Accessible Educational Services

Academic accessibility measures (accommodations) are modifications or adjustments that ensure that students with qualifying medical conditions, under the ADA, have equal access to course instruction, materials, and evaluation. The accessibility measures must be reasonable and cannot fundamentally alter or compromise the essential requirements of a course or create an undue burden. Examples of reasonable accessibility measures include extended time on exams, testing in reduced distraction environments, permission to record in class, or using your laptop to take notes.

Assistive technology includes hardware and software designed to alleviate vision, hearing, cognitive, and mobility impairments, as well as alternate format books and classroom materials.

If you are in need of assistive technology, you must be referred by your Access Coordinator to Assistive Technology and Accessibility Centers (ATAC). The key to receiving services from ATAC is planning ahead. Due to the volume and complexity of this work, ATAC must receive requests from your instructors at least three weeks in advance of when the material or assistive technology is needed. Requests not received within this timeframe may result in a delay of the material or assistive technology delivery.

Service animals, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), are “dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.” The university also recognizes miniature horses as a service animal consistent with relevant ADA guidelines and regulations. Examples of tasks that a service animal might perform include:

• Guiding a person who is blind
• Alerting a person who is deaf
• Pulling a wheelchair
• Alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure
• Reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications
• Calming a person with post-traumatic stress disorder during an anxiety attack

Service animals are welcome anywhere their handlers are permitted on campus (exceptions may exist for health and safety reasons). Contact AES if you have any questions or concerns.

Emotional support animals are not considered service animals under the ADA, and they are not granted access to areas of public accommodation at IU Bloomington. They are permitted in student housing with prior approval from AES and IU Housing.

Generally, all classrooms on campus are accessible. However, occasionally due to construction or maintenance issues, you may find a classroom to be inaccessible to you. If you find that a classroom is inaccessible for any reason, contact your access coordinator right away to discuss options. Please note it may take up to 10 business days to fulfill a Physical Access Modifications request.

If you need an adjustable table instead of a desk, or any other accessible furniture, your access coordinator will work with Campus Facilities to arrange for furniture placement. This may require additional time, so please visit your classrooms prior to the first day of class to assess what may be needed. You will need to follow this process each semester.

Accessible Educational Services offers accessible van service for Indiana University Bloomington students who have a severely limiting permanent qualifying mobility condition. If space is available, students with temporary mobility limitations may be provided this accessibility measure on a first-come, first-serve basis. The service provides rides only to your scheduled classes during standard hours of operation.

Your access coordinator is available to meet with you to discuss concerns related to your classes, instructors, or other issues that are affecting your academic progress. They can help you balance your course load to address your accessibility needs, provide self-advocacy coaching, and connect you with other resources on campus. Should you need assistance in communicating any concerns regarding the implementation of your approved accessibility measures with faculty or staff, your access coordinator can provide direction on how to communicate your needs or concerns, and in some cases may help facilitate these conversations. Your access coordinator may also refer you to the appropriate campus or community resources.

As a participant in our Collegiate Life Coaching program, you have the option to work one-on-one with your AES access coordinator to find ways to study and manage your time effectively in a college environment.

Topics include:

• Scheduling and time management
• Study skills, such as notetaking and exam preparation
• Organizational skills for papers and projects
• Overcoming procrastination
• Academic goal setting 

The intention of the Collegiate Life Coaching program is to help you obtain transferrable skills that allow you to function independently in the university environment.

For more information about coaching, contact your access coordinator.