Determining Reasonable Accommodations

Overview
The primary responsibility of Disability Services is determining reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities at CU-Boulder. Faculty and staff are strongly encouraged not to make additional accommodations for students. Approved accommodations are communicated to faculty in an official letter from our office hand delivered by the student.

Criteria for Determining Reasonable Accommodations
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 criteria are used in determining accommodations. Disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of such an impairment, or being regarded as having such an impairment. Accommodations are determined by the current impact of a disability. The questions below must be answered “yes” for a student to receive an accommodation.

• Has the student provided documentation that meets established criteria?
• Does the student have a disability as defined above?
• Is there evidence of current impact and support for each requested accommodation?
• Is the student “otherwise qualified” for the course or program? That is, the student
  • meets the academic prerequisites and technical standards
  • can perform the essential components with or without accommodations
• Is the requested accommodation reasonable? That is, the accommodation must not
  • alter the essential components of the curriculum or program
  • pose a threat to personal or public safety
  • impose an “undue hardship” on the university (i.e., an undue financial or administrative burden)
  • be of a personal nature (e.g., personal assistant for home care)

Updated 6/2007