WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
Accommodation Policy and Procedures for Students with Disabilities
Washington and Lee University School of Law is committed to providing equal access to educational opportunities to qualified students with physical or mental disabilities, in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Students requesting accommodation must provide appropriate documentation of: (1) a disability, which is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; and (2) a need for accommodation, by virtue of the specific functional limitations of the disability, to have equal access to educational opportunities. The School of Law intends that these procedures will facilitate an interactive process of dialogue and timely exchange of information between the student and the Associate Dean for Student Services.
It is the responsibility of a student with a physical or mental disability who may require any type of accommodation to make the accommodation request in a timely manner. In order to allow sufficient time for the eligibility and accommodation decision process and to make arrangements for appropriate accommodations, the student should contact the Associate Dean for Student Services [hereinafter “Associate Dean”], Sydney Lewis Hall 528, Washington and Lee University School of Law, Lexington, Virginia 24450, (540) 458-8533, within one week of the start of the academic term. The student will need to complete a “Request for Accommodation of Disability” form and an interview with the Associate Dean, after which the Associate Dean will inform the student about any further specific documentation required for the particular disability and accommodation requested. Untimely requests may result in delay, substitution, or denial of accommodation, though the Associate Dean will make a reasonable effort to accommodate such requests.
Upon receipt of all
required information and documentation from the student and his/her
diagnosing/evaluating professional, the Associate Dean will make the eligibility
and accommodation determinations. The Associate Dean may consult with other
educational, medical, or psychological professionals, as he/she deems necessary
for appropriate evaluation of disability/accommodation, on a case by case
basis. As soon as possible, preferably within two school weeks of receiving all
required documentation on the request, the Associate Dean will issue a written
response, either outlining offered accommodations or explaining why the student
was found ineligible. A student who disagrees with the decision of the
Associate Dean, or who seeks clarification of the decision, may, within three
(3) school days of the decision, request an informal meeting with the Associate
Dean for clarification or to request reconsideration of any aspect of the
decision. Following the meeting, the Associate Dean will notify the student in
writing of any change in his/her decision, preferably within five (5) days of
the informal meeting. Thereafter, if the student still disagrees with the
decision, he/she may appeal the decision, in writing, to the Provost of the
University or designee within five (5) school days of the written notification
from the Associate Dean, stating in detail the basis for the appeal and
furnishing all documentation in support of the appeal. The Provost or designee
will then review the appeal, the decision of the Associate Dean, and all
supporting documentation, may meet with the student and the Associate Dean, and
may obtain any additional information he/she deems relevant. The Provost or
designee will render a written decision to the student as soon as possible,
preferably within two (2) school weeks of receiving the appeal. The decision of
the Provost or designee is final.