Special Housing Requests

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ University is committed to serving the housing needs of students with disabilities. The following is a listing of ADA available housing:

The New Halls offer the following amenities:

  • Roll in showers
  • Accessible ground floor rooms

Dolson Hall offers the following amenities:

  • Roll in showers
  • Extra wide doors
  • Vanities are accessible to wheelchairs
  • Mirrors are at the ADA regulated height
  • Faucets are accessible
  • Door handles are lever type
  • Building has elevators
  • Building has emergency call stations located on the landings of the east stairwells

The Woods at Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ University offers the following amenities:

  • Roll in showers
  • Tub with seat
  • Front loading washers & dryers
  • Breakfast bar is low for wheelchair accessibility
  • Side-by-side refrigerators
  • Cabinets in bathroom can be taken out for wheelchair accessibility
  • Stove has knobs on front

Information for Diagnosticians

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ University does not evaluate individuals or determine functioning levels. The Office of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ reviews documentation to determine if an individual is eligible for special housing accommodations. If eligible based upon the documentation, the Office of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ will be in contact with the individual to determine the appropriate housing. During the review process, the Office of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ may confer with other University offices and departments.

Three-Step Eligibility Process

  1. Does the student have a physical or mental impairment? Documentation must be current and include a mental or physical diagnosis made by a qualified diagnostic.
  2. Does the impairment affect a major life activity? Legal eligibility requires that the physical or mental impairment substantially affect a major life activity. Documentation must clearly state which major life activities are affected by the impairment.
  3. Does the impairment substantially limit the student’s life? Documentation must state what specific activities the student is unable to perform or is significantly restricted (condition, manner, or duration) in performing when compared with an average person in the general population. Documentation must state the nature and severity (mild, moderate, severe) of the impairment, the duration or expected duration of the impairment, and the permanence or expected long-term impact.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities. According to these civil rights laws and corresponding regulations, no otherwise qualified person with a disability shall, solely by reason of his or her disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity of a public entity.

The Office of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ at Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ University strives to provide a climate of equal opportunity in all of its programs, activities, and services, and as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Fair Housing Act. Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ will work to provide accommodations for any qualified resident with a disability. Housing for special needs may be limited due to space availability.

Temporary Medical Conditions

Students with a temporary medical condition that affects their mobility can contact the Office of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ at 217-362-6410 to discuss room reassignment options. Due to limited availability during terms, single accommodations cannot be guaranteed for temporary medical conditions.

Request for Special Housing (Medical)

If a reasonable accommodation in housing is requested based on a disability, the following must be completed:

  1. Documentation of Disability for Special Housing Consideration Form (completed by the medical provider/diagnostician)
  2. Submit a Housing Application by June 1 for the fall term, or December 1 for the spring term
  3. Provide documentation that addresses the specific needs for a reasonable accommodation(s) in housing (this documentation must be submitted within the established timeframe (see #2) to the Office of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ)
  4. Update reasonable housing accommodations on an annual basis within the established time frames designated by the University

Students who have medical documentation demonstrating the need for a special amenity within their residence (ie. single room, kitchen, air conditioning, etc.) will not be charged for such amenities and will be assessed the standard room rate for the facility in which they are residing, so long as they have provided medical documentation demonstrating the need for such amenities and followed the timeframe established for requesting the accommodation.

Print and send these forms by fax or by mail:

Documentation

Standards may be more stringent than usual clinical practice. Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ University does not base eligibility on what could/might occur or often occurs with those that have been given this diagnosis. Documentation must include very specific information regarding the individual’s actual current functional limitations/restrictions. The University requests data based on evidence such as: medical evaluations, psychoeducational, neuropsychological, norm based behavioral assessments, and other evaluations/assessments that measure how the impairments interfere with the student’s functioning.

Incomplete Documentation

Missing information delays the eligibility decision and the delay may affect the individual’s ability to secure special housing due to availability.