Student Accessibility Services coordinates support for students with disabilities so they can fully participate in college life. Please contact us at any time to talk about how we can best support your Hollins experience.
Student Accessibility Services works with students to develop individualized support services, including reasonable accommodations that facilitate access to learning, living, and other experiences at Hollins.
We would be happy to talk with you about the assistance we offer!
How to Request Services
Student Accessibility Services is here to help you make the most of your Hollins experience, but you must initiate the process. Speaking with a staff member about your request for accommodations and other support you may be requesting is extremely helpful.
Additionally, you should complete the Request for Accommodations and Services form and provide appropriate documentation of disability to help establish eligibility for accommodations. Student Accessibility Services can provide guidance on the documentation needed for your situation, including how to move forward if you are requesting accommodations but do not have documentation or a diagnosed disability.
Questions? Please be sure to reach out. We are happy to help!
Visiting Campus?
We’d be happy to meet with you! Please call or email us to set up an appointment:
Student Accessibility Services
sas@hollins.edu
Phone: 540-362-6534
Questions?
Becky Harman
Director of Student Accessibility Services
sas@hollins.edu
The Accommodation Process
The collaborative process is an important part of establishing reasonable accommodations. Please set up a time to talk with Student Accessibility Services about your request for accommodations, your past use of accommodations, and the likely impact of your disability on your educational experiences at Hollins. The information you provide is a critical part in the determination of reasonable accommodations and services.
In addition, you should complete the Request for Accommodations and Services form. You will have the option to submit documentation electronically following the submission of the form. If you are unable to submit electronically, please email or mail the documentation—or just drop the paperwork off at the Student Accessibility Services office.
To find more information about general documentation requirements, please see our Documentation Guidelines. Students are encouraged to contact Student Accessibility Services for more guidance on the documentation for their individual situation.
While students can request accommodations at any time during their enrollment with Hollins, incoming first-year and transfer students are encouraged to connect with Student Accessibility Services as early as possible after confirming enrollment. This will provide sufficient time to evaluate requests and arrange for appropriate accommodations and support services.
Once a request is submitted, Student Accessibility Services will reach out to schedule a meeting.
Documentation Guidelines
Students should contact Student Accessibility Services for guidance on the documentation needed for their individual situations. In addition to information the student provides on the Request for Accommodations and Services form and in speaking with the director of Student Accessibility Services, relevant documentation from external sources can help to verify the disability and establish the student’s eligibility for accommodations.
Documentation should include the diagnosis, description of the disability, history, significance, and expected duration when applicable. Documentation should also include the current impact of the disability in an educational setting, past use and effectiveness of accommodations, and recommendations for accommodations that are logically related to the impact of the disability. Please keep in mind, however, that Hollins University will make the final determination of reasonable accommodations.
The age of acceptable documentation is dependent upon the disability. While older documentation for conditions that are permanent or do not vary may be appropriate, changing conditions and/or changes in how the condition impacts the individual over time may warrant more current documentation.
Types of documentation that may be helpful include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Educational, psychological, or medical records
- Reports and assessments created by health care providers, psychologists, or the educational system (e.g., a psychoeducational evaluation)
- Documents that reflect education and accommodation history, such as an Individual Education Program (IEP) and 504 Plan
Please keep the following in mind:
- Disability is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act as an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Major life activities include, but are not limited to, seeing, hearing, walking, standing, lifting, speaking, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.
- The Request for Accommodations and Services form and documentation of disability should be submitted to Student Accessibility Services early enough to allow staff sufficient time to review the request and implement reasonable accommodations and services.
- Student Accessibility Services may ask the student to provide additional information if the submitted documentation is incomplete or does not support the student’s request for accommodations.
- Generally, documentation must come from a qualified practitioner who is not a family member of the student.
- Students who do not have documentation are encouraged to meet with the director of Student Accessibility Services to explore options for support.
- Students should keep a copy of the documentation for their personal records. Student Accessibility Services destroys/deletes documentation and other disability-related information seven years after a student leaves the university.
- Documentation accepted by Hollins might not be accepted by other institutions, agencies, and/or programs (e.g., testing agencies, licensure exams, and certification programs). Please check with the specific organizations and/or programs to determine their documentation requirements.
Please note that Hollins has no obligation to provide accommodations previously provided by outside entities.
All disability disclosures are voluntary and confidential. All documentation received will be kept confidential.