Introduction

The Office of Student Disability Services (OSDS) is a division of the Office of Equity and Access (OEA). The OSDS serves undergraduate, graduate, professional and health sciences students across the globe. 

Mission

The mission of the OSDS is to support the achievement of superior student outcomes for all students. Our services are designed to provide students with the best academic experience and support removing boundaries and roadblocks to ensure full access and engagement in educational programs.

Vision

The goal and ultimate vision of OSDS is barrier-free campuses where accessibility is embedded in the thread of our courses and culture and where we lead the example of student experience for all.

Welcome

If you are looking to receive services through the Office of Student Disability Services, we want to support you during this time. To start the process, email the corresponding address in the following Contact Information section relevant to your institution and program. We will provide you with the information to begin the interactive process of accommodation and may then also request a phone call for questions and introduction. If you need to speak over Teams, we will provide a link. If you require other accessibility needs to experience the call, please indicate that in your email.

Contact Information

Ross University School of Medicine    
rossmedosds@adtalem.com 
OSDS Phone: 855.229.0848
OSDS Fax: 630.596.1651

Rights and Responsibilities

Adtalem and its institutions and program are committed to providing equal access to educational opportunities for qualified students with disabilities in accordance with government, state, and local laws as applicable to the student’s program, institution, and location. All accommodations requested are reviewed on an individual basis to determine what is reasonable and appropriate. The student should understand the process is an interactive one that takes time.

Timeframe:

Students should apply as early as possible as there may be some situations where a request for accommodation is made at a point where appropriate arrangements cannot practicably or reasonably be made. Reviews may take a minimum of 10 business days once the file is determined complete and status updates are available in your email. Accommodations are not applied retroactively. 

Students Have the Right to:

• An equitable experience to participate in their program
• An opportunity to learn and receive applicable accommodations, adjustments, aids, and services
• Confidentiality of records-except where required/permitted by law
• Information available in formats that are accessible for their needs

Students Have the Responsibility for:

• Meeting technical standards with or without accommodations
• Self-identifying when:
  • An accommodation is needed
  • When a concern arises with accommodation
• Providing documentation from a licensed physician or clinician in a field appropriate to opine on the disability in question. More specifically, the existence of a disability, how that disability limits a major life activity and how it affects participation in the program and the activity for which you are applying for accommodation
• Following the OSDS published procedures for obtaining services and reasonable accommodations
• Respectfully interacting with colleagues in all exchanges

Accommodation Request Process

1. Email the OSDS with your intent to apply for an accommodation
2. Indicate first and last name, institution, program, term and your preferred method of contact and any supports you require.
   • Phone
   • Email
   • Teams
   • Other-describe
3. Obtain and fill out the Student Accommodation Request Form
4. . Gather the information from your physician or clinician applicable to the diagnoses for which you are applying. If there are multiple diagnoses, there may also be paperwork required from multiple specialists.

Notes Regarding the Process:

• The OSDS will determine if your request is applicable to the office and its services
  • if yes, OSDS will proceed with interactive process and review.
  • If no, OSDS will refer student to the appropriate supports and services available.
• If a student is accepted into the accommodation request process with an applicable request related to a disability, they will proceed and during the interactive process of accommodation the student can expect to get updates on status such as:
  • Incomplete- the student has not provided enough information for a decision (detailing what is missing to continue)
  • In Review-the file is at a point where the Accommodation Coordinator can make a decision on the following categories for each of the requests/recommendations:
    • Incomplete
    • Resource already available to all students
    • Approved
    • Alternative Accommodation Provided
    • Denied
  • If Approved- Notification letter sent
  • If Denied-Notification letter sent and call made for additional assistance if the student wishes to speak on the phone and continue the process
  • If an Alternative Accommodation is determined- Notification letter sent
  • Incomplete, resource already available- email communication with details and resources

Documentation Expectations

General:

• Request form with 1-Self-report 2- applicable documentation from your physician or clinician
• Documentation from your physician or clinician must be dated within the last five years
• Diagnostic codes
• License numbers and credentials
• A licensed physician or clinician familiar with your diagnosis and history and having expertise applicable to your diagnosis
• Explanation of how your disability affects you in a major life event and subsequently relevant to your need in an academic setting
• Specific recommendations for accommodation 

