Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

It is our intention to provide reasonable accommodations for students with qualifying disabilities. The policy outlines procedures for applying for an accommodation(s) due to such a disability. They apply to classroom accommodations, exam accommodations, and accommodations relating to our building.

Procedures

Students who believe they are entitled to an accommodation should communicate with the Dean of Students as soon as possible. If at all possible, you should initiate the process before your matriculation, or, if later, as soon as the disability arises. Students enrolled in non-law courses that require accommodations should consult with the University’s Student Disability Services.

1. To initiate working with Student Disability Services (SDS), visit their website and select Register for Accommodations. You will be directed to fill out the Disability Self-Disclosure Form. If you have questions about the process, you may contact SDS for assistance. They can offer you advice and guidance on the services available to students at the University. Students requesting disability accommodations must submit the Disability Self-Disclosure Form along with any supporting documentation of your disability. The form and guidelines for disability documentation are available on the Student Disability Services website.

2. Once you have filled out the Disability Self-Disclosure form, SDS will arrange for a meeting between you and a counselor. After gathering sufficient information, SDS will forward a written recommendation regarding possible accommodations for your disability to the Law Dean of Students for consideration by the Administrative Committee. Due to the academic calendar, the Committee must have the written recommendation by the beginning of the fourth week of the semester for which accommodations are being requested. This recommendation is a precondition to action by the Law School’s Administrative Committee on any request for an accommodation. The Administrative Committee may request additional documentation or clarification of your records.

3. SDS will ask you to make a written request regarding any specific type of exam accommodation or other academic accommodation which you believe to be appropriate. In this regard, they will request proof of the accommodations which you have been granted in the past. While your prior testing history and other accommodation history are relevant to the SDS determination of reasonable accommodations in Law School, it is important that you realize that SDS will not necessarily agree to grant the particular accommodations that you have been given in the past. SDS and the Administrative Committee will thoroughly consider your request for an accommodation given your disability and the essential components of our academic program. It is important for you to realize that an important feature of that program is the comparative grading of students based on examinations that are time-pressured, competitive, and occasionally stressful.

• (a) written recommendations from Student Disability Services, regarding any suggested accommodations and.

• (b) any additional information requested by the Administrative Committee, the Committee will consider the request and respond. A student should not discuss his/her need for classroom or exam accommodations directly with a particular law faculty member, unless asked by the Dean of Students on behalf of the Committee to do so. A student should not discuss his/her need for classroom or exam accommodations directly with a particular law faculty member, unless asked by the Dean of Students on behalf of the Committee to do so. The Administrative Committee may, on occasion, feel it is appropriate to discuss a particular accommodation request with an individual faculty member..

• If the specific accommodations that you requested are denied, you may appeal that decision to SDS if any new or differing medical documentation is available.
• If you wish to request an accommodation on bar examinations, you must direct your request to the state or states to which you are applying for admission. Each state has its own procedures for bar admission.

Commitment

If you believe you are being discriminated against because of your disability, you have the right to file a grievance under Cornell Policy 6.4,