Students with learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, chronic health impairments, psychological disabilities, mobility or sensory limitations, and/or traumatic brain injuries are assisted with accommodations through this office.

The purpose of these accommodations is to provide equal access to a Calvin College education for all students. The office serves as a liaison between the student with a disability and the professor who provides an accommodation(s).

FAQ:

Am I Welcome?
How Do I Get Admitted?
How Can I Get Help?
What About Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficit Disorders?
What Do I Need To Do?
Download a printer friendly PDF version of the required forms.

Am I Welcome?

The mission of Services to Students with Disabilities is to ensure that (1) otherwise qualified students are able to benefit from a distinctively Christian education based on the liberal arts, and (2) the Calvin community responds appropriately in a way that avoids handicapping the student with a disability.

Federal law mandates no otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States "shall, solely by reason of his handicap be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity." Calvin College complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1991.

How Do I Get Admitted?

When seeking admission to Calvin, a student with a disability should be aware of the admissions standards. It is the student's prerogative to reveal the disability in the application for admissions; if revealed, the disability will not enter into the admission's decision. After acceptance, if the student has not done so previously, he or she should reveal any disability to the Office of Academic Services so that necessary accommodations may be made.

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How Can I Get Help?

As needs are made known, a Disability Coordinator develops a plan with each individual student, using necessary services and accommodations as the list below indicates.

Academic accommodations may include:

• Communication with the faculty
• Utilization of auxiliary aids
  • books on tape
  • note taking
  • interpreters
  • brailing
• Special advising/early registration
• Tutoring
• Diagnostic screening
• Coaching
• Alternative testing arrangements

• Counseling and vocational assistance and referral
• Assistance in arranging for personal care attendants, therapy, etc.

• Assistance in housing assignment modifications
• Campus accessibility:
  
  • accessibility guide
  • electric door openers
  • reserved classroom seating

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What About Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficit Disorders?

The potential Calvin student who has a learning disability or attention deficit disorder must meet the admission standards set for all students. The Committee on Admissions may prescribe involvement in the Access program, a program for those requiring further academic development in college, or placement tests in specific skill areas (English and/or mathematics) to ensure appropriate course entry upon enrollment.

Once admitted, all academic services are available to the student with a learning disability or attention deficit disorder. The student must understand, however, that academic standards at Calvin are rigorous. By taking advantage of appropriate services and by means of individual effort, it is assumed that academic progress will be made.

Further, the student must understand that these conditions sometimes meet with a lack of understanding. The student and the disability coordinator should maintain open communication with the appropriate faculty members in order to ensure academic integrity as well as reasonable expectations.

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What Do I Need To Do?

1. After acceptance, call, email, or write to a Disability Coordinator.
   
2. Access legal verification forms that are necessary to complete for accommodations :
   

• If learning disabled, have a current psychological evaluation sent to a Coordinator; release/request forms are available from a Coordinator if needed.
  
• If disabled due to sensory or physical limitations, have a recent and complete medical report sent to the Calvin Health Services and a Coordinator of Services to Students with Disabilities.
  
• If serviced by a State/Provincial Rehabilitation agency, have your caseworker contact a Coordinator.
  
• If eligible for Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic Services submit I.D. number to a Coordinator.

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Download a printer friendly PDF version of these forms:
(Requires Adobe's free Acrobat Reader.)

Verification Form for Learning Disabilities and/or Attention Deficit Disorders
   also required for LD and/or ADD: documentation
Verification Form for Acquired Brain Injuries/Disabilities
Verification Form for Hard of Hearing/Deaf Disabilities
Verification Form for Psychological Disabilities
Verification Form for Low Vision/Blind Disabilities
Verification Form for Chronic Health Disabilities
Verification Form for Mobility Impairments/Disabilities

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