ACCOMMODATIONS

Students with disabilities may request support services in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Students must self-identify by providing notice of their disability and the required documentation to LSS. Please refer to our Documentation Guidelines below to learn more about what documentation meets the necessary requirements.

Students should register with LSS by completing the Online Intake Form through Clockwork. Please review our ClockWork guidelines for more information.

If you have any questions, please email or call LSS at 610-519-5176.

Accommodations Appeal Policy

  • New students must first complete the two-step registration process with LSS to receive accommodations. 
    • Step 1: Complete the Online Intake Form through Clockwork and submit your documentation. Please refer to our Documentation Guidelines for information about what qualifies as acceptable documentation. And please check out our guidelines about ClockWork for more information about how to register with LSS.
    • Step 2: Discuss your accommodation needs with an LSS staff member.
  • Once you are registered with LSS and approved for accommodations, log in to ClockWork and complete the Request for Accommodations Form. This will enable you to send your professors a copy of your accommodation letter. Students must complete a Request for Accommodations each semester.  Please check out our guidelines about ClockWork for more information.
  • After you've sent your professors your accommodation letters, professors and students are expected to discuss the accommodations to make sure all parties are clear on what is needed. LSS staff are available to answer any questions or concerns.
  • Reasonable academic accommodations are based on the current impact of the disability on academic performance; therefore, it is in the student’s best interest to provide current and complete documentation using our Documentation Guidelines. If LSS determines that the documentation is inadequate in scope or content, or does not address the student’s current level of functioning and need for accommodation, or that the evaluator does not have the appropriate qualifications, reevaluation may be required.
  • Students who are looking for housing accommodations should refer to our Documentation Guidelines.
  • Reasonable academic accommodations in the postsecondary environment may differ from those available in the secondary school.  Learning Support Services will make the final determination for providing appropriate academic accommodations.
  • Depending on the nature of the disability and the accommodations requested, the amount of advance notice provided may impact the University’s ability to provide accommodations. Delays in presenting requests or providing documentation will affect promptness in arranging accommodations.
  • Documentation remains confidential and secure in the LSS Office at all times. It does not become part of your academic file. It is only viewed by the designated LSS Staff.

  • When professors are unable to provide all required testing accommodations for a student, students with testing accommodations can sign up to take their quiz or test at the LSS-run Falvey Test Center. 
  • As our testing space is limited, students must book their quizzes, tests, and final exams at least 3 business days in advance to take their test with the Falvey Test Center.
  • To book an exam with the Falvey Test Center, students will need to log into ClockWork for Students and select Schedule a test or exam. Please check out our ClockWork Guidelines for more information about how to book a test.
  • Please email with any questions about the Falvey Test Center.
  • Students with testing accommodations who are unable to schedule a quiz or test at the Falvey Test Center can schedule with the Tolentine Test Center by completing the Tolentine Test Center Sign Up Form. For more information, check out the Villanova Test Centers webpage. 

   

Resource for Students with Physical Disabilities

Office for Access and Disability Services

Connelly Center, 2nd Floor

Gregory Hannah: 610-519-3209 | Email

Kayla Concannon: 610-519-3213 | Email

Connor Hayes: 610-519-3211 | Email

Students with physical disabilities, neurologically based disorders that trigger a physical response, sensory disabilities, students with a chronic illness with resulting physical complications that rise to the level of disability, or a temporary injury that requires physical accommodations should contact the Office for Access and Disability Services with questions or concerns about access and support services.

   

Documentation Guidelines

Students requesting accommodations should be prepared to present documentation that establishes eligibility for services and supports requests for specific accommodations as soon as possible.

Students who are requesting accommodations should submit documentation to verify eligibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The following guidelines are provided to ensure that the documentation is complete and appropriate.

Documentation on file for the applicant must:

  • Be typed or printed on official letterhead and be signed by an evaluator qualified to make the diagnosis (include information about license or certification and area of specialization).
  • Clearly state the diagnosed disability or disabilities.
  • Describe the functional limitations resulting from the disability or disabilities.
  • Be current (This should ideally have been completed in the last five years.)
  • Include complete educational, developmental and medical history relevant to the disability for which accommodations are being requested.
  • Include a list of all test instruments used in the evaluation report and relevant subtest scores used to document the stated disability; test instruments should have adult norms.
  • Describe the specific accommodations requested.
  • Adequately support each of the requested accommodation(s).

Copyright ETS http://www.ets.org/disabilities/documentation/

ETS Guidelines for Documentation of Specific Disabilities

Records supporting the use of services in high schools or other institutions are helpful, although reports such as IEPs, SOPs and letters from disability service providers at other colleges are not, in themselves, considered sufficient to meet this documentation request. Learning Support Services reserves the right to request additional information to determine appropriate services or eligibility, if necessary.

Documentation is maintained in a secure file at LSS. Requests to share information with persons acting in roles external to the University will be considered only with prior written approval by the student. Files are usually maintained for seven years beyond a student’s last registration, after which they are destroyed. Please note that LSS cannot provide evaluations to students whose documentation is outdated, but we can make suggestions for local resources that conduct evaluations.

In some instances, a certification form completed by a qualified medical professional will be appropriate as documentation of a disability for your accommodations at Villanova.

Certification Form for ADHD

Certification Form for Mental Health Conditions

For a student with a documented disability to be considered for a housing accommodation, their appropriate medical provider should fill out the Housing Accommodations Form.

Once the form is completed in its entirety, the student can upload the documentation using the Online Intake Form (new students) or Student Files (students already connected with ADS or LSS) in ClockWork for Students. Learning Support Services or the Office for Access and Disability Services (depending on specific needs) will reach out to set up a time to discuss the request.

Please direct any questions regarding accommodations to LSS or ADS.

Housing Accommodation Request Deadlines

   

Grievance Prodecures

It is the policy of Villanova University not to discriminate on the basis of disability. Villanova has adopted this internal Grievance Procedure to provide prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any action prohibited by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended (ADA). Section 504 and the ADA prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability and provide that no qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities at Villanova. Raymond Duffy, Affirmative Action Officer, has been designated as the Section 504 Coordinator for Villanova University. The Section 504 Coordinator manages the efforts of Villanova to comply with Section 504 and the ADA.

Any person who believes they have been subjected to discrimination on the basis of disability may file a grievance under this procedure. Issues that may be the subject of a grievance include, but are not limited to, a denial of a requested accommodation, the inadequacy of an accommodation, the inaccessibility of a program or activity due to disability, and discrimination or harassment based on a disability. Please see Villanova's Section 504 Grievance Procedure for the full policy.