Supporting Documentation:

The following are types of documents that will be requested relevant to student’s disability for which they are requesting accommodations. Examples include but are not limited to: 

• Audiology Report
• Ocular Assessment
• Formal Diagnostic Interviews
• A Formal Assessment to include:
  • Intellectual functioning
  • Academic Achievement
  • Information processing
• Neuropsychological Assessment
• Clinical Summary

Documents that Will Not be Accepted:

• Handwritten correspondence from physician or clinician
• Patient records or any charts etc. pulled off the internet
• Documentation from a member of the family or an acquaintance
• Documentation from a physician or clinician affiliated with Adtalem or its institutions
• Prescription pads as supporting documents
• Documents by professionals who do not know the student’s medical history and have not made diagnosis
• Documents from physicians who do not specialize in the disability for which the accommodation is sought (ex: gynecologist for a vision request)

Services Not Covered by OSDS*

• English as a second language
• Personal Care Attendants
• Medical devices personal to the student (glasses, hearing aids etc.)
• Personal Transportation
• Services for students who do not have a temporary or long-term disability o See FAQ for more information and examples
• Pregnancy accommodations unrelated to disability o For assistance with pregnancy and parenting, contact equity@adtalem.com 
• Personal Tutoring
• Religion
  • For assistance, please contact equity@adtalem.com 

*If you would like information for what is available in your community regarding these services you may reach out to OSDS. However, please know OSDS does not recommend and are not affiliated with any of these services which may be available in the community and any responsibility would lie with the third party directly.

Accommodation Decision Appeal Process

Students who wish to formally appeal an accommodation decision made by the Office of Student Disability Services (OSDS) must submit the required form and any necessary documentation within 10 calendar days after receiving their accommodation decision.

Please fill out the form completely and accurately, as information missing from this form may delay the appeal process. Documentation must be submitted in one file to the OSDS. To appeal a decision, your appeal must meet one of the three grounds for appeal as notated in Part C of the request form 1-Procedural error by OSDS during the process that significantly impacted the outcome of the decision. 2-There is new information available that did not exist at the time of the initial request that has the potential to alter the outcome of the decision 3-There is Evidence of bias on the part of the OSDS Accommodation Coordinator that rendered the decision making it impossible to be objective.

*Please know the interactive process is still available to you, for new or alternate requests and does not apply to this process.

If it is determined that the documentation satisfies the appeal process grounds stated previously, the Manager of the OSDS or Designee will review the appeal. Please note that the review of an appeal does not guarantee a reversal of the original decision. If the appeal documentation does not satisfy the process criteria, or the student does not appeal within 10 calendar days, the appeal will be determined to be insufficient for review and the student will forfeit the right to an appeal.

Please note the decision by the Manager of the OSDS or Designee is final and not subject to further review.

Temporary Injury/Illness

Certain life events can adversely affect a student’s ability to participate. Some of the ways we see these temporary circumstances or injuries are broken limbs, strep throat, car accidents, flu, mono, bronchitis. While there may be supports available, the contact for this type of concern would start with faculty and potentially include areas as the institution such as wellness center, Dean, counseling center, etc. Academics may be able to go over leave or incompletes etc. If the concern/impairment in question is not a temporary or permanent disability, OSDS will refer you to the institutional departments.

If you believe you need assistance for a temporary disability that may be severe and pervasive contact the OSDS with questions. Temporary disability requests will be reviewed on an individual basis but generally are for a period of 6 months or greater. Minimally students would be affected for more than one term of their academic study.

Grievance

Students who believe they have been discriminated against due to a disability should contact Adtalem’s Office of Equity and Access at Equity@adtalem.com for assistance or to file a complaint. 

Additional Resources

National Organization of Nurses with Disabilities
Vets4Vets
MedicalProfessionalsWithHearingLoss
HealthScienceCoalition
PhysicianswithDisabilities