Note: The last day to submit new documentation to OAS in order to schedule an intake meeting for this current semester is Wednesday April 17, 2024. Any documentation submitted to OAS after this date will be reviewed (in the absence of an intake meeting) to determine if temporary modifications would be reasonable for this exam period. Permanent accommodations will be confirmed once we meet for a brief intake meeting this summer. Students should email accessibilityservices@georgetown.edu with any questions or concerns.

Step 1

The student completes the Registration Form and submits documentation supporting their request for accommodations. While each request is handled on a case-by-case basis, please note the following documentation guidelines:

• Documentation must be typed or written legibly in English, signed, and dated by a professional who is qualified to conduct assessments, render diagnoses, and recommend accommodations. The name, title, and credentials of the evaluator shall be included. Documentation may not be provided by family members.
• Documentation must describe the current severity and limitations of a student’s functional abilities that rise to the level of a disability as defined by ADA, as well as a direct link between the functional limitations and request for accommodations.
• Documentation must be submitted for each disability. A DSM-5 or ICD-10-CM diagnosis alone does not necessarily warrant accommodations under the ADA.
• Documentation should include a relevant history, background information and/or compensatory strategies related to a student’s disability. We understand that some students may not have access to this history if a diagnosis happened later in life.

Learning Disabilities and/or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder 

Students with Learning Disabilities and/or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder requesting accommodations must submit a psychoeducational or neuropsychological evaluation report to determine the degree to which the student’s disability currently impacts access. An assessment might include testing of intellect, achievement, processing speed, fluency, executive functioning, memory, attention, etc. The documentation provided should reflect a substantial limitation for which the student is requesting an accommodation and should include standardized scores and/or percentiles that establish the need for accommodations.

In general, learning disabilities evaluations should be completed using an adult-normed instrument within five years of a student’s registration with the office. Attention disorders evaluations should be completed using an adult-normed instrument within three years of a student’s registration with the office. If a student does not have a current evaluation for learning disabilities and/or attention disorders, OAS encourages the student to submit any documentation that may support their request for accommodations.

Chronic, Physical and Mental Health Disabilities

Documentation of chronic health, physical and mental health disabilities should be within six months of a student’s registration with the office and indicate current treatment information and prognosis (if relevant).

Supporting Documentation

Supporting documentation provides additional information to support a student’s request for accommodations. It is important to note that students with functional limitations that rise to the level of a disability as defined by ADA may not receive the exact same accommodations at Georgetown Law as they received at a previous institution. Examples of supporting documentation may include:

• Approval forms for national standardized exams (e.g., GRE, LSAT, GMAT, SAT, ACT)
• Letters verifying prior accommodations (e.g., high school, college, law school)
• IEP and/or 504 Plan verifying previous accommodations

Step 2

Following documentation review, an OAS staff member will email the student to schedule an intake meeting.

Timing

A student may submit documentation at any time. Documentation must be submitted at minimum ten business days before the accommodation is to be implemented. With that said, it can take 3-4 weeks to review documentation, consult with providers, determine reasonable accommodations, and implement those accommodations. Students are encouraged to submit accommodation requests and supporting documentation at least one month before the requested accommodation would be implemented. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive. A student may not present documentation and ask for accommodations or special consideration after a grade has been reported. After a grade has been reported, it may be re-examined only as outlined in the Student Handbook of Academic Policies.

The purpose of accommodations is to remove access barriers for students who have limitations of their functional abilities that rise to the level of a disability as defined by ADA. Reasonable accommodations are determined following documentation review, an intake appointment, and clinician consultation (when necessary and with approval). We carefully consider a student’s access needs while balancing learning preferences. Following documentation review and an intake meeting, the Accessibility Services team will inform the student of approved accommodations via email. A student who disagrees with an accommodation determination may appeal as outlined in the Policy for Requesting Disability Accommodations at the Law Center.

Temporary Medical Conditions

Georgetown University recognizes that individuals with temporary medical conditions that do not qualify for accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act or Section 504 may nevertheless benefit from access to services, resources, and course or co-curricular modifications. Examples of such temporary conditions may include, but are not limited to, broken limbs, hand injuries, concussions, or a virus such as mononucleosis. Although post-secondary institutions are not required by law to accommodate students with these types of temporary conditions, it is Georgetown University’s general practice to facilitate reasonable modifications on a short-term basis.

Students who need assistance for a temporary medical condition (i.e. of less than one semester) should complete the Registration Form. The student might be asked to submit documentation from a treating clinician that includes a short explanation of the diagnosis, resulting physical or cognitive limitations, prognosis for recovery and estimated duration of the illness or injury. Students whose illnesses or injuries are expected to last longer than one semester should register with Accessibility Services for disability accommodations.