Disability Policy
Disability Services
Aspen University’s Disability Services will work to uphold the mission of the University by providing reasonable accommodations to all students with disabilities in order to help them achieve their academic goals. Aspen University complies and adheres to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
Aspen University’s policy and practice is to provide students with disabilities full and equal use of services, facilities, and privileges. Aspen University does not discriminate in its admission, recruitment, academics, research, financial aid, counseling, or employment assistance processes. The University promotes an environment of respect and support for individuals with disabilities.
Students are responsible for disclosing disability information and requesting accommodations, in accordance with university requirements. Students who need assistance, even on a temporary basis, are encouraged to utilize the services available through the Office of Disability Services (ODS). For more information, please contact disabilityservices@aspen.edu.
Request for Accommodations
Students must fill out a request form and send it back to the ODS. Students are required to provide documentation that demonstrates credible assurance of a disability issue. The documentation should directly support the student’s request for accommodations. The documentation must be from a medical provider (such as a doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, etc.) or from testing services (such as Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and other tests). The documentation must state the specific disability and show cause for why a student's disability significantly limits their ability to complete their educational goals. The documentation should include a summary of the student's functional limitations so that appropriate accommodations can be made.
The documentation should be typed with the appropriate official signature and contact information for the associated facility for verification purposes (on official letterhead is preferred). Handwritten documentation must be clear and legible with the appropriate official signature and contact information for the associated facility. Documentation cannot be altered and must be submitted in its entirety. Documentation can be submitted to the Disability Office by email to
disabilityservices@aspen.edu.
If the documentation provided does not meet the University's requirements, the student will receive notice and will be asked to provide alternative supporting documentation. All documentation provided is kept on file in the Disability Office for verification purposes. Students requesting additional accommodations after their initial approval, may be asked to provide additional documentation.
A student may request accommodations at any point in their program. Accommodations cannot be applied retroactively. Coursework that was already due cannot be covered by accommodations. For those assignments, we would encourage you to work with your instructor and follow the Late Work Policy found in the catalog.
Approved Accommodations
After reviewing the student’s Accommodation Request form and subsequent documentation, Disability Services staff will determine reasonable accommodations for the student. An approved accommodations letter will be sent to the student outlining the details and the time length of the accommodation.
Documentation showing credible assurance of a permanent disability issue that has been approved by the Disability Office is valid for the length of the student’s academic program. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the Disability Office of any schedule changes that may occur during your program of study, including any extended break in classes, in order to ensure that your accommodations are applied or adjusted accordingly.
Aspen University strives to accommodate the needs of all our students. If a student requires accommodations, please email: disabilityservices@aspen.edu
Religious Accommodations
As part of this commitment, the University will make good faith efforts to provide reasonable religious accommodations to faculty, staff, and students whose sincerely held religious practices or beliefs conflict with a University policy, procedure, or other academic or employment requirement unless such an accommodation would create an undue hardship.
Individuals may not be discriminated against because of their religious beliefs or practices, or because they lack religious beliefs or practices.
To request a religious accommodation, more information, or assistance, please contact
disabilityservices@aspen.edu.
Grievance Process
For the complaint process and additional information, refer to the ADA Manual. The 504 Coordinator is responsible for overseeing efforts to comply with these disability laws, including responding to grievances and conducting investigations of any allegation of noncompliance or discrimination based on disability.