We encourage students to request for accommodations upon acceptance into their program, however, applications for accommodations may be submitted at any time. Accommodations cannot be retroactive, so OSAS recommends students submit requests and complete the intake process early. All requests are reviewed and determined in a timely manner, however, at certain times of the year the process may take up to three weeks.
Below is the step-by-step process for requesting and receiving accommodations. Remember, your inquiry is confidential, and students are welcome to obtain general information about accessibility and accommodations without submitting a request.
Accommodation Request and Approval Process
- Complete and submit the electronic confidential Request for Accommodation Form.
- Provide documentation of a disability that meets the Office of Student Accessibility Documentation Requirements. Documentation can be uploaded in the Request for Accommodation Form, or emailed to OSAS staff. Submitting documentation in advance ensures the timeliest review of your request, however, documentation that may be required can be discussed at the intake meeting.
- Schedule an intake meeting with an OSAS staff member, using the scheduling links presented after submitting the Request for Accommodation form. It is the student's responsibility to schedule this meeting and ensure their outlook calendar settings are in the correct time zone.
- At the intake meeting, OSAS staff will begin an interactive process to:
- Determine if you meet the criteria for disability
- Assess disability-related barriers you may experience on campus, in the curriculum, and in clinical experiences
- Discuss potential accommodations to remove disability-related barriers and provide equitable access
- Communicate if additional documentation would be needed to support a requested accommodation
- Ensure that any requested accommodations are reasonable and that they would not create a fundamental alteration of the curriculum, policies, or technical standards of your program. This may involve contacting your program without identifying you or your disability. If a requested accommodation is not deemed reasonable, alternate accommodations may be proposed.
- After determining reasonable accommodations, OSAS staff will send you an accommodation letter, stating the accommodations you are approved for at Rush University. These accommodations are valid for the duration of your program, unless otherwise stated on the accommodation letter.
During the interactive process, OSAS takes into account each student’s self-report of disability, functional limitations, and known or anticipated barriers. OSAS reviews documentation of disability and, if needed, will consult with the student's provider or expert clinicians, when needed. When accommodation requests are non-standard, OSAS consults with the program directors/faculty to determine if the request would create a fundamental alteration of the curriculum, policies, or technical standards of your program. During this process, diagnostic information is never shared.
Faculty are informed of accommodations, upon student approval. CHS, CON, and Translational Science students should review the Rush Student Accommodation Handbook and RMC Medical students should review the RMC Student Accommodation Handbook for an overview of their rights and responsibilities. Should difficulties arise in the administration of any accommodation, students or faculty should reach out to the OSAS immediately, for support.
Students can request modifications to their accommodation letter, at any time in their program, by submitting an additional Request for Accommodation form. Students can also avail themselves of the Grievance Policy outlined in their accommodation handbook.