Student Disability Resources

Student Disability Resource Center

The Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC) is the centralized resource center for support for students with disabilities across the 7C campus communities. The SDRC works closely with the Student Accessibility Services Coordinators on all the campuses to ensure that students receive academic support services and accommodations to empower them to achieve their academic goals, while ensuring equitable treatment and access to all programs and activities across all campuses.

Tranquada Student Services Center, 1st floor
757 College Way, Claremont, CA
909.607.7419 | website

KGI Student Accessibility Services

Students with disabilities are an integral part of KGI’s rich diversity. KGI is committed to providing services and reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities including those with mobility, visual, speech, hearing impairments; chronic illnesses; psychological and intellectual disabilities and temporary disabilities. The Division of Student Affairs is dedicated to helping all graduate students at Keck Graduate Institute with the resources they need to achieve academic and personal success.

Student Accessibility Services Coordinator, Student Affairs Suite
517 Watson Dr., room 117, Claremont, CA 91711
909.607.0896

Government Regulations

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits discrimination against individuals with physical and mental disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and access to all public and private places that are open to the general public. Institutes of higher education must provide reasonable accommodations to qualified students. Enforced by U.S. Civil Rights Division, Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination against an otherwise qualified individual with a disability, solely on the basis of the disability, in any program or activity that receives federal financial assistance. Enforced by Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education.

Housing Accommodations:

Keck Graduate Institute complies with the Fair Housing Act (Title VII of the Civil Right Act of 1968). If a student requires housing accommodations for the Oasis KGI Commons, please email leasing@liveoasisca.com.

Confidentiality:

Keck Graduate Institute complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as amended, and other applicable state and federal law prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Under these laws, students have the privilege to confidentiality.

Keck Graduate Institute recognizes that student health information is confidential information as per state and federal laws. It is the responsibility of the student alone to communicate disability accommodations with their faculty.

Students with Disabilities

What is a Disability?

The Americans with Disabilities Act defines disability as “with respect to an individual: (A) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual; (B) a record of such an impairment; or (C) being regarded as having such an impairment.” Disabilities may include, but are not limited to, learning differences or disabilities, physical and mobility impairments, sensory impairments, psychological disorders, and/or chronic health impairments.

Note: Having received accommodations in high school through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 plan does not automatically make a student eligible for services in college. The student must register for services and provide supporting documentation for review; IEPs are not acceptable forms of documentation. If it is determined that a student is eligible to receive accommodations, the recommended accommodations may be different from those the student received in high school.

Eligibility and Documentation

In order to establish eligibility for accommodations the student must provide documentation which identifies that the condition substantially limits performance in one or more major life activities. It is the responsibility of the student or guardian to submit the documentation to the KGI Student Accessibility Services Coordinator. In the event that a parent or family member is serving in such capacity consistent with the ethical guidelines of mental or medical health care professionals the documentation should state as such. Appropriate documentation must be provided by the treating health care professional on letterhead and should address the following guidelines:

Licensure and experience of health care professional
A specific diagnosis of limitations
A description of how the diagnosis was reached; methods and procedures, test results and evaluation of test results
A description of the specific changes that have occurred since the original report and recommendations were made that indicate a need to adjust accommodations as originally made
What and how any major life activities are limited by the impairment
How the disability causes any academic difficulties
A list of any and all accommodations, which might be needed to facilitate the student’s participation in the academic program

The student must complete the following intake process:

Please contact student.accessibility@kgi.edu to schedule an in person intake appointment.
Student must submit the following forms:
- FERPA Student Release Form
- Information Release Form
- Physician Verification Form
- Student Release Form from KGI to SDRC
KGI Student Accessibility Services Coordinator will review accommodation intake packet and approve or decline. If Application is denied the coordinator will schedule a follow up meeting to discuss.
If KGI Student Accessibility Services Coordinator approves, they will send a Letter of Accommodation to student.
It is the responsibility of the student to submit their Letter of Accommodation to the faculty member/course coordinator they need accommodations for. Accommodations will not be active until the Letter of Accommodation is sent (via email) and reviewed by the faculty member. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive.
Approved accommodations will be provided to student.

