At Vincennes University, resources are offered through the office of Disability Services to help students overcome or compensate for obstacles related to a physical, emotional, learning or other disability. Staff evaluates disability documentation and endorses those accommodations that help ameliorate the effects of a student’s specific symptoms or functional limitations. Some of the resources available include: endorsement of reasonable classroom accommodations with faculty, assistance in obtaining alternative format textbooks and adaptive technology, arrangements for sign language interpreter and captioning services, and referral to community agencies. Staff also assists faculty by distributing information through group educational presentations and individual consultations, and by coordinating to ensure that the most appropriate accommodations are provided to students with disabilities. We encourage students and their families to read more about the office of Disability Services and the accommodation process by downloading our Student Guide to Disability Services below.
It is recommended that all University supports and academic resources be identified and arranged or in place well before students with disabilities begin their first semester of classes. Interested students are asked to complete registration in the office of Disability Services at least sixty (60) days before accommodations are needed, which includes providing professional documentation/evidence of a disability and the need for specific accommodations. It is important to note that qualification for accommodations is not automatic in college for students who may have qualified for accommodations in high school. It is necessary for students to provide very specific and detailed information to assist us in determining the most appropriate accommodations for their situations. The office of Disability Services has an information cover sheet that is available to take to the student's treating professional to assist with the qualification process; this Verification of Disability cover sheet describes the information that must be included in a diagnostic narrative (letter) or test report, and may be accessed following the link below.
Additionally, students with disabilities who require an adjustment in their on-campus living arrangements may obtain a Housing Adjustment Form from the office of Disability Services to take to their treating physicians for completion and consideration. The Housing Adjustment Form is also accessible from the Housing and Parking web page. Students who will be bringing a service animal into one of the residence halls on campus are asked to complete and submit a Service Animal Registration Form before their arrival to better assist us in accommodating the service animal. The Service Animal Procedures link below will assist you in this process.
Finally, all students with disabilities and their family members should read The Big Difference Between High School and College and Differences in Disability Rights and Responsibilities Between High School and College in preparation for the process of attending college.
If you have questions, concerns, or are unsure if your documentation is appropriate for your needs, we encourage you to contact Leslie Smith, Director of Disability Services at:
VU Disability Services
Vigo Hall South Lobby
Vincennes, IN 47591
Phone: 812.888.4501
Fax: 812.888.2087
lmsmith@vinu.edu
Vincennes University does not charge any additional costs to a qualified student with a disability for the provision of reasonable and appropriate accommodations for a disability.
