Through the provision of academic support services focused on promoting self-advocacy, resourcefulness, and independence, Woodbury’s Office of Disabilities and Accessibility Services (ODAS) strives to support, empower, and integrate students with disabilities into all aspects of campus life to help them access a comprehensive University experience. As part of Academic Affairs, ODAS works collaboratively with other departments, programs, and teaching faculty to ensure that students are integrated and supported in all aspects of campus life in order to have a positive and comprehensive university experience.
Woodbury University is committed to providing students of all abilities access to all programs, services, and activities as mandated by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“504”) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”). Woodbury’s Office of Disabilities and Accessibility Services (ODAS) strives to create an accessible and inclusive campus experience by not only providing necessary accommodations for equal access to academic programs but also implementing innovative ways to support students with disabilities. ODAS’s mission reflects Woodbury’s overarching goal of empowering student success and its commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
You are not alone! According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 19% of undergraduate and 12% of graduate students report having a disability. The actual number of students in college with a disability is estimated to be higher, based on underreporting. At Woodbury, we strive to promote campuswide disability awareness, increase visibility of disability supports, and facilitate a culture of inclusion. ODAS’s work supports Woodbury’s mission by focusing on purposeful student engagement and ensuring that all of our processes, services, and environment are accessible and enrich the student experience.
Disability is defined by the ADA as “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities, a record of such an impairment or being regarded as having such an impairment.” There is no definitive listing of covered impairments. Woodbury follows current legal standards and national best practices in determining whether a student has a disability.
Accommodations are based on alleviating specific, identified barriers to access based on the individual student’s needs, and what is provided to one student may not be appropriate or necessary for another. The following list is provided as examples of possible accommodations:
Non-academic accommodations are modifications that allow students equal access to all campus services, programs, activities, and facilities. These accommodations may include housing accommodations such as single room assignment or permission to have an Emotional Support Animal (ESA). Students should refer to current housing policies and ODAS procedures for further information regarding accommodations in on-campus housing. The process of securing housing is separate, and determination of a housing accommodation does not guarantee a spot in the dorms. Students are encouraged to apply for housing early. It is the student’s responsibility to provide information and documentation through the interactive process to support the need for the specific housing accommodation requested.
To request a housing accommodations, students must follow the same procedures and documentation requirements as noted below. Students may not bring an ESA into the dorm until a determination is made by ODAS as to the necessity of the ESA for disability-related reasons.
Woodbury grants reasonable accommodations when required to ensure equal access to students with disabilities. An accommodation is an adjustment or modification that allows for equal opportunity for academic or physical access. Reasonable accommodations are determined by ODAS after an interactive process that involves submission of necessary documentation and an intake meeting during which the Director of ODAS seeks to gain an in-depth understanding of the functional impact of the disability. All decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.
Incoming or current students may reach out to ODAS directly or may be referred by faculty or other departments. Initial contact is helpful for students to find out more about the process and about available support. ODAS may be contacted at [email protected] or 818-394-3345.
It is the student’s responsibility to disclose a disability and to provide additional information through documentation and the interactive process to seek accommodations. Students must complete an online form to provide more information and provide additional documentation as necessary. Medical or psychological documentation should be reasonably current, include a diagnosis, and describe the functional impact of the disability in an educational setting. Woodbury follows the AHEAD national guidelines for documentation requirements.
Incoming and current students may submit their accommodations request through the button below.
The intake appointment is a 1:1 meeting between the student and the ODAS Director, and is a central part of the interactive process. The intake meeting involves discussion of the functional impact of the disability on the educational experience, review of provided information, and discussion of necessary and appropriate reasonable accommodations if applicable.
The ODAS Director makes the determination regarding whether the student is eligible for accommodations. This decision may be made during the meeting or after if additional time to review information is needed. Students are informed of the final determination, and have a right to appeal if applicable.
A Notice of Academic Accommodation Letter (NAAL) is produced to document the reasonable accommodations in place. The NAAL is provided, with student consent, to instructors for all courses in which the student is enrolled.