Accommodations

A student needs official authorization from KGI Student Accessibility Services before receiving accommodations. The student is responsible for providing the Student Accessibility Services Coordinator with current documentation from qualified professionals regarding the nature of the disability. After meeting with the student, the Student Accessibility Services Coordinator determines appropriate accommodations based on the nature and extent of the disability described in the documentation. Per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), federal institutions are mandated to provide reasonable accommodations to students registered with KGI Student Accessibility Services. To provide reasonable accommodations, it is recommended that accommodations be requested at least 14 business days in advance to provide adequate timing to review and approve accommodation intake packet and schedule appropriate accommodations.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, universities are required to make reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. Keck Graduate Institute will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities to facilitate equal access to educational programs, housing, student activities and other campus facilities. Students must be aware that it may also take up to six business weeks to schedule and implement appropriate accommodations. Once accommodations have been approved, they are applied proactively and not retroactively. Please note that students are able to register for accommodations as soon as they are accepted into KGI.

Letter of Accommodation:

The Student Accessibility Services Coordinator creates a Letter of Accommodation specifying authorized accommodations. The student is responsible for delivering the letters (via email) to the instructors and discussing accommodations based on the contents of the letter. The process of requesting and receiving accommodations is interactive; all people involved—the student, the instructor and the Student Accessibility Services Coordinator—have a responsibility to make sure the process is easily communicated and transparent. Students who receive initial approval are encouraged to send their Letter of Accommodation directly to the professor in which they chose to have course accommodations in. Accommodations are not active until the course coordinator/professor has received the Letter of Accommodation. The Student Accessibility Services Coordinator is not responsible for communicating accommodations with the faculty member, however recognizing under extreme circumstances

that a disability may inhibit this interaction the coordinator will connect with the faculty member. Any disability-related issues that may arise should be communicated to the Student Accessibility Services Coordinator immediately.

Examples of Reasonable Accommodations, which students with disabilities may require:

Use of interpreters, scribes, readers, and/or note takers
Audio record courses
Enlarged copies of notes, required readings, handouts and exam questions • Extended time on exams
Quiet, distraction-free environment for taking exams
Use of computers in class or access to computers for writing assignments and exams
Preferential seating in the classroom
An accessible website

Captioning Policy

Per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), federal institutions are mandated to have instructional media with closed captioning (videos, recorded lectures, and presentations). This includes any items posted on Sakai and Canvas. KGI Student Accessibility Services has researched free resources for faculty members to conduct their own free captioning. It is encouraged that faculty members complete their own captioning for their instructional media. If faculty members need KGI Student Accessibility Services to assist with captioning, videos must be submitted to the KGI Student Accessibility Services Coordinator at least six business weeks prior to the student view date and in mp4 file format. It is the responsibility of the student registered with KGI Student Accessibility Services to request captioning accommodations with the KGI Student Accessibility Services Coordinator. For more information on requesting captioning on videos please email the KGI Student Accessibility Services Coordinator.

Exam Accommodations

If students are approved of exam accommodations, the student will need to schedule the exam with the Student Accessibility Services Coordinator at least 10 business days prior to the exam. Students can opt-out of using their exam accommodations by submitting a written request at least five (5) business days prior to the exam. Once their written request has been acknowledged, the student will be expected to sit in the main classroom for the exam.

Students who are approved of exam accommodations must sign the Testing Guidelines and Procedures for the Accommodated Exams. All students are required to abide by the Testing Guidelines and Procedures. Violation of any of these guidelines may subject the student in question to the Student Conduct Committee in violation of the Honor Code.

