The services featured here are specifically for students with physical, medical, temporary, or psychological disabilities, and provide an example of possible accommodations. Students who are solely diagnosed with a learning disability or ADHD and require acccommodations should听contact听ADHD and Learning Disability Support Services in the Connors Family Learning Center.
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Canvas and Jaws Compatibility
Boston College has implemented the Canvas Learning Management System. Faculty use this application to post class notes, class readings, and syllabi. Canvas should be completely accessible for all students, but if students experience difficulties using Canvas Vista with the JAWS screen reader software program, they should contact the Information Technology Services Help Center at听617-552-HELP (4357) for assistance.
Campus Mobility Orientation
Students with visual impairments may receive campus mobility orientation to assist them in becoming acclimated to the campus.听The Assistant Dean for Students with Disabilities arranges this orientation with staff members from the Carroll Center for the Blind in Newton, MA.
Cart Services for Students with Hearing Impairments
CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation), also known as realtime captioning, is a computer program that translates spoken English into realtime captioning for students with hearing impairments.听Students who need CART services should contact the Associate Director for Students with Disabilities as soon as they have finalized their class schedule in order to make arrangements with an appropriate provider prior to the beginning of the academic semester.
Course Underloading
Students whose documentation supports taking four courses rather than five per semester may underload during the academic year. They may make up these courses during the summer session at Boston College. This is commonly referred to as the "4-4-2" plan. Tuition remission for the two summer courses (but not on-campus housing) will be provided.听 听This accommodation is available to undergraduate听students only. Students in the Woods College of Advancing Studies are not eligible.
Accessible Texts
Students with visual impairments who have the JAWS screen reader software program installed on their computer may be interested in obtaining their required textbooks in electronic format. In order to allow sufficient time to obtain textbooks in this format, it is imperative that students听provide the Assistant Dean for Students with Disabilities with the title, author, publisher, and year of publication for each text as soon as they have confirmed their course selection. It is equally imperative for professors to provide students with this information at their earliest convenience, since it may take several weeks for publishers to respond to requests for this alternate format.
Housing Accommodations
Learn the process and requirements for requesting听Housing Accommodations.
Interpreters
Students who are Deaf or have hearing impairements who are interested in using interpreters in their classes must inform the Associated Director for Student Disability Services of the need for this accommodation at their earliest possible convenience following course registration due to the听time needed to secure interpreters for the following academic semester. There is no guarantee that an interpreter will be found if a student does not provide sufficient notice of this need.
Library Services
To ensure that all Boston College faculty, staff,听students, and visitors have access to the libraries' collections, resources and facilities, a variety of services are provided to assist users听with disabilities.听
Service Animals
Introductions and Definitions
Boston College is committed to the accessibility of its programs and services to students with disabilities, including accommodating service and assistance animals in accordance with its obligations under federal and state law.
鈥淪ervice animal鈥� is a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform specific tasks for a person with a disability. Under Massachusetts law, a person raising or training a service dog has the same rights as a person with a disability who has a service dog. Service animals do not include assistance animals.
鈥淎ssistance animal鈥� is an animal that assists an individual with a disability or provides necessary emotional support to an individual with a mental or psychiatric disability that alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of the disability, but does not meet the definition of a service animal.
Service Animals
Students who require the presence of a service animal at Boston College should inform the Disability Services Office as early as possible before bringing the animal to campus. The Disability Services Office will help ensure that the service animal is appropriately accommodated at the University, and if the student will reside on campus with the animal, help make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Residential Life. If it is not readily apparent that an animal is a service animal, the University may require additional information to determine whether the animal qualifies as a service animal under applicable law. This may include asking whether the animal is required because of a disability and what work or task the animal has been trained to do. For service animals in training, the University requires that the student trainer notify the Disability Services Office about the animal no later than the date set forth in the housing application for making requests for housing accommodations. The Office may request reasonable documentation regarding the animal鈥檚 training program.
Assistance Animals
As discussed below, assistance animals may be allowed in University housing, but are generally not permitted in other campus facilities or vehicles. Students who have a disability-related need to live with an assistance animal in University housing must make a request to the Disability Services Office as early as possible, but no later than the date set forth in the housing application for making requests for housing accommodations. The University, including the Disability Services Office and the Office of Residential Life, will determine if the assistance animal is necessary to afford the student an equal opportunity to use and enjoy University housing and if the animal鈥檚 presence in University housing is reasonable. The student will be required to submit reliable documentation from a physician, social worker, or other mental health professional that establishes that the student has a disability and a disability-related need for the animal (that the animal in question provides disability-related assistance or support). A request for an assistance animal may be denied as unreasonable if the presence of the animal (i) imposes an undue financial or administrative burden; (ii) fundamentally alters University housing policies; (iii) poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others, or (iv) would cause substantial property damage. If the University approves the assistance animal for housing, the animal must be contained in the student owner鈥檚 assigned living space, other than as required to be taken out for natural relief, during which time the animal must be in an animal carrier or controlled by a leash or harness.
i. A miniature horse that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability may be permitted as a service animal under reasonable circumstances, considering the following factors: (i) whether the miniature horse is housebroken; (ii) whether the miniature horse is under the owner鈥檚 control; (iii) whether the University can accommodate the miniature horse鈥檚 type, size, and weight; and (4) whether the miniature horse鈥檚 presence will not compromise legitimate safety requirements necessary for safe operation of the University.
Requirements and Limitations
The owner of the service or assistance animal has responsibility for the management and supervision of the animal. Consistent with federal and state law, a service or assistance animal may be prohibited from a facility or program if the animal鈥檚 behavior or presence poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others. It may be excluded from areas where its presence fundamentally alters the nature of a University program or activity, if the animal is disruptive, if its presence would result in substantial physical damage to property, or if it substantially interferes with the reasonable enjoyment of the program, service or facility by others.
The owner of the animal must abide by all state and local requirements regarding vaccination, licensure, leash control, and all other requirements for animals. The University may require documentation of compliance with these requirements. The owner is responsible for the care, well-being, and appropriate treatment of the animal, and must clean up after and properly dispose of the animal鈥檚 waste in a safe and sanitary manner.
Research laboratories, animal facilities, workshops, boiler rooms, or other areas with special safety or logistical considerations may not be accessible to animals under certain circumstances. Animal owners who wish to access specialized facilities of this nature are encouraged to notify the Disability Services Office as early as possible so that the Office can work with appropriate administrators to determine what accommodations are possible. Depending on the nature of the animal and the circumstances, the University may impose additional reasonable requirements for the health, safety and effective functioning of the University community.
Guidance for the University Community
Any questions or concern regarding the presence of a service or assistance animal on campus should be addressed to the Disability Services Office at 617-552-3470, rather than to the owner of the animal.
Individuals with allergies or other medical conditions that may be affected by the presence of a service or assistance animal should contact the Disability Services Office, which can help facilitate reasonable and appropriate accommodations that address the needs of both individuals.
Retaliation and Grievances
The University will not retaliate against any person because the person has requested or received a reasonable accommodation, including one that involves a service or assistance animal.
Grievances
Any Boston College student who believes that a disability accommodation has been inappropriately denied, or otherwise believes that the University has discriminated against the student because of a disability, may bring a grievance under the Student Grievance Procedure for Students with Disabilities.听
Boston College Student Grievance Procedures
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