Student Rights and Responsibilities

Students with disabilities attending college are entitled to the same rights, privileges, and opportunities as all students at that institution. Individuals with disabilities are protected by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as amended. It is important for students to understand both their rights and responsibilities relating to their disability in the academic setting. For more information on responsibilities in transitioning to post-secondary institutions, visit the U.S. Department of Education website.

  • To have an equal opportunity to learn, participate in, and benefit from the academic community. If the location or delivery system limits your access, participation, or ability to benefit because of your disability, you have a right to receive reasonable accommodations
    • Reasonable accommodations cannot fundamentally alter the nature of the program or activity, lower academic standards, present an undue financial or administrative burden on the University, or pose a threat to personal or public safety
  • To receive appropriate accommodations in a timely manner from faculty or ODS
  • To confidentiality; you can expect your information will be treated confidentially per FERPA
  • To choose whether or not to disclose the nature of your disability to ODS or others
    • ODS is the only office for reviewing disability documentation to determine eligibility for appropriate accommodations
    • To request accommodations through ODS, you are required to disclose the nature of your disability and potentially provide documentation 
  • To receive disability-related advocacy and support through ODS
  • To be protected from discrimination and file a grievance if you believe discrimination has occurred against you 
  • Meet and maintain the University’s fundamental standards—academic, technical, performance, and behavioral—expected of all WOU students
  • Follow established procedures in a timely manner, including:
    • Identifying themselves as needing accommodations by submitting an application and documentation; allowing reasonable time for documentation review and implementation arrangements before accommodations are needed
    • Completing the ODS Accommodations Orientation
    • Requesting accommodations in a timely manner via AIM; this includes alternate formats, scheduling tests, etc.
    • Communicating about changes, questions, and/or concerns related to receiving your accommodations
  • Read and respond to email correspondence, as needed, from ODS
  • To self-advocate by initiating processes for your accommodations and communicating with ODS if modifications to accommodations are needed
  • Understand that late requests do not qualify for retroactive accommodation(s)
  • Provide for their own personal independent living needs or other personal disability-related needs such as: 

Contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS)

    • Email:  ods@wou.edu
    • Phone: 503-838-8250
    • Fax: 503-838-8721

ODS Quicklinks

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