Experiential Internship Accommodations

In accordance with the section 504 of Rehabilitation Act of 1973, KGI will assist in providing reasonable accommodations for students during internships, experiential education rotations, and other educational activities on and off campus. Students seeking accommodations must:

Inform the KGI Student Accessibility Services Coordinator at least 45 business days before their internship submission to provide a reasonable amount of time to organize accommodations. Students should be prepared to provide appropriate physician documentation for the requested accommodation(s) to the KGI Student Accessibility Services Coordinator. If accommodations are approved the student will receive a letter of accommodation.
Communicate and provide their letter of accommodation to the Office of Experiential Education (SPHS), Team Master’s Project Director (Riggs School), Program Director (MSPA), Program Director (MSGC), and Program Director (MSGDA) at least 30 business days in advance before their internship submission.
Communicate with their internship supervisor their letter of accommodation and requested accommodations once they are placed.

Audio Recording Accommodations Policy

All academic accommodations must be registered with KGI’s Student Accessibility Services Coordinator in order to use accommodations in the classroom. It is important to make an intake appointment with the KGI Student Accessibility Services Coordinator as soon as possible to determine reasonable accommodations. Documentation is required and will be requested for specific accommodations. It is the students’ responsibility to meet with the Student Accessibility Services Coordinator in order to receive approved accommodations.

Students who have been granted the accommodation of Audio Recording must abide by each provision. Audio recording outside of the classroom e.g. labs, clinical rotations, internships, etc. should be discussed on a case-by-case basis in collaboration with the instructors, programs, site and KGI Student Accessibility Services Coordinator.

Classes Involving Sensitive Material and an Instructors Right to Privacy

If there are open discussions in which the subject matter is not appropriate for any student to audio record, it is appropriate for the instructor to make a general announcement to ask students to stop recording devices.

An instructor’s right to privacy or concern over copyright does not override the student’s right to accommodation. The KGI Student Accessibility Services Coordinator is responsible for meeting with the Instructor if there is any issue about privacy and copyright.

Rights of Students Approved for Audio Recording Lectures

Please see the Office for Civil Rights—Q & A Regarding Audio Recording and the California Education Code 78907 for more information on the rights of students.

Conditions of Agreement

Instructor may make a general announcement without identifying student, that permission is granted for audio recording throughout class.
Any audio recording as part of an accommodation may not be shared without consent of Instructor and KGI Student Accessibility Services Coordinator.
Instructor may request audio recording be turned off during personal discussion if students are not asked to take notes during the same discussion.
Audio recording is protected under copyright law and cannot be published, posted, reproduced, or quotes without consent from Instructor and KGI Student Accessibility Services Coordinator.
The student is responsible for providing their own recording device that will be used or they may check out equipment from the KGI Student Accessibility Services Coordinator.
All audio recordings must be deleted at the end of the module or semester.
A KGI Audio Recording Agreement must be completed by the student registered with KGI Student Accessibility Services.

Animal Policies

In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Keck Graduate Institute does not discriminate on the basis of a disability and is committed to providing equal and reasonable accommodations to students who may need an animal present with them.

Pet Animal

A ‘pet’ is a dog, cat or fish animal kept for ordinary use and companionship. A pet is not considered a service or emotional support animal. Pets are not covered by this section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. No pets are allowed on campus unless it is in the housing commons of Oasis. The pet weight limit at Oasis Housing is under 35 pounds for cats and dogs. The owner of the pet should register their animal with Oasis Housing. A pet deposit and monthly pet fee will apply. Please contact Oasis KGI Commons for pet fees and breed restrictions. Pets are only allowed on Oasis KGI Commons property. No pets are allowed on the KGI campus including classrooms and laboratories.

DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR

If the animal is disruptive or poses a threat to the safety and health of others Oasis Housing does not have to accept the animal if it has demonstrated disruptive and harmful behavior to the community. The owner of the animal is financially responsible for the actions of the approved animal including bodily injury or property damage. The owner’s responsibility covers, but is not limited to replacement of furniture, carpet, window, and wall covering. The owner is expected to cover these costs at the time of the repair.

WASTE

The owner is responsible for ensuring the cleanup of the animal’s waste and disposing it in the identified outside waste disposal containers. Owner, where appropriate, must toilet the animal in areas designated by the institution. Indoor animal waste, such as cat litter, must be placed in a sturdy plastic bag and securely tied up before being disposed of in outside identified waste disposal containers. Litter boxes should be placed on mats so that waste is not tracked onto carpeted surfaces.

