Office for Accessibility Resources and Accommodation

The college engages in an interactive process with the student and, as appropriate, with professionals documenting the disability and the student’s family. If you have a disability and would like to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, written relevant documentation from a licensed physician, psychologist, or other qualified professional is ideal. A high school plan such as an IEP or 504 Plan may or may not be fully sufficient documentation, but can be helpful.

Student Responsibilities

• Identify themselves, provide documentation and request reasonable accommodations in a timely manner.
• Once approved for accommodations, communicate with faculty about how the accommodations will be implemented in the classroom.
• Submit Consent Form to Student Disability Services for every semester you request academic accommodations
• Communicate with Student Disability Services in a timely manner should any issues with accommodations arise.

Documentation must be relevant — that is, reflect the current status of the student and her/his disability needs. Ideally, documentation will describe the functional limitations resulting from the disability and how accommodations can improve student access to their full college experience. Requests for disability accommodations must be made each semester, and students must meet with their instructors to determine how the requested accommodations will be made in each class.

Although numerous accommodations may be offered — extended time on tests, access to classmates’ notes, and preferential seating to name only a few — students with documented disabilities are encouraged to utilize academic resources generally available to FSC students, including peer tutoring, study skills resources, and support assistance from their faculty advisor, instructors, and members of the Student Solutions Center. Student Disability Services is available to guide students to needed resources.

Florida Southern College has an attendance requirement and a requirement that students participate in Engaged Learning activities in the classroom. Once accommodations are approved, how they will be implemented in each class is determined in an interactive process between the professor and the student. Each faculty member has attendance and Engaged Learning requirements in the course syllabus and the student and faculty member should review these together and determine the degree of flexibility that can reasonably be offered in each class.

Here is more information on requesting accommodations and what documentation should be submitted with your request.

In order for the Office of Student Disability Services to release an Academic Accommodation Plan to professors and faculty advisor, a Consent Waiver must be completed and submitted to the Student Disability Office each semester. This Consent Waiver is also needed to permit the Office to notify roommates and relevant college offices about the approval of an ESA or the presence of a Service Animal.

Further documentation may be needed if you are requesting an Emotional Support Animal as a reasonable accommodation. Please see our Residential Accommodation Policies including Animals for information. The college appreciates the opportunity to prepare to welcome Service Animals. Please contact Dr. Pospichal at 863.680.4197 for more guidance.

COVID and Support Animals, Fall 2021

Students may request accommodations at any time [and the college will always work to accommodate persons with disabilities in a timely and reasonable manner]. However, residential accommodations — including animal accommodations — may impact the greater community and may require actions such as housing reallocation or modification or collaboration with roommates. Thus if the individual makes a residential — including animal — accommodation request fewer than 6 weeks prior to moving into college housing, Florida Southern College cannot guarantee that it will be able to meet the individual’s accommodation needs during the first term of occupancy.

Documentation of health and licensing will be required for any animal residing on campus.