Current Obies - Considering Accommodations?

Eligibility Requirements

In order for a student to be eligible for accommodation on the basis of disability status, they must be a person with a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), its Amendment Act of 2008, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and its revision of 1974.

Under those laws, a person has a disability if they have “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities (e.g., walking, standing, seeing, speaking, hearing, breathing, learning, working, or taking care of oneself), has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment.”

Individuals with disabilities who attend or plan to attend a post-secondary institution may need reasonable accommodations or auxiliary aids to have equal access to the programs and services offered. The laws that require post-secondary institutions to provide these services to otherwise qualified students include Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). 

To receive accommodations in the post-secondary environment, a student must notify the institution's Disability Services Office and initiate the eligibility determination process. The Office for Disability & Access (ODA) is the designated office at Oberlin College & Conservatory.

In keeping with our mission to encourage self-advocacy, the Office for Disability & Access facilitates an iterative process where students actively participate in the accommodation process. Students should:

• Register with the Office for Disability & Access (ODA) and request accommodations in a timely fashion;
• Arrange and communicate specific details of requested accommodations with faculty and staff members;
• Maintain the same academic standards required of all Oberlin College students, including timely completion of academic work; and 
• Abide by the Oberlin Student Conduct and Community Standards on such matters as academic honesty and behavior.

Find more information on our Housing & Dining accommodation requirements here: Housing & Dining Accommodations

Religious & Cultural Exemptions

Students experiencing challenges or barriers in the college's residential setting based on religious practices or cultural reason can complete the Religious/Cultural Consideration Request Form through ResLife. As a community, it is important that all students have the resources and support they need to practice their religious and cultural beliefs while living on campus. However, because the Office for Disability & Access (ODA) works under the purview of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and religious, spiritual, and cultural practices are not considered a disability or covered by the ADA, ODA cannot approve a housing/dining accommodation based on a student's religious or cultural beliefs. 

For more information on the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, contact Samia Mansour, Director of the ORSL!