Service Animal

A dog that is individually trained to do work or perform specific tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. A Service animal can also be a miniature horse that weighs between 70 to 100 pounds and is approximately 24 to 34 inches in height as measured to the should of the horse. The need for service animals can be the following: guide dog or seeing eye dog, hearing or signal dog, sensory or social signals supports, seizure response, psychiatric service. Service animals cannot be allowed in sterile labs due to safety and health concerns. Services animals are allowed on Oasis KGI Commons property and KGI campus property excluding labs. If a student needs to have their service animal inside a laboratory they must get confirmed access with the KGI Student Accessibility Services Coordinator.

ACCOMMODATION

Students who use service animals are not required to register through KGI Student Accessibility Services. However, they must confirm with the Student Accessibility Services Coordinator if their service animal has been trained to respond to their disability and show appropriate documentation.

DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR

If the animal is disruptive or poses a threat to the safety and health of others KGI does not have to accept the animal if it has demonstrated disruptive and harmful behavior to the community. The owner of the animal is financially responsible for the actions of the approved animal including bodily injury or property damage. The owner’s responsibility covers, but is not limited to replacement of furniture, carpet, window, and wall covering. The owner is expected to cover these costs at the time of the repair.

COMPLIANCE

Service animals must be under the control of their owner at all times and cannot be left alone on KGI property. If the owner designates another student to care of their animal, the owner remains solely responsible for the animal’s behavior.

WASTE

The owner is responsible for ensuring the cleanup of the animal’s waste and disposing it in the identified outside waste disposal containers. Owner, where appropriate, must release the animal in waste areas designated by the institution. Indoor animal waste, such as cat litter, must be placed in a sturdy plastic bag and securely tied up before being disposed of in outside identified waste disposal containers. Litter boxes should be placed on mats so that waste is not tracked onto carpeted surfaces.

Emotional Support Animal

Could be any type of animal, it is not limited to either a dog or miniature horse. Certain species of animals will not be allowed such as: birds, reptiles, rodents, and skunks. The emotional support animal provides general therapy comfort to one’s physical, social, emotional or cognitive state. Defined by the section 504 of Rehabilitation Act and by the Fair Housing Act. Emotional support animals are only allowed at Oasis KGI Commons if approved by the KGI Student Accessibility Services Coordinator and Oasis KGI Commons. Emotional support animals are not allowed on KGI campus property including classrooms and laboratories.

DOCUMENTATION

Students who use emotional support animals are required to connect with KGI Student Accessibility Services to complete the appropriate documentation. Documentation must be in the form of a letter or report from a physician, psychologist, psychiatrist or other medical provider who is qualified to make the diagnosis and is currently treating the student for the disability for which they are requesting a service animal. The documentation must be signed and dated within the last year. The documentation must include the specific diagnosis, statement of current condition, the date and a summary of the most recent evaluation and the expected duration of condition.

VACCINATION AND HEALTH

In order for an emotional support animal to be approved by KGI Student Accessibility Services, the owner must provide the following documentation:

Evidence of required vaccinations
Evidence of licensing as required by state or local law

FOOD

Emotional support animals can be fed freeze dried or otherwise dead animals and still maintain their health. Owners of emotional support animals are not allowed to feed their animal live animals for food. If the animal is disruptive or poses a threat to the safety and health of others KGI does not have to accept the animal if it has demonstrated disruptive and harmful behavior to the community. The owner of the animal is financially responsible for the actions of the approved animal including bodily injury or property damage. The owner’s responsibility covers, but is not limited to replacement of furniture, carpet, window, and wall covering. The owner is expected to cover these costs at the time of the repair.

COMPLIANCE

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS MUST BE UNDER THE CONTROL OF THEIR OWNER.

IF THE OWNER DESIGNATES ANOTHER STUDENT TO CARE OF THEIR ANIMAL, THE OWNER REMAINS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ANIMAL’S BEHAVIOR.

WASTE