Informed Consent for Disability Support Services
Confidentiality
The Disability Support Services (DSS) staff adhere to laws and ethical standards that require applicable information to be held in confidence. Such information can be released to others outside DSS only when an educational, health or safety issue creates a need to know. Exceptions to these requirements arise in those circumstances in which DSS staff are required by law to report suspicion of child, domestic, mentally ill, disabled, or elder abuse or in which the client presents a serious danger to him/herself or others.
Your Responsibility
In order to receive accommodations, you must first voluntarily provide appropriate, up-to-date documentation, sign an informed consent form, and request specific accommodations based on your documentation. Only requests deemed appropriate and reasonable will be recommended to instructors.
Once the Accommodations Data Sheets are ready for your signature, you need to hand-deliver them to your professor(s) and negotiate as to how the accommodations will be provided.
In order to continue receiving accommodations, you must submit an updated request for accommodations.
Eligibility
Your eligibility for service is contingent upon your status as a registered or continuing Southern Adventist University student. The services you receive are based upon a determination of your needs and goals. If DSS is unable to meet your needs, you will be given a referral to resources that may be able to help you.
Records
A confidential record of services provided and your progress through those services is maintained with access generally limited to DSS and Counseling & Testing (C&T) staff (for additional access information, see “Confidentiality” above).
Appointments
DSS support services are free of charge for eligible students.
Making appointments, both for meeting with personnel and for using equipment, is recommended, but if none has been made, you can access staff and equipment without appointment, pending availability.
If staff cannot keep an appointment with you, a good-faith effort will be made to notify you. (To facilitate such notification, please make sure you have accurately listed your contact information on “My Access.”)
Grievance Procedure
Students with questions, concerns, or complaints regarding disability accommodations or services are encouraged to first contact the Disability Services Coordinator at ext. 2574 or visit Suite 3900 in the Beitz Center to seek an informal resolution.
To initiate a formal grievance procedure, students may obtain the appropriate grievance forms from either Disability Support Services (DSS) or Counseling and Testing, located in the Beitz Center, Suite 3800. Completed grievance forms should be submitted to the Director of Student Support Services for review and follow-up.