Services for Students with Disabilities Mission Statement:

Fresno Pacific University values the diversity of students with disabilities and is committed to providing equal access and opportunity for all students.  Students with documented disabilities can expect to have their privacy protected while being assured of reasonable and appropriate accommodations for all educational experiences.  The Academic Support Center serves as the liaison between faculty and students in the coordination of academic accommodations and services.

Definition of a disability:

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a person with a disability is one who

• Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major activity*
• Has a record or history of such an impairment
• Is regarded as having such an impairment

*Major life activities include, but are not limited to, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, working, caring for oneself and performing manual tasks. These impairments may exist in those with chronic health impairments, learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, physical disabilities, etc.

Three main categories of disabilities:

• Physical
  • Obvious physical disabilities and injuries
  • Blind/low vision
  • Deaf/hard of hearing
  • Chronic illness
• Cognitive
  • Learning disabilities
  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Emotional/Social

All disabilities are covered equally by the ADA.

How to Administer and Use Most Common Academic Accommodations

Student responsibilities, professor responsibilities, and things to keep in mind are outlined for each of the most common accommodations. Please skim through to find the accommodations relevant for each student. Any accommodation not listed here is either infrequently used or not relevant to faculty to implement.

Remember that in all cases:

• Accommodations must be “reasonable” and must never significantly alter the purpose of an assignment, course, program, etc.
• Best practice is to determine “reasonable accommodations” on a case-by-case basis.
• Balance gracious understanding of the student’s unique needs with guidance for what it takes to be successful in each course.
• The requirements to use an accommodation must not be more stringent than requirements for all other students.
• The goal of accommodations in post-secondary education is to provide equal access.

If you have any questions about the following explanations or accommodations not listed, the staff of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) are always happy to help.

Service and Emotional Support Animals Policy

For complete policy and information about Service Animals or Emotional Support Animals on campus, please read the entire document.

Service and Assistance Animal Policy

Other Policies

Distraction Reduced Setting for Tests Policy
Extended Due Dates Policy
Extended Time on Exams Policy
Electronic/Accessible Text Policy
Modified Attendance Policy
Notetaking Assistance Policy
Process for Aquiring Electronic Texts
Permission to Record Lectures Policy
Non-Discrimination Statement