Drexel University Office of Disability Services

Registration for Employees with Disabilities

Registering with ODS
Drexel University is committed to providing employees who have disabilities with an equal opportunity to fully participate in the workplace, programs, and activities. Employees of Drexel University who have a disability and need accommodations in order to attain equal access must register with the Office of Disability Services (“ODS”). Registration includes six main components, which are all explained in more detail below:

Requesting Accommodations
Employees who are seeking accommodations in the workplace, programs, and activities at Drexel University due to a disability, must make a formal request for accommodations with ODS.
Link to Request for Accommodations Form
Upon submission of the Request for Accommodations form, the employee will be contacted to set up an appointment to discuss the accommodations requests with the Director of ODS.

Engaging in the Interactive Process
The employee must schedule an appointment to discuss their request with ODS. The interactive process is designed to be an collaborative experience, allowing employees to work directly with the ODS Director to discuss the specific impact of their condition, identifying barriers that exist for them in the given environment and determining possible reasonable accommodations that could provide them with equal access.

Submitting Documentation
The employee must submit appropriate medical or psycho-educational supporting documentation. The documentation must present an impairment or condition that substantially limits one or more major life activities. The documentation must also be up-to-date, addressing current levels of functioning and the current impact of the impairment or condition in the academic environment.

Documentation Requirements

Determining Reasonable and Appropriate Accommodations
ODS considers all requests on a case-by-case basis. ODS will make a determination of reasonable and appropriate accommodations based on the request for accommodations, the supporting documentation, the interactive discussion between the employee and ODS Director, and the essential job duties of the employee. ODS strives to make this determination in a timely manner, however the employee must follow all prior steps in order for ODS to have the ability to move the process forward.

The request may be denied if the employee does not make a request for accommodations through ODS or engage in the interactive process with the ODS Director. If the documentation submitted does not sufficiently support the requested accommodation, the request may also be denied.

Approved reasonable accommodations are intended to minimize the impact of the disability in the work environment, allowing for the employee to fulfill all essential functions of the position.  Should the employee be granted reasonable accommodations by ODS, an Accommodation Verification Letter (“AVL”) will be issued to the employee, specifying the accommodations to which they are entitled for the given period of employment.

Receiving and Sharing the Accommodation Verification Letter (“AVL”)
All approved accommodations are written into the Accommodation Verification Letter (“AVL”) by the ODS Director. AVLs are only valid for one year (the dates are indicated on the AVL above the listing of accommodations). It is the responsibility of the employee to submit the AVL to those from whom they wish to receive the accommodations (i.e. supervisor; not ODS). ODS strongly recommends that employees share AVLs as soon as reasonably possible to ensure the fullest extent of the benefit of the AVL. Retroactive accommodations will not be permitted in the event the employee has failed to share the AVL in a timely manner.

Updating AVL Each Year

Accommodation Verification Letters (“AVL”s) must be updated each year. If the employee wishes to continue using accommodations after the expiration of an AVL, a new Request for Accommodations Form must be submitted to ODS. The employee should subsequently schedule a follow-up appointment with the Director of ODS to discuss the request made. In order to avoid any interruption of services, the Request for Accommodations should be submitted to ODS within a reasonable period of time before the employee plans to use the accommodation.

For additional information, please contact:

Jenny Dugger, Director
Office of Disability Services
215-895-1401
jkd27@drexel.edu




Office of Disability Services | 3201 Arch Street | Suite 210 | Philadelphia, PA 19104 | 215.895.1401
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