University of Wisconsin Stout | Wisconsin's Polytechnic University

Definition:

• Equal access may mean a modification or adjustment to a course, program, service, job, activity, or facility to enable a qualified student with a disability to have an equal opportunity to fully participate.
• Equal opportunity means the student with a disability may attain the same level of performance or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges as are available to a similarly situated student without a disability.
  

NOTE: Academic accommodations are adjustments to the environment provided to "level the playing field" with respect to the current functional limitations of an enrolled student.  Academic accommodations are not remedial in nature, nor do they change or reduce academic standards of a course or degree program.

The University is obligated to make reasonable accommodations only to the known limitations of an otherwise qualified disabled student.

To determine reasonable academic accommodations, Disability Services may seek information from appropriate University personnel regarding essential standards for courses, programs, services, jobs, activities, and facilities.  Final determination of reasonable accommodations is made by Disability Services staff working with the individual student. Reasonable accommodations are the means to providing equal access and are determined by examining:

1. The barriers resulting in the interaction between the student with a documented disability and the campus environment;
2. The possible accommodations that might remove the barriers, thereby providing equal access;
3. Whether or not the student has access to the course, program, service, job, activity, or facility without accommodations and whether or not essential elements of the course, program, service, job, activity, or facility are compromised by the accommodations.