Harris Family Center for Disability & Health Policy
WesternU has a proud history of welcoming students with disabilities into our professional schools and Graduate Division.
8
Distinct Colleges
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Welcome to the Harris Family Center for Disability and Health Policy!
CDHP prides itself on giving individualized consideration of each student’s abilities, and the disability-related barriers they face, to devise creative and innovative accommodation solutions to ensure equal access.
CDHP Mission:
The mission of the CDHP is to increase the number of qualified individuals with disabilities to successfully pursue careers in the health professions. We support the University’s commitment to humanism by providing support services and academic accommodations to students with disabilities. We share information, promote awareness of disability issues, and ensure access for students within the University community.
Certain unique aspects of the educational experience at a graduate and professional school are different from the undergraduate experience. For students who want to discuss accommodations you may need at WesternU this is a great place to start. Follow the key steps for beginning your relationship with our Center, including how to seek accommodations and services, documentation guidelines, and resources available for your success.
For students who have completed the registration process, this section of the website provides helpful information regarding your CDHP-approved accommodations and/or auxiliary aids and services. You can also learn more about your Rights and Responsibilities and opportunities available to get involved.
Annual Review of Accommodations
CDHP staff recommends that you check-in annually if you are receiving academic accommodations under the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Each year in June, you will receive an email to remind you to evaluate your current accommodation plan. The reason is two-fold. One, as your program progresses you may find that you do not need one or all the accommodations, for which you are currently approved. Two, you may discover that you want to reengage in the interactive process to be evaluated for additional accommodations. By taking a deep dive into your accommodation needs, CDHP can help you mitigate functional limitations/barriers before they occur.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
Students at WesternU have a right to:
- An equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from courses, programs, services, or activities offered through the college.
- An equal opportunity to work, to learn, and to receive reasonable accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids and services.
- Appropriate confidentiality of disability-related information except as disclosures are required/permitted by law.
- Information, reasonably available, in accessible formats.
- File an informal or formal complaint or grievance if a violation of rights is suspected.
Students at WesternU are responsible to:
- Meet qualifications and maintain essential institutional standards for courses, programs, services, or activities.
- Self-identify as an individual with a disability and request accommodation(s) in a timely manner.
- Demonstrate and/or document (from a licensed professional) how the disability limits participation in courses, programs, services, or activities.
- Follow operational procedures for obtaining information, services, and reasonable accommodations.
Get Involved!
Student Listserv: The CDHP listserv has been established to provide students registered with the Center with relevant, up-to-date, and pertinent information as well as updates on campus events and facility-related challenges that may affect accessibility. All students who register with CDHP are automatically added to the listserv using their WesternU issued email. If you wish to be removed from the listserv, please email disabilityaccommodations@westernu.edu.
CDHP Student Advisory Board: The CDHP Student Advisory Board works in concert with CDHP staff to raise campus-wide awareness about issues related to disability, accessibility, and equity. The purpose of the Board is to provide student input and guidance regarding CDHP’s strategic direction, programs, services, events, and university/community relations regarding equal access. If you are interested in serving on the Student Advisory Board email disabilityaccommodations@westernu.edu for more information.
Assistance with Requesting Accommodations on Certification, Licensing, and Board Exams
Nearly every WesternU student must successfully pass a state or national standardized exam to practice in their chosen health sciences profession. Students must apply for disability accommodations directly through the testing agency. CDHP staff can guide you through the application process from assisting you with creating a checklist outlining needed items, to reviewing and providing feedback on your personal statement, to discussing documentation requirements, to completing request for test accommodation forms, and providing you with a letter of support. For more information email disabilityaccommodations@westernu.edu.
Faculty & College Accommodations Liaisons – For faculty and academic staff, this section is an excellent resource for CDHP information. You’ll find guidance on rights, roles, and responsibilities, information on accommodations and services, recommendations from experts on implementing accommodations with fidelity, helpful tips, and resources for your work with students with disabilities.
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