Institutional Rights and Responsibilities
The University of Massachusetts, Amherst (UMass) through Disability Services (DS) has the right and responsibility to:
- Maintain the University academic standards.
- Request qualifying disability documentation in order to verify eligibility for disability accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids.
- Discuss the student's eligibility with diagnosing professionals given signed consent.
- Select from among equally effective/appropriate accommodations, adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids in consultation with the student.
- Provide appropriate accommodations, adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids in timely and efficient manner.
- Provide information to people with disabilities in reasonable and accessible formats by request.
- Evaluate each request for accommodation on an individual basis.
- Deny requests for accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids when disability documentation does not identify a specific disability, fails to verify the need for the requested services, or is not provided in a timely manner.
- Deny requests for accommodations, adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids that are inappropriate or unreasonable based on disability documentation including any that:
- Pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others;
- Constitute a substantial change or alteration of an essential course element/program standard; or
- Pose undue financial or administrative burden on the University.