Disability Support Services

Registering and Requesting Services

• As required by law, students requiring accommodations for a disability must initially self-identify as a student with a disability by registering with Disability Support Services (DSS). Only students who are registered with DSS will be eligible for accommodations and recognized by the institution as a student with a disability. Accommodations are approved by the Disability Support Services Coordinator on a case-by-case basis and may require additional or updated medical documentation to be submitted.
• Registering with Disability Support Services consists of: 1) submitting appropriate documentation verifying the presence of a disability and its current impact, 2) meeting with the Disability Support Services Coordinator to review procedures and request accommodations, and 3) the approval of specific accommodations by the Disability Support Services Coordinator.
• Registering with Disability Support Services is required of all students wishing to be recognized by the institution as a student with a disability regardless of whether accommodations are being requested.
• Documentation for most disabilities consists of a recent formal letter of diagnosis from an appropriate licensed medical professional or licensed psychologist who is not a relative and should include a diagnosis, current impairments in functioning, and recommendations for specific accommodations to reduce the impact of the impairment. Some types of disabilities may require that diagnostic testing results such as a psychological evaluation report or audiogram be submitted in addition to a letter of diagnosis. Specific documentation requirement are available upon request.
• Requesting accommodations is an interactive process and should be completed in a timely manner to allow adequate time for accommodation arrangements to be made. Accommodations may be requested at anytime during the semester regardless of when diagnosed. Last minute requests may be denied.
• Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis and must be supported by appropriate documentation. Additional or updated documentation may be required in order to receive specific or ongoing accommodations. An accommodation may denied even if it has been recommended by an appropriate medical professional or has been granted by another agency or institution in the past.
• Provisional accommodations may be provided for up to one semester in cases where the documentation submitted is determined to be out-of-date, incomplete or otherwise insufficient.
• In order to receive accommodations during a semester, the student will be required to obtain a Faculty Accommodation Form from DSS, discuss their approved accommodations with each professor during office hours, and return the signed form to the DSS office in a timely manner. Students are responsible for clarifying and planning their accommodations with each of their individual professors.
• Testing Reservations with DSS may be made if the faculty member is unable to provide the approved testing accommodations. Disability Support Services will provide the accommodations if given sufficient advance notice. The provider of the accommodated testing should be indicated by the faculty member on the Faculty Accommodation Form, and the form returned to Disability Support Services in a timely manner.
• It is highly recommended that a Faculty Accommodation Form be completed within the first week or two of each semester by all students registered with DSS, regardless of whether or not the student intends to utilize any or all of the services/accommodations. Even if accommodations are not expected to be needed for a particular class, the Faculty Accommodations Form should be used to inform professors of your status as a student with a disability.
• Testing accommodation reservations/requests submitted later than 7 days in advance of the date of the exam or quiz (14 days for final exams) may be denied due to schedule conflicts or room availability.
• All accommodated testing arrangements including time, date and auxiliary aids (computer, interpreter, etc.) should be confirmed by the student with the instructor (and DSS if the test is to be taken at DSS) a week before each test date.
• Students should notify DSS if a test date changes or testing accommodations are no longer needed for a class. 
• Please indicate the course, the professor and the day and time of the test in all communications.

  Testing Reservation/Request Form (.doc)

Alternative Text and Hearing Impaired Support Services

• Alternate formatted textbook materials should be requested as soon as you register for your classes and at least 4-6 weeks prior to the start of each semester. If books are not available from RFB&D, they will need to be requested from the publisher or purchased and converted. 
• Failure to submit requests in a timely manner may result in delays in receiving your needed accommodations or the denial of the request. Students are responsible for providing their textbook information and syllabus with reading assignment dates in advance. Purchase receipts will be required before books will requested from the publisher or scanned.   
• Interpreter or C-Print requests should be made as soon as you know your class schedule for the upcoming term and no later than 6 weeks prior to the start of each term. This may require you to request early registration.
• Captioning or transcripts of videos that are required for classes should be requested as soon as the need is known.

Deaf or Hearing Impaired Services Request Form   (pdf)

Disability Housing Accommodation Requests

• All requests for disability housing accommodations must be submitted to Disability Support Services (DSS) for review by June 15th and must include both a completed Housing Accommodations Form and a signed doctor's letter from an appropriate medical professional that includes a diagnosis and specific impairments, recommended accommodations and the rationale for the accommodations. 

• If you have a temporary disability, are admitted to Mercer after the deadline or have a disability that is diagnosed after the deadline or during a semester, contact DSS as soon as possible. 
• Students requesting housing accommodations are required to submit a completed Disability Housing Request Form and medical documentation before their request will be reviewed. All requests will be reviewed by both Disability Support Services and Residence Life to determine if the request will be granted.
• The required Housing Accommodation Request Form can be obtained from Disability Support Services or downloaded below. 
• All accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis and will only be considered for students with physical, medical, psychological or sensory disabilities that are appropriately documented and determined to impact a major life activity. 
• Single rooms are not granted as an accommodation for disabilities that primarily impact studying (ADD/ADHD) since there are alternative quiet study locations on campus. 
• Students with special dietary needs that are not considered disabilities include: meat-free diets, low sodium or low cholesterol diets, low sugar diets, reduced calorie diets, lactose free diets and non-life-threatening food allergies. Students with these restrictions should contact the Director of Food Services to discuss their specific needs.
• Students will severe food allergies, celiac disease, anorexia or other severe or possibly life-threatening GI, immune or eating disorders should first discuss their dietary needs with the Director of Food Services, who can be reached at 478-301-2925 to see if he can meet their needs for a special diet. Our Food Services are managed by Aramark, a national company that provides dining services to students across the nation. Aramark can usually meet the need for a special diet or special food preparation that is documented as being medically necessary. Students are encouraged to contact Disability Support Services to discuss medically necessary dietary accommodations that may require either Housing Accommodations or Classroom Accommodations.  
• As a rule, disability related requests to void an existing housing contract or to be exempt from Freshman or Sophomore Housing will not be granted. 
• Renewals for Disability Housing Accommodations should be resubmitted to Disability Support Services annually in the Spring by the contract deadlines set by Housing and Residence Life.

Disability / Housing and Residence Life Request Form (.doc)