How We Evaluate Requests

The Office for Disability & Access (ODA) at Oberlin College and Conservatory engages in a collaborative and iterative process with its students individually to determine appropriate accommodations.  Academic needs are determined by documentation submitted by the student and a student interview. As part of the interactive process, when necessary, ODA will seek information from faculty about the academic requirements essential to the course or program for which the student seeks an accommodation, any licensure requirements directly related to course or program, and other relevant information specific to nature of the course or program.  When doing so, ODA will inquire of faculty the academic requirements (or the licensing requirements) that are essential to the course or program. This information is used to inform the decision about whether, after considering other alternatives and their feasibility, cost, and effect on the academic course or program, the requested accommodation (or alternative accommodations (if any)) would result in lowering academic standards and/or involve a fundamental alteration of the course or program. ODA will document its conclusions regarding such requests for accommodations or academic adjustments.