How to Request Accommodations
All accommodations provided on the basis of disability must be provided by or in consultation with the Office of Accessibility Services to establish consistency of practice and proper documentation of services.
Interactive Registration
The first step in registering for accommodations is to review our full Policy for Requesting Disability Accommodations at the Law Center, complete a Registration Form, and submit documentation in accordance with the Disability Documentation Guidelines. Reasonable accommodations are determined through an interactive process that may include all or some of the following steps: documentation review, student intake meeting, and/or clinician consultation (when necessary and with approval). Any student who disagrees with an accommodation determination may appeal as outlined in the full Policy for Requesting Disability Accommodations at the Law Center.
A temporary condition is a non-recurring medical condition of extended duration. Examples of Temporary Conditions include broken limbs, manual injuries, short-term mobility issues, concussions, and impairments resulting from surgical recovery.
Georgetown University recognizes that individuals with temporary medical conditions that do not qualify for accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or Section 504 may need short-term access to services, resources, and course or co-curricular modifications.
A Temporary Condition does not constitute a Disability for purposes of the ADA or Section 504 unless its severity is such that it results in a substantial limitation of one or more
Major Life Activities for an extended period of time. All such determinations are made on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the severity and duration of the Impairment.
If a Temporary Condition is expected to last less than three (3) weeks, the Student may contact the relevant faculty or staff to discuss short-term adjustments directly, except as related to an anonymously-graded Assessment. Faculty and staff may consult with OAS, if needed. If a Student is unsuccessful in obtaining reasonable adjustments from the faculty or staff, the Student may consult with OAS or the Dean of Students.
If a Temporary Condition is expected to last more than three weeks, the Student must follow the process set forth above to request an Accommodation(s).
Students may request adjustments based on general pregnancy needs or accommodations based on a pregnancy-related condition. Adjustment requests should be directed to Lisa Curtis, Deputy Title IX Coordinator for the Law Center. Students seeking a pregnancy adjustment are to complete a Pregnancy Adjustment Request Form noting the requested reasonable adjustment. In certain situations, a student may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation due to a pregnancy-related condition. Accommodation requests should be directed the Office of Accessibility Services.
Any student who disagrees with an accommodation determination may appeal as outlined in the Policy for Requesting Disability Accommodations at the Law Center.
Following documentation review and engaging in the Interactive Process, OAS will email the Student or Applicant one or more of the following:
- A Letter of Accommodations, stating:
(1) Student’s or Applicant’s name;
(2) A list of the approved Accommodation(s); and
(3) An expiration date(s) for the approved Accommodations. - A proposed alternative Accommodation(s); and/or
- A denial of some or all of the request for Accommodation(s), the reasons for the denial, and notice of the Student’s or Applicant’s right to appeal.
If the Student or Applicant accepts the alternative Accommodation(s) offered by OAS, OAS will email the Student or Applicant a Letter of Accommodations.
If the Student or Applicant does not accept the alternative Accommodations offered by OAS, the Student or Applicant may propose a different alternative Accommodation for OAS to consider, and if accepted, OAS will email the Student or Applicant a Letter of Accommodations.
If OAS and the Student or Applicant cannot reach an agreement on an alternative Accommodation(s), OAS may send a denial to the Student or Applicant, the reasons for the denial, and notice of the Student’s or Applicant’s right to appeal.
Grievance Procedure: Georgetown University’s Office for Equal Opportunity Compliance (OEOC) reviews alleged violations of the University’s Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination in Education Policy, including allegations of unlawful discrimination on the basis of disability. The University encourages anyone who believes they have been subjected to unlawful discrimination or harassment to report the incident and seek redress through OEOC’s Grievance Procedures. A student need not have exhausted the Law Center’s appeals process to report concerns to OEOC. More information about OEOC’s grievance process can be found on the OEOC website or by emailing oeoc@georgetown.edu.