Accessibility Resources

Located on the first floor of the library, the Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR) supports Stonehill’s unwavering commitment to providing a welcoming, supportive and inclusive environment for students with disabilities. The office is presently staffed by a director and shared office manager.

Our goal is to lead the campus community in its mission to recognize disability as a valued aspect of diversity, to embrace access as a matter of social justice and to ensure that all aspects of campus life are universally accessible.

We are dedicated to supporting access, equity, and inclusion by:

• Administering a range of accommodations and services for students with disabilities
• Assisting students with temporary medical conditions and injuries
• Collaborating with faculty and staff to support students' academic and co-curricular experiences
• Helping alumni apply for accommodations for post-grad experiences, including graduate and professional school admission exams
• Collaborating with the Career Development Center in the internship and employment search process
• Consulting with the campus community on a broad range of disability-related matters
• Providing vision, leadership, and education to ensure equal access and social justice for people with disabilities

We are guided by a model of student empowerment. Understanding that students with disabilities may have some limitations or face some challenges that others do not, we know that a successful transition into an independent, self-advocating individual should be a goal for every college student. As such,

• We do nothing about you, without you. Any action regarding access to services, seeking special assistance, or providing reasonable accommodations must be initiated by you.
• We speak with you, not about you. All communication in any matter related to you, flows through you.
• No one speaks for you, or acts for you but you. We look to you to express your needs, provide us with information that will help us assist you, and keep in contact with us.

Accessibility Resources collaborates with the campus community to provide accessible and inclusive college experiences for students with disabilities.

We work with students with a variety of disabilities, including learning disabilities, ADHD, psychological disorders, chronic health conditions, mobility impairments, physical disabilities, brain injuries, autistic spectrum neurodevelopmental disorders, neurological disorders, and sensory disabilities related to vision and hearing. We also support students with temporary medical conditions, such as concussions and other injuries. Additionally, we consult with students who question whether they might have a disability, as well as those who are referred by a faculty or staff member.

We work with students on an individual basis to plan support services, including reasonable accommodations that facilitate access to learning, living, and other experiences at Stonehill. Some of the accommodations used by students include: extended time on exams, a distraction-reduced exam setting, use of computer for note taking, accessible formats of print materials, assistive listening devices, and accessible campus housing. We also partner with and refer to other campus offices including Academic Services & Advising, the Counseling Center, the Center for Writing & Academic Achievement, International Programs, Intercultural Affairs, and the Career Development Center.

Whether you are a new student at Stonehill or a current student just now checking out our resources, we would be happy to talk with you about the services we offer or disabilities and access in general.

According to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, and the Amendments Act of 2008, students with disabilities are entitled to appropriate accommodations designed to provide participation in and benefit from facilities, programs, and technology available at Stonehill.

Students with disabilities are provided accommodations on an individualized, collaborative, and flexible basis. However, it is the responsibility of students with disabilities to request accommodations.  Accommodations should be requested at the beginning of each academic year and at any time additional accommodations are needed. OAR staff will need time to review all requests.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We are here to help you! To make an appointment, please use our online scheduling system.

OAR establishes SLO's to outline what students are expected to know, do, and value as a result of interaction with our office. Students will: 

• Communicate the point of the environmental impact of their disability and its implication in the college setting.   
• Demonstrate continued self-advocacy and the ability to communicate their needs by utilizing academic adjustments that are necessary to minimize environmental barriers present in the various elements of campus life. 
• Acquire knowledge pertaining to the full spectrum of resources and opportunities available to all students. 
• Articulate the concepts around disability and diversity.

The ADA defines a person with a disability as someone who has a documented physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of their major life activities, such as walking, hearing, or maintaining sustained concentration.

The ADA also says that accommodations must be “reasonable.” They should not fundamentally alter the nature of the academic program or be excessively difficult or expensive for the school. Reasonable accommodations are designed to give students equal access and opportunity to develop their unique abilities to the highest levels. They do not guarantee success or provide special advantages.