Students seeking accommodations or disability support services at ACSOM are required to register with Student Disability Services (SDS). While students are welcome to contact SDS directly at any time to discuss or ask questions, the typical registration process is as follows:
Make a formal request for accommodations
Register with Student Disability Services to begin the accommodation(s) request process via our Online Registration Form. We will ask you to provide information about your disability, history of accommodations, and make requests for specific accommodations. Information provided is confidential, and only accessible by Student Disability Services. You are encouraged to complete the application and submit documentation (Steps 1 & 2) in advance of your intake appointment.
Provide documentation of your disability
SDS developed documentation guidelines to assist students with various disabilities and conditions to request the necessary documentation from their treatment providers. Once you have completed your SDS registration form, you are encouraged to return to the documentation guidelines page for guidance on securing the necessary documents. You are encouraged to send your disability documentation to SDS in advance of your intake appointment. Please review these documentation guidelines and contact our office if you have further questions beyond what is covered there.
Contact SDS
Current and prospective students should email SDS to schedule an intake appointment. Appointments can take place via Google Meet.
Determination of eligibility and accommodations
SDS takes into consideration the information provided during the intake meeting, your disability documentation, and the requirements of your academic and clinical program to determine your eligibility for services and, if appropriate, recommend specific accommodations. This is an interactive process in which it is essential that you be an active participant.
NOTE: A history of accommodations, or lack thereof, does not necessarily predict the provision of accommodations here at ACSOM. Additionally, any accommodations received at ACSOM does not predict the provision of accommodations on US Licensing exams.
Protocol for Registering a Service Animal to Come on Campus at American Canadian School of Medicine
Purpose: To establish a clear and consistent process for the registration of service animals on campus, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and promoting a safe and supportive environment for all students, staff, and visitors.
Scope: This protocol applies to all students, faculty, staff, and visitors who wish to bring a service animal onto the campus.
Definitions:
• Service Animal: As defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.
• Handler: The person with a disability who uses a service animal.
Procedures:
1. Initial Inquiry and Documentation:
• Contact Point: The Office of Disability Services (ODS) will be the primary point of contact for service animal registration.
• Initial Contact: The handler should contact the ODS at least 45 days prior to the start of classes to express their intent to bring a service animal on campus. This can be done via email, phone, or in-person visit.
• Required Documentation: A letter from a licensed healthcare provider verifying the handler’s disability and the necessity of the service animal. Proof of the animal’s vaccinations and health records from a licensed veterinarian.
2. Submission of Registration Form:
• Registration Form: The handler must complete and submit the Registration Form, available from the Student Disability Services office or the university’s website. Completion and submission of the form are necessary for the Student Disability Services office to begin the review and approval process.
3. Review and Approval:
• Review Process: Student Disability Services will review the submitted documentation to ensure it meets all requirements.
• Interview: Student Disability Services may schedule a meeting with the handler to discuss any additional details and answer questions.
• Approval: Upon satisfactory review, Student Disability Services will provide written approval for the service animal to be on campus and distribute the information to all necessary parties.
4. Issuance of Service Animal ID:
• ID Card: Student Disability Services will issue an ID card for the service animal, which must be carried by the handler at all times while on campus.
• Identification Gear: It is recommended that the service animal wear a vest or harness that identifies it as a service animal.
5. Campus Access and Accommodation:
• General Access: Service animals are allowed in all areas of the campus where the handler is permitted unless otherwise noted by Student Disability Services in the written approval.
• Housing: If the handler lives on campus, they must notify the Housing Office to ensure appropriate accommodations are made.
• Classrooms and Facilities: The handler should inform instructors and relevant staff about the presence of the service animal to facilitate any necessary adjustments.
6. Responsibilities of the Handler:
• Supervision and Control: The handler must maintain control of the service animal at all times.
• Cleanliness: The handler is responsible for cleaning up after the service animal.
• Health and Well-being: The handler must ensure the service animal’s health, including regular veterinary care and vaccinations.
7. Compliance and Removal:
• Behavior Standards: The service animal must not disrupt the campus environment. Aggressive or disruptive behavior may result in removal from campus.
• Complaints: Any complaints regarding the service animal should be directed to the Student Disability Services. Student Disability Services will investigate and take appropriate action.
• Revocation of Approval: Failure to comply with this protocol may result in the revocation of the approval to have the service animal on campus.
8. Appeals:
• Process: If the handler disagrees with a decision made by Student Disability Services, they may file an appeal. The appeal must be submitted in writing to the Director of Disability Services.
• Review: The appeal will be reviewed by an independent committee, and a decision will be communicated to the handler within 14 business days. The handler will be contacted with an updated if more time is needed beyond 14 days for the committee to review.
Additional Resources:
Student Disability Services Contact Information: sds-info@acsom.edu.dm, https://sites.google.com/view/acsom-student-corner/student-disability-services
- Service Animal Registration Form: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/370ba23c74914da6936301b10d0c76bc
- ADA Service Animal Guidelines: https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-2010-requirements/