Our Services

The office of Student Access Services provides services to meet the individual needs of students in accord with their disability and its academic implications. Based on the student's documentation of disability, SAS works with the student and collaborates with faculty to ensure the provision of reasonable and appropriate accommodations and academic adjustments.

Accommodations/Academic Adjustments

Some of the academic accommodations that the University provides to students with disabilities may include but are not limited to:

• Accessible classroom/location/furniture
• Adaptive equipment/Assistive Technology
• Alternative testing
• Alternative text formats
• Course substitutions
• Note taking assistance
• Parking
• Priority registration
• Reader/Scribe services
• Sign language interpreters/captionists
• Textbooks in alternative format
• Assistance or Service Animals

Accessible Classroom/Location/Furniture

At Bradley University and the Office of Student Access Services, we strive for accessibility and inclusion. Several classrooms are accessible to students with all forms of disabilities. With the exception of only a few, most classrooms are wheelchair accessible, and accessible furniture such as adjustable desks are also available on request. Accessible furniture and all other accessible classroom needs should be specifically requested through SAS by the student needing these accommodations. All requests should be made in advance, with students informing SAS of their class schedules including all locations and meeting times. It is the responsibility of students to make this request each semester and should inform SAS of any changes in their schedules or in the location of their classes.

Adaptive Equipment/Assistive Technology

The University has a variety of adaptive equipment designed to remove educational barriers for students with disabilities. This includes but is not limited to:

• JAWS
• CCTV
• Zoom Text
• Text-to-Speech reader
• Dragon Naturally Speaking
• Live Scribe Smart Pens
• FM system

Alternative Testing

The most common test accommodations include extended time, testing in a distraction-reduced environment, tests in alternative formats, interpreted tests, and the use of adaptive equipment. The need for alternative testing is indicated on the Notification to Instructors form.

Students are responsible for arranging testing accommodations with their professor and/or Student Access Services. Students need to schedule exams with the SAS and the instructor at least three days prior to the testing date to arrange for accommodations.

Alternative Text Formats

We provide alternative text services as an accommodation for students with visual limitations, learning disabilities or other cognitive or physical limitations that significantly affect their ability to read and/or comprehend printed/digital material and text. In alternative text services, the material in question is converted into a format that is more accessible to the student and more compatible with their limitations. Alt text formats allow these students to gain access to the necessary information.

Course Substitutions

It may sometimes be necessary for a student with certain limitations to substitute one course for another in order to meet specific graduation requirements. This substitution request is normally first discussed with the student's academic advisor and then with our office before an approval can be granted and the necessary arrangements can be made.

Note Taking Assistance

Only qualified students with disabilities, or qualified students with temporary disabilities, such as a wrist fracture, may request note takers through Student Access Services. Even if students are provided with a note taker, they are expected to take some notes to assist them in focusing their attention during the class.

Students using note takers should also understand that the note taker is responsible for note taking in class only. The note taker is not to assist with out-of-class assignments, homework or alternative testing arrangements.

Parking

Students with disabilities may park in the Disabled Person Parking Only spaces if the vehicle bears a valid State of Illinois Disabled Person Parking Placard or license plate.

Priority Registration

Priority registration is available to students registered with Student Access Services who qualify for this accommodation. Generally, priority registration occurs the week before advanced registration. Students are notified of priority registration dates through their MyBradley account.

Reader/Scribe Services

Qualified students with appropriate documentation who Student Access Services has determined to be eligible for this service must make arrangements for reader/scribe services four weeks prior to the first day of class. Readers may be allowed to read class assignments or test materials. Scribes are responsible for writing down information as dictated by the student. Readers/scribes cannot do any of the following: explain, re-word, assist with choosing answers on a test, tutor or teach any class materials, do personal tasks or errands or serve as a go-between for the student and the instructor.

Sign Language Interpreters/Captionists

Only qualified students with documented disabilities that require an interpreter may request for one through Student Access Services. Students using interpreters should also understand that the interpreter is only responsible for interpreting and cannot provide any solutions for assignments, homework or examinations and tests.

Textbooks in Alternative Format

Given the length of time necessary to make arrangements for alternative text, students should request this service at least two weeks prior to the start of the semester.

To receive course materials in an alternative format from Student Access Services students must:

• Be registered with SAS and be approved to have alternative text as a reasonable accommodation
• Be enrolled in the course for which alternative text is being requested
• Purchase class materials and provide proof of purchase

Assistance Animals (emotional support/comfort/therapy)

An assistance animal is defined as any animal with a primary role of providing emotional comfort to a person with a disability. These animals are not required to undergo specialized training. Assistance animals are not the same as service animals in that they are not individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. A request to have an assistance animal in campus housing is considered a request for accommodation and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Bradley University does not allow students to have pets in the residence halls. However, Bradley recognizes that the reasonable accommodation of an assistance animal is sometimes necessary to afford a student with a disability an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling or to participate in the housing service or program. Assistance animals do not qualify as service animals under the ADA, and as a result, are not entitled to the same protections or right of access as a service animal. However, under FHA, Assistance Animals are considered a reasonable accommodation and students with disabilities can request this accommodation by providing the necessary documentation to Student Access Services. As with any accommodation request, the request for an assistance animal is determined on a case-by-case basis.

Bradley University has the right to request additional clarification or documentation of disability.

Service Animals

A service animal is a dog (or in some cases a miniature horse) that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other qualified disability.

The work or task that the service animal performs must be directly related to the individual's disability. Examples include assisting individuals with low vision and alerting individuals who are hearing impaired. Service animals may also be needed to pull a wheelchair, retrieve items such as medicine or a telephone, recognize and assist during seizures, and prevent or interrupt compulsive or destructive behavior.

Service animals are allowed in all places of public accommodation. This includes campus buildings, residence halls, and anywhere on campus they are needed to assist an individual with a disability to participate in educational programs and other campus activities.

Service animals must be under effective control at all times and cannot harm or threaten others in the campus community including faculty, staff, students and guests.

Consistent with federal and state law, a service animal may be prohibited from university facilities or programs if the animal's behavior or presence poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others. The animal may also be excluded from areas where its presence fundamentally alters the nature of a program or activity, if the animal is disruptive, if its presence would result in substantial physical damage to the property of others, or if it substantially interferes with the reasonable enjoyment of housing or public accommodation by others.

Although an accommodation request does not have to be made to have a service animal on campus, it is necessary to request a housing accommodation to ensure that you have an optimal living environment to accommodate an animal.

Personal Attendants

Bradley University is not responsible for locating or paying for personal attendants; the University does recognize that, in some instances, personal attendants may be necessary (per appropriate documentation).  In the classroom, a personal care attendant may monitor the student’s adaptive equipment, serve as the student’s voice when appropriate, or turn pages for the student. An attendant can be present (if documentation supports this request) during a test but the SAS proctor must administer the exam.

To ensure that students with disabilities are recognized as independent class members, the following guidelines have been established for personal care attendants.

Personal attendants will:

• Attend to the needs for which he/she was hired (e.g. personal care duties such as turning pages, retrieving books, taking off coats, etc.). Student Access Services, not the personal attendant, will ensure that all classroom accommodations (such as note taking or in-class writing) are provided.
• Serve as the student’s voice, when appropriate, without offering his/her own perspective. Attendants should not actively participate in the class or in conversations between the student and faculty, staff or other students.
• Demonstrate appropriate classroom behavior.
• Maintain any confidential information about the student.
• Abide by Bradley’s Student Code of Conduct.
• Abide by all College parking regulations.
• Not give unauthorized assistance to any student (personal care attendant is not responsible for the student’s progress or behavior).
• Not provide reading/scribing assistance in a testing situation—the student is responsible for scheduling this accommodation through Student Access Services.

While on campus, students needing assistance in getting to various buildings, toileting, dispensing of medications, etc., should make arrangements to have their own personal attendant.  Requesting such services from non-trained individuals on campus could pose a threat to those providing assistance and the individual with the disability and, therefore, those types of requests cannot be accommodated.

Timely notification presented to Student Access Services is required if an attendant will need to accompany a student to class. This will enable the SAS Office to complete Faculty Notification Forms.