The Office of Student Accessibility & Disability Services serves as a resource for students and the campus community to promote an accessible, inclusive, sustainable learning environment.  This office strives to identify reasonable accommodations and remove barriers through a student-driven interactive process and review of supporting professional documentation.  Services include the following: 

• Academic accommodations (extended test time, separate test setting, notetaking assistance)

• Assistive technology (tools like notetaking technology, speech-to-text software, audiobooks)

• Housing or facility-related support (reasonable adjustments allowing students to have equal access to the housing or educational experiences)

• Assistance for students with temporary impairments (injury or extended illness)

The purpose of disability accommodations in higher education is to ensure that students have an equitable opportunity to participate in and access college programs and services relative to other students.  In higher education, institutions are not required to provide an academic adjustment that would alter or waive essential academic requirements or fundamentally alter the nature of a service, program, or activity. 

Students are responsible for requesting accommodations and submitting supporting documentation to the Office of Student Accessibility & Disability Services.  Unlike in K-12 education, disability records do not automatically transfer.  Accessibility & Disability Services personnel collaborate with relevant faculty, staff, and administrators as necessary to establish reasonable accommodations in accordance with FERPA guidelines.

Students who need academic, housing, or dietary accommodations should contact Student Accessibility & Disability Services to discuss needs, access the appropriate forms, and submit supporting professional documentation. Please use the links located on this page's left menu related to each accommodation type for additional information and forms.

ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS:

Ideally, academic accommodations should be requested before the start of the first semester of enrollment for an optimal transition. Accommodations may be requested and evaluated for implementation at any time during the semester, but some approved accommodations require planning time to be arranged, and approved accommodations cannot be applied retroactively. 

Once students submit an academic accommodation request and supporting documentation, a "welcome meeting" (either virtual or in-person) will be scheduled to discuss the request's details and confirm approved accommodations. Students with approved academic accommodations receive an Academic Accommodation Letter (AAL) that they should share directly with their professors early in the semester.  

HOUSING / EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL (ESA) ACCOMMODATIONS:  

Brevard College does not allow "pets" in campus housing; however, a student may request an exception to the policy to allow an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) to live in their residence when documentation verifies the presence of a substantially limiting disability and shows the student has a legitimate disability-related need for the ESA.  Please see the links on the left side for request procedures and documentation guidelines specific to either housing accommodation or ESA requests. 

In general, housing and ESA accommodations should be requested and approved at least 60 days before the start of the semester to ensure the Housing Office has sufficient time to arrange the accommodation. Requests should be made before May 15 for the Fall Semester and October 1 for the Spring Semester.  The Housing Accommodation Request Committee consists of staff from the Office of Accessibility and Disability Services and the Office of Campus Life, and is responsible for reviewing housing and ESA documentation and requests.  The Committee is unable to evaluate or process requests for an ESA accommodation between July 1 and September 15, or during Fall, Spring, or Winter Breaks.   Late housing and ESA accommodation requests will be considered at other times; however, approved students may need to wait until appropriate space becomes available.

Important Notes Regarding Emotional Support Animal Requests

• Brevard College campus housing does not allow pets.  Bringing an animal into campus housing without advance approval through Student Accessibility & Disability Services is a Campus Life conduct violation.
• Transfer students, like all other students, should apply for housing and ESA accommodations in advance according to Brevard College procedures and target dates.  Previous approval at another institution does not guarantee approval for the same accommodations at Brevard College.
• ESAs are not allowed at Brevard Music Center.  The college leases space at BMC and does not own this housing.  Approved students with ESAs must reside on the main campus.