Disability Services

Any student seeking accommodations due to a disability must follow procedures set forth by Penn State, even if you received accommodations at DSