Academic accommodations are reasonable modifications, adjustments, auxiliary aids, and/or services that give neurodivergent students and students with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in the educational experience while maintaining the essential components of that experience.
Documentation guidelines – Reasonable accommodations are determined by SAS on an individualized and flexible basis. Sources and forms of documentation include the student’s self-report, the observations of the SAS Director during interactions with the student, and information from external parties (i.e., educational or medical records and recommendations).
- There must be a direct connection between the disability/condition and the accommodations being requested. If the documentation is incomplete or does not support the request(s), further information may be needed.
- By itself, a medical diagnosis does not establish a need or an entitlement to accommodations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended (ADA-AA). This means that having any disorder or condition does not, by itself, lead to any conclusion under Section 504 or the ADA. Therefore, the documentation required by Juniata College extends beyond the medical diagnosis to the current impact of the impairment.
- A student who seeks academic accommodations on the basis of neurodivergence or disability is responsible for obtaining the needed evaluation and resulting documentation, and for initiating contact with SAS. Please see the FAQ’s for more information.