Office of Accessibility Services

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, students with disabilities are due reasonable accommodations in their academic pursuits. A student’s disability should not unfairly interfere with his or her learning process or evaluation and grading. Through collaboration with institutional allies, networks, and community partners, Accessibility Services leadership contributes to the development of equitable higher education experiences for all students who have disabilities.

Students must register in order to receive accessibility services. 

Once registered, students may request accommodations. 

To learn more about the process and documentation requirements please click on "Students" to the left. 

Accommodations

The Office of Accessibility Services at Fairmont State University facilitates academic, dietary, and housing accommodations. This is done through an interactive process so that each students accommodations are individualized to their needs. Some examples of accommodations include, but are not limited to:

• Extended time on exams
• Alternative format textbooks
• Gluten free meals
• A grab bar in the dorm bathroom
• Notetaking assistance

Please note that a housing release or exemption is not an accommodation. The OAS can make a recommendation to housing, but the decision to approve or deny a release or exemption request is made by housing.

Mission

The primary mission of the Office of Accessibility Services at Fairmont State University is to provide leadership and facilitate equal access in all institutional opportunities for students who have disabilities, so that they may achieve their academic, personal and professional goals. To accomplish this mission, the Office of Accessibility Services:

• provides institution-wide advisement, consultation, and training on disability-related topics like legal and regulatory compliance, universal design, and disability scholarship
• collaborates with students, instructors, staff, and administrators on removing barriers and fostering an all-inclusive campus that offers diverse, usable, and equitable learning environments 
• facilitates academic accommodations and provides individual services for students with disabilities 

Program

To achieve its mission, the Office of Accessibility Services contributes to:

• students' formal education, learning, and development
• student progression and timely completion of educational goals
• preparation of students for their careers, citizenship, and lives

Student Learning and Development Domains and Dimensions

The Office of Accessibilty Services contributes to student learning and development by aligning with The Council for the Advancement of Standards' learning and development domains. These domains include:

• knowledge, acquisition, integration, construction, and application
• cognitive complexity
• critical thinking, reflective thinking, effective reasoning, and creativity
• intrapersonal competence
• interpersonal competence
• humanitarianism and civic engagement
• practical competence

Ethical Standards & Confidentiality

The Office of Accessibility Services has an appreciation of disability as a valued aspect of diversity and as an integral part of the postsecondary educational experience. Accessibility Services personnel:

• consider the needs of students with disabilities when working with others on campus to create equitable and inclusive environments at Fairmont State
• recognize and apply the professional ethical standards to their role as a function at the institution
• respect the privacy of our students and maintain confidentiality in communications and records, as delineated by privacy laws
• confront and hold accountable other personnel who exhibit unethical behavior
• exhibit proper behavior regarding research and assessment
• expect scholarly integrity among students and staff

Diversity & Equity

The Office of Accessibility Services does not discriminate on the basis of ability, age, cultural identity, ethnicity, family educational history, gender identity and expression, nationality, political affiliation, race, religious affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, economic, marital, social, or veteran status, or any other basis included in institutional policies, coeds and laws. The Office of Accessibility Services does not participate in nor condone any form of harassment that demeans persons or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.

The Office of Accessibility Services advocates for students with disabilities to have access to the same level of services on campus as is available to students who do not have disabilities, and to only receive services from our office that are not provided elsewhere from the institution. The Office of Accessibility Services fosters the development of a campus culture that values the diversity of disability and views disability as a core component of diversity.