Access Services
Formerly known as Disability Services.
Baptist Health Sciences University (Baptist University) is committed to creating a collaborative and supportive learning environment in which students are encouraged to develop intellectually, vocationally, and spiritually. Baptist University strives to create an equitable, accessible environment for all students to independently learn, work and grow. Baptist University does so by engaging students in a variety of instructional modes and providing reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities.
In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAA), Baptist University provides academic accommodations for students with disabilities on an individual basis. Baptist University adheres to all applicable federal and state laws with respect to providing reasonable accommodations to give equal educational opportunities to qualified disabled individuals.
A disability is defined as one who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Disabilities can include physical, mental, social, and learning disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are provided to students disclosing a diagnosed disability with evidence of a functional impairment that impacts the individual in the academic setting. An accommodation is not reasonable when it fundamentally alters the course or program standard; threatens personal, public, or patient safety; or creates an undue financial or administrative burden.
Mission
Access Services is committed to supporting students with disabilities by fostering and facilitating an equal access environment. We provide a contact point for students with disabilities to identify themselves, provide appropriate documentation, determine reasonable accommodations, and coordinate necessary academic accommodations and services. Our purpose is to help students with disabilities achieve their educational goals and we do this through collaboration with students, faculty, and staff to develop an accessible and inclusive learning environment.
Vision
Access Services seeks to establish an inclusive environment, one that enhances the integration and success of students with disabilities. We are committed to ensuring students have equitable and accessible campus experiences.
Contact
How to Request Accommodations
Students are encouraged to begin the registration process as early as possible, preferably before the trimester begins, due to the time it can take to be approved for accommodations. However, there is no deadline for applying.
- Students should initiate contact with Access Services to self-disclose a disability and request an accommodation(s). This can be done by emailing [email protected] or calling 901-572-2570.
- Students will need to complete the BHSU Request Form for Accommodations and submit it to [email protected] with documentation to support a disability.
Please refer to our Documentation Guidelines for information pertaining to what is needed based on a student’s specific disability.
- If needed, students can provide their health care provider with the BHSU Clinician Disability Verification Form to assist in getting documentation for their disability. Please note, this form in and of itself is not sufficient for a diagnosis of ADHD or LD, but it can be used as supplemental information in addition to a current evaluation report. Refer to our documentation guidelines for more information.
- The student will be contacted by the ADA Coordinator to set up a meeting to engage in the interactive process so that reasonable accommodations can be determined. The meeting can take place in-person or remotely.
- After appropriate accommodations are determined, the student will submit their course schedule to the ADA Coordinator so that letters can be sent to each course instructor to ensure they are notified of the student’s accommodation needs.
- Students who receive accommodations and would like the accommodations to be continued in the next term must email their course schedule for the next term to Access Services no later than one month prior to the start of the next term’s classes.
Please note: Information regarding a student registered with Access Services is maintained as confidential as required or permitted by law. No confidential information will be released unless the student provides written permission. Any information regarding a student’s disability is confidential and only shared within the University when there is a need to know basis with other University personnel. Additionally, information regarding a student’s disability is not part of a student’s educational record. If accommodations are approved for a student, the only information released to faculty are the specific accommodations in which a student is to receive
Documentation Guidelines
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