Office
of
Disability Support Services
SERVICES FOR PLU STUDENTS
At Pacific Lutheran University, services for students with disabilities are provided by Disability Support Services (DSS). The DSS office provides reasonable accommodations to students who have documentation of a disability from a professional assessor.
PLU's Policy Statement
Students with disabilities have access to, participate in, and receive the benefit of any program or activity operated by PLU. PLU has zero tolerance for discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex or disability. Reasonable accommodation will be provided at no cost to the student on a case-by-case basis as recommended in the student's documentation of a disability and as determined by the DSS director.
The Mission of PLU and the DSS Office
To assure that all students are considered fully enfranchised members of the educational community and have access to any program or activity operated by the University. Our goals are to
- appreciate and understand the needs of our students with disabilities;
- develop a comfort zone for these students by establishing accessible, barrier-free campus environment; and
- provide a classroom environment that gives our students with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in discussion and activities.
Who can receive accommodations?
Students who have documentation of a learning, physical, or psychological disability from a professional assessor (physician, psychologist, physical therapist, audiologist, learning specialist) can receive accommodations as recommended by the assessor and as determined by the DSS director.
What are some common classroom accommodations?
- Extended time for exams
- Testing in a separate room
- Note-takers
- Books on Tape or CD
- Ergonomic chairs and/or adjustable tables
- Assistive Technology
- Interpreters or Captioners
This list is not exhaustive. Students' needs change and accommodations are reviewed at the beginning of each term.
Who is eligible to have tests proctored in the DSS Office?
Only students who have documentation of a disability, with testing accommodations determined by the DSS director, can have tests proctored in the DSS Office. Unfortunately, we do not have space or staffing to proctor tests for other university students. Students who need to make up exams due to illness or other issues will need to make arrangements with their professor.
What can't accommodations do?
Accommodations cannot be given if it changes the essential nature of a course or program. They cannot create an administrative hardship and they may not significantly compromise the health and safety of the student or others.