Disability Accommodations Policy

PURPOSE
To outline the process for obtaining disability accommodations by medical students.

AUDIENCE
All medical students

LCME STANDARD
10.5: Technical Standards

POLICY
Students with disabilities, including, but not limited to, physical, psychological or learning disabilities, who may need accommodation must register with the Student Disability Center (SDC) for assessment and approval of accommodations. In addition to registering with the SDC, students are encouraged to contact the Associate Dean for Students and the Director of the Office of Student Learning and Educational Resources to discuss their unique circumstances and appropriate accommodations for each phase of training. Given the clinical nature of medical education, additional time may be needed to implement accommodations. The School of Medicine encourages students with disabilities to identify themselves as early as possible in order to optimize accommodations. Accommodations are not applied retroactively.

Specifics regarding the implications of students’ inability to meet the School’s Technical Standards can be found in the School of Medicine Technical Non-Academic Standards Policy.

PROCEDURE

Reasonable accommodations are determined through a collaborative, individualized and interactive process involving the SDC, the student, and the School of Medicine. Students seeking accommodation at the School are required to register with the SDC. To request accommodations students must:

  1. Submit supporting documentation of disability and functional limitations to the SDC.
  2. Participate in an interactive interview with the SDC specialist to discuss functional limitations in the educational setting. Accommodation services will be considered and approved if appropriate and may include discussions between SDC and the Office of Medical Education.
  3. If accommodation is approved, use the SDC automated system to request an accommodation letter be issued to the School of Medicine.

RESPONSIBILITY
Office of Student Affairs
Office of Student Learning and Educational Resources

REFERENCES
Student Disabilities Center
School of Medicine Technical Non-Academic Standards Policy

POLICY OWNER
Associate Dean for Students

REVIEWED BY
Associate Dean for Students *
Office of Student Learning and Educational Resources

REVIEWED DATE and REVIEW CYCLE
January 2024, three-year review cycle

* Indicates the Policy Owner