Disability Support Services for Students
Daniel Newman
Executive Director Academic Support Services (ADA/504 Coordinator for Students)
https://www.lesley.edu/students/academic-resources/tutoring-support
The University is committed to the full participation of students in all programs. The Disability Support Services office promotes equity and excellence in education, maximizing each student's educational potential. The philosophy is one that encourages self-awareness, self-determination, self-advocacy, and independence while providing a safe, caring, respectful environment that cultivates growth and positive learning.
Disability Support Services provides a range of individualized support services for students with disabilities. The office works with faculty, staff, and students, on- and off-campus, to create and implement appropriate accommodations that allow all students an equal opportunity inside the classroom and around campus. For more information about the services and support available to our students, visit https://www.lesley.edu/students/health-wellness-safety/disability-services and for information regarding Reasonable Modifications of Policies, Practices, and Procedures for Students with Disabilities, visit https://www.lesley.edu/students/policies/disability-services-policies.
Both websites provide information about eligibility for disability services, policies and procedures for requesting modifications to accommodate disabilities, examples of accommodations, our confidentiality policy, and grievance procedures.
Eligibility, Documentation, and Confidentiality
All qualified students with disabilities are eligible for accommodations and support services. It is the student's responsibility to initiate the accommodation process with Disability Services.
The process for obtaining reasonable accommodations is an interactive one that begins with the student contacting the appropriate director whose names are listed below in the Disability Services Administrators section (see below). In the context of reasonable accommodations, Disability Support Services may request documentation concerning an individual’s disability and/or the need for accommodations. Documentation may set forth recommended accommodations and come from a physician, clinician, psychologist, or other approved provider. For more information regarding documentation guidelines, refer to step two under "How to Request Classroom, Academic, Testing, or Meal Accommodations" on the Disability Services website at https://lesley.edu/students/health-wellness-safety/disability-services.
It is important to note that student diagnostic information and use of supports provided by Disability Support Services are confidential and are only disclosed with the student’s permission.
Lesley University will make reasonable modifications to our rules, policies, practices, and procedures, when such modifications are necessary to afford goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations to individuals with disabilities.
Accommodations
The obligation to make reasonable accommodations extends broadly to all programs and services offered by the University. It includes a wide range of supports, including classroom accommodations, use of service animals, dietary allergens, etc. Lesley University ensures effective communication through the use of auxiliary aids and services, the provision of testing accommodations, and the establishment of barrier-free supports.
Common classroom accommodations include extended time and distraction-free space for exams and quizzes, extended time on course requirements, note taker, etc.
Student Responsibilities to Obtain and Utilize Disability Support Services
- To initiate the process with Disability Support Services.
- To provide documentation of disability and other relevant information based on guidelines outlined on the website.
- To work with Disability Support Services to determine appropriate accommodations.
- To deliver accommodation letters to course instructors early in the semester.
- To renew the request for supports each semester.
- To work cooperatively with the University.
- To adhere to the Disability Services policies and procedures regarding acquisition of accommodations and supports.
It is not necessary to say the words “reasonable modification” when making an accommodation request. Any request for an exception, modification, or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice, or procedure because of a disability will be treated as an accommodation request. Accommodation requests can be submitted orally or in writing and can be made by a student with a disability or by someone acting on the student’s behalf if the student also wants the requested accommodation and works cooperatively with the University.
Disability Services Administrators
Daniel Newman, Executive Director, Academic Support Services, serves as the ADA/504 Coordinator for students and supervises the two areas listed below. Any questions or concerns regarding ADA/504 accommodations for either of these service areas can be directed to Daniel Newman.
Documentation should be presented to the appropriate contact person listed below.
Students Attending Classes in On-Campus Programs:
Learning Disabilities, Attention Disorders, and Autism Spectrum Disorders/Asperger Syndrome
Kimberly Johnson, Director, LD/ADD Academic Support Program
30 Mellen Street, Doble Hall, 2nd floor, Cambridge, MA 02138
617.349.8462
Email: kjohnso7@lesley.edu
Fax: 617.349.8324
Physical, Sensory, Psychiatric and Medical Conditions
Daniel Newman, Executive Director Academic Support Services (ADA/504 Coordinator for Students)
30 Mellen Street, Doble Hall 2nd floor, Cambridge, MA 02138
617.349.8572
Email: dnewman@lesley.edu
Fax: 617.349.8324
Students Attending Classes in Off-Campus, Online, and Low Residency Programs:
Daniel Newman, Executive Director Academic Support Services (ADA/504 Coordinator for Students)
30 Mellen Street, Doble Hall, 2nd floor, Cambridge MA 02138
617.349.8572
Email: dnewman@lesley.edu
Fax: 617.349.8324
Disability Discrimination Statement
Lesley University is committed to the full participation of its students in all of its programs. In addition to this long-standing Lesley philosophy, students with disabilities have specific legal rights guaranteed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a civil rights law enacted to protect individuals from discrimination on the basis of disability. Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of public accommodations, such as universities.[1] The preceding information is a summary of Lesley University’s policies and procedures for students with disabilities seeking reasonable accommodations under the ADA (sometimes colloquially termed and referred to by Lesley as “reasonable accommodations”). An essential component of Title III of the ADA is the right of a qualified individual with a disability to a reasonable modification of policies where necessary to afford such individual an equal benefit.
Students who believe that they have been discriminated against or harassed on the basis of a disability are encouraged to notify the University. For more information about the University’s policy against discrimination and harassment, please see the Lesley University Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Violence Policy (https://lesley.edu/students/policies/behavior-policies/discrimination-harassment-and-sexual-violence-policy).
Students may report incidents of discrimination and harassment to:
Dr. Anita Poole-Endsley
Equal Opportunity & Title IX Coordinator
29 Everett Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
617.349.8809
apooleen@lesley.edu
equalopportunity@lesley.edu
or:
Public Safety Office
34 Mellen Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
617.349.8888
Email: publicsafetysupervisors@live.lesley.edu
Reports of discrimination and harassment may also be made to the police by calling 911.
For information regarding the complaint process, please see the Discrimination and Harassment Complaint Resolution Procedure (https://lesley.edu/students/policies/behavior-policies/discrimination-harassment-complaint-resolution-procedures).
Lesley University students also have the right to pursue other avenues of recourse. If students believe that they have experienced, or are experiencing, unlawful discrimination or harassment at Lesley University or at any Lesley University-sponsored activity or event, they may contact other resources, including the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Education. The contact information for the Massachusetts OCR office follows:
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights ("OCR") - Boston Office
5 Post Office Square,8th floor
Boston, MA 02109-3921
Telephone: 617.289.0111
Fax: 617.289.0150
TDD: 877.521.2172
Email: OCR.Boston@ed.gov
OCR Website: https://ed.gov/ocr
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1 Postsecondary institutions, whether public or private, that receive Federal financial assistance are also subject to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination against otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities.
Center for Academic Achievement 617.349.8459
Daniel Newman, Executive Director Academic Support Services (ADA/504 Coordinator for Students) 617.349.8572
Anhar Mulla, Associate Director 617.349.8460; Online Tutoring Manager 617.349.8299
Kimberly Johnson, Director of LD/ADD Academic Support Program 617.349.8462
Jerimiah Bergstrom, Learning Disability Specialist 617.349.8464
Stephanie Chancey, Learning Disability Specialist 617.349.8007
Holly Aldrich, Disability Access Specialist 617.349.8655
Dawn Pulley, Disability Access Specialist 617.349.8542
Kaitlyn Scrivano, Office Coordinator 617.349.8459