Woodbury’s Office of Disabilities and Accessibility Services (ODAS) has adopted documentation guidelines that recognize changes in society’s understanding of disability, the impact of the 2008 amendments to the ADA, the updated regulations and guidance to Titles II and III of the ADA, and current nationally recognized best practices. In keeping with accepted best practices, Woodbury’s documentation guidelines comport with the recommended guidelines from the Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD).
Woodbury follows the full guidelines available from AHEAD and ensures that its documentation guidelines reflect current legal standards, regulations, and best practices.
Woodbury strives to ensure that its documentation processes are not burdensome and do not have the effect of discouraging students from seeking protections and accommodations to which they are entitled.
Within the interactive process, all relevant information is considered. Consistent with the AHEAD guidelines, the following forms of documentation are acceptable:
Students requesting accommodations are encouraged to provide the most current and thorough medical, educational, psychological or therapeutic records available to support their request. If it is determined that additional information is necessary to ascertain the extent of the disability or the need for reasonable accommodations, ODAS may require additional documentation.
Accommodations are not retroactive. This means that students who are not registered with ODAS will not be granted retakes of past exams and/or assignments based on newly verified disabilities.
The institution is not required to make academic adjustments that would substantially change the fundamental nature of the program. Therefore, accommodations that fundamentally alter the program or course in question will not be granted. Accommodations are designed to ensure access, but all students still must meet the essential requirements of their programs, majors, and courses of study.
An accommodation that may have been appropriate in another setting may not be appropriate at Woodbury. Accommodation decisions are made on a case-by-case basis considering all information in the interactive process and considering what is necessary and reasonable for student’s courses in order to ensure access.
Students who disagree with determinations made by ODAS, including determinations about documentation and the initial intake process, have the right to appeal such decisions in writing. All appeals are to be timely submitted in writing to ODAS, and the ODAS Director will promptly notify the Student at that time of the process for the appeal. The appeal will be decided by an appropriate University official.
Students with concerns about potential disability-based discrimination may also contact the United States Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, 50 United Nations Plaza, San Francisco, California 94102, 415.486.5555, or by email at [email protected].
At Woodbury, we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every student’s unique abilities and aspirations are celebrated, and where student success is supported through innovative programs and services. All Woodbury students have access to robust supports to enhance their success on their academic journey. ODAS provides tailored interventions to registered students, oversees innovative programming initiatives, and helps to facilitate access for students with disabilities to campus supports.
Students registered with ODAS have access to:
The Student Assistants for Success (“SAS”) Program is an innovative, one-of-a-kind academic support model with foundations in research-based methods such as supplemental instruction and embedded tutoring. SAS provides embedded, targeted support for studio-based courses in School of Architecture and MCD majors. Woodbury is the only art and design institution providing embedded academic support specifically for studio-based courses.
We understand that the transition to college is challenging, and that the demands of studio-intensive majors are unique. Designed with a focus on supporting neurodiverse learners in studio-based courses, but available and effective for all students, our SAS program is specially tailored to address those challenges and demands head-on.
Building Careers, Breaking Barriers
At Woodbury, we understand that students do not end their journey at graduation, and we are here to support student goals beyond the classroom. ODAS and the Career Services Office collaborate to provide innovative and individualized supports for students and alumni with disabilities.
These services may include:
ODAS can help facilitate access for students with disabilities to other student supports on campus. Research shows that neurodiverse students and other students with disabilities benefit from access to supports like peer mentoring and tutoring, but may be less likely to seek those supports out on their own. Our support for the development of self-advocacy skills includes helping students become more proactive and independent in accessing the resources available to them. We can facilitate access, make referrals, and help students develop an independent plan for setting up appointments for services such as:
Have a question about accommodations, supports, or accessibility on campus? Contact ODAS at [email protected] or call 818-394-3345.
ODAS is located in the Whitten Student Center, and students may drop in or make appointments during regular office hours.
Woodbury utilizes the Accommodate software system for accommodations requests and to manage renewal of accommodations each semester. New requests can be made within this system.