difficulties and suspect a learning disability should identify themselves to the director of accommodations for students with disabilities in the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs. Referrals for testing by qualified individuals can be provided through the College Health and Counseling Centers.

Students who feel they have been discriminated based on their disability should consult the Grievance Procedure for Student Complaints regarding Sex Discrimination and Discrimination on the Basis of Physical and Mental Disability to be informed of the steps that can be taken to address these concerns.