Office of Disability Services
In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, Manhattanville College strives to ensure that “no otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program administered by the College.” As per federal law:
An individual is defined as having a disability if they are an individual who (1) has a physical or psychological impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities; or (2) has a record of such impairment; or (3) is regarded as having such an impairment.
The Office of Disability Services works in collaboration with all departments of the college, whether academic, student services, facilities, etc. to ensure accessibility and to assist students and advocates to maximize student independence and success.
Undergraduate and graduate students with documented disabilities who are seeking accommodations may voluntarily register with the Office of Disability Services by scheduling an intake appointment with the Director. As part of the intake process, students will be asked to provide appropriate and current documentation. In the case of multiple disabilities, students may be asked to provide documentation for each disability for which accommodations are being requested. It is recommended that students submit the most recent documentation of his or her disability. Disabilities change over time and documentation should support current needs. Students may be asked to obtain updated documentation if no recent documentation exists. In some cases, students may be asked to go for further disability testing or evaluation to gain more information on accommodation needs. Services, accommodations and/or the need for assistive technology will be determined on an individual basis upon documentation review and a thorough consultation with staff from the Manhattanville Office of Disability Services.
Accommodations are determined by the Office of Disability Services on an individual basis considering both documentation and intake interview. Each semester, students who are receiving services from the Office of Disability Services will engage in an interactive process with the office when making formal requests for accommodations. The Disability Services staff will work with the student in order to support them in self-advocating and communicating with professors regarding their needs for accommodations. Please note that other accommodations that will need to be requested before the semester begins if possible include: textbooks and other class materials in alternate formats and sign language interpreters.
Throughout a student’s college career, staff members from the Office of Disability Services are available to meet individually with each student to discuss what accommodations are most appropriate. Developing the accommodation plan is an ongoing process and accommodations can be changed or adjusted if the need arises.
Grievance Procedure
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Any student who believes that reasonable accommodations have been denied should first contact the Director of Disability Services who will attempt to resolve the situation expeditiously. If a resolution cannot be reached, a written petition should be submitted to the Director, who will convene the ADA Committee to review the petition. The Committee’s decision may be appealed to the Vice President for Student Affairs. Provisional accommodations may, at the discretion of the Vice President, be provided in the meantime.
Service and Support Animal Policy
Manhattanville College understands the importance of Service and Support Animals to those individuals with disabilities and has therefore established policies and procedures to provide equal access to those individuals requiring this support and to ensure the safety of the campus. This policy ensures that people with disabilities, who require the use of Service or Support Animals as a reasonable accommodation, are granted this privilege so that they may receive the benefit of the work or tasks performed by such animals or the therapeutic support they provide. Please contact the Director of the Office of Disability Services to learn more about the policies and procedures of a Service or Support Animal.
The Higher Education Learning Program (HELP)
The HELP Program is a fee-based program that serves as a center of support for graduate and undergraduate students with documented disabilities. It is designed to focus on the academic and executive functioning skill development of each student. Participants partner with a Learning Specialist in order to work to develop many of the skills needed to become successful college students. Learning Specialists are trained professionals who have experience working with students with a variety of disabilities. The Program runs in the Fall and Spring semesters as well as during the Summer and Winter sessions for students taking courses at Manhattanville. A student may also utilize the HELP Center if the student is planning on taking courses at another campus but plans on continuing at Manhattanville College the following semester. No separate application is required to become a member of the HELP Program. Students may enroll in the program after they have been accepted by the College and have registered with the Office of Disability Services.
The Pathways and Connections Program (PAC)
Manhattanville College offers an innovative and comprehensive program for undergraduate students with Autism Spectrum and related diagnoses. The PAC Program is a fee-based program that includes features such as career development, individual coaching, and peer-mentoring. The goal of the Manhattanville PAC Program is to provide participants with a well-rounded campus experience, connections to the community, social events on/off campus and an extensive preparation for life after Manhattanville College.