Student Accessibility Services

Welcome! The Student Accessibility Services (SAS) office coordinates with faculty, staff, and administration to assist students with a qualified disability in meeting their academic and personal goals. Within the bounds of our resources, Gwynedd Mercy University will provide reasonable accommodations to meet the challenges and needs of students with a qualified disability.  

If you are a student with a qualified disability, choose from the links below to learn more about available services and the application and documentation process.

Applying for Student Accessibility Services - all students seeking services must first complete the application process

Documentation Requirements
Housing Accommodations Requests
Emotional Support Animal (ESA)
Contact Us
Additional Resources

Additional information is available in the Student Accessibility Services Manual and Grievance Policy (PDF).

Applying for Student Accessibility Services

You can make a request for accommodations pertaining to learning, psychological, and/or physical disabilities at the time of your acceptance to Gwynedd Mercy University or any time thereafter. The request must be made by you, the student, in person, by email, or via submission of the Student Accessibility Services Accommodation Application (PDF). Please note that other forms of contact such as phone calls or disclosures to other University staff or faculty are not recognized as requests for accommodations.

If you self-identify as having a disability and request accommodations, you are responsible for submitting appropriate documentation and following the procedures listed below. Please allow sufficient time for administrative processing of the application. GMercyU cannot make any accommodations without completing this process. 

Accommodation requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and the accommodations are based on each student's individual and unique needs. Please allow sufficient time for administrative processing of your application. 

The SAS office is closed between June 1 and July 31. Any accommodation requests made within that time should be done via email to the Accessibility Coordinator, and may take more time to process than usual.

Application Procedures:

1. Documentation: Please provide the following to the Accessibility Coordinator:
   • Gwynedd Mercy University SAS application (PDF)
   • Supporting Documentation for identified disability (PDF)
   • Course schedule for current semester (if available)
2. Meet and Plan: You will have one-two meetings with the Student Accessibility Services Coordinator to:
   • Review your application, supporting documentation and accommodation requests
   • Review the University’s SAS Policy, including the Grievance Police and student responsibilities
   • Review Letters of Accommodation
   • Receive information regarding campus resources
   • Receive information regarding off-campus resources, if needed
3. Follow Up: You will meet with the Student Accessibility Services Coordinator every subsequent enrolled semester to:
   • Provide course schedule
   • Review accommodation needs and progress

Documentation Requirements:

All documentation in support of a disability should be reflective of the current, functional impact of the condition or impairment. Current testing and evaluations should have been completed within the past five years. Additionally, updated documentation may be requested, in some circumstances, where documentation is outdated or when ongoing treatment is being provided. Interviews with the student and other involved persons are viewed as an important part of the process and can provide valuable information to augment the documentation.

Documentation for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Physical, Neurological or Psychological disabilities:

• Health Care Professional Form in the Disability Application OR an original letter from the evaluating professional that includes the following areas: a clearly stated, specific diagnosis; a description of the symptoms; a description of the current functional limitations of the condition; an explanation of the impact of the condition on the academic and/or housing environment; and recommendations of appropriate accommodations. 
• A written evaluation by a psychiatrist, neurologist, licensed psychologist, or other qualified professional. 
• 504 Plan and the completed Health Care Practitioner form. 504 Plans submitted without supporting documentation will be accepted as supplemental information only and not the primary supporting document.
• Documentation for Learning Disability: 
• Comprehensive Psycho-educational Evaluation Report or Re-evaluation Report by a school district, neurologist, licensed psychologist, or other qualified professional; the report should include results of psycho-educational testing.
• An IEP, Summary of Performance will be accepted as supplemental information only and not the primary supporting document. 

The AHEAD Best Practices: Disability Documentation in Higher Education was used in developing these guidelines. 

Housing Accommodation Requests

All requests for housing accommodations are due to the Student Accessibility Services Coordinator by May 1 of each year.

This procedure is NOT a housing application, but a request for accessibility-related housing accommodations only. You must also comply with Residence Life housing applications, guidelines, forms, and deadlines to apply for campus housing.

If you are seeking housing accommodations, please make your request via the Student Accessibility Services Accommodation Application (PDF). Determinations are based on the documentation and information received. An application that is incomplete or received after the deadline may result in a housing assignment that does not meet your needs.

Factors given consideration for special housing requests:

1. Is the impact of the condition life-threatening if the request is not met?
2. Is the request an integral component of a treatment plan prescribed by a medical professional for the condition in question?
3. Is space available to meet the student’s need?
4. Can space be adapted without creating a safety hazard?
5. Are there other effective means that would achieve similar benefits as the requested accommodation?
6. How does meeting the documented need impact housing commitments for other students?
7. Is the cost of meeting the need prohibitive?
8. Was the request made by the deadline?

Please note: Private room accommodations are rare. We make every attempt to find reasonable accommodations for those conditions that are covered under the ADA.

Once a determination is made regarding a housing accommodation, written notification will be sent to you. You should review the notification and sign it and return it to the Student Accessibility Services Coordinator. If you are approved for housing accommodations, you must meet with the Student Accessibility Coordinator annually to renew your request.

Emotional Support Animal (ESA)

If you're planning on living on campus and have the need for an Emotional Support Animal (ESA), you can make a request through Student Accessibility Services. Before making your request, please thoroughly read GMercyU's ESA Policy. Upon reading the policy, you will need to fill out both the ESA Provider form as well as the ESA Registration form. 

GMercyU's Emotional Support Animal Policy (PDF)
ESA Student Registration Form (PDF)
ESA Provider Form (PDF)
ESA Animal Information Form (PDF)

Contact Us

Student Accessibility Services is located within Counseling Services in The Griffin Complex, 2^nd floor window hallway of Rotelle Lounge.
Hours: Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The office is closed during June and July and all University-recognized holidays.

Brandi Crawford, Director of Accessibility
Phone: 215-646-7300 ext. 21014
Email: Crawford.b@gmercyu.edu

Gwynedd Mercy University does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, national origin, religion, sex or disability in the administration of its educational, admission, scholarship or loan policies.

Additional Resources

To learn more about learning disabilities and higher education, consult the following resources:

An open letter (PDF) to parents of students with disabilities about to enter college

AHEAD, the national organization for students with learning disabilities

LD online and LD resources are two websites with information for students with learning disabilities

Readings for the blind and dyslexic

The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation  

The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights has information about the rights and responsibilities for students with disabilities

ADD resources for students

The University of Montana, Missoula created a handbook (PDF) to help students transition from high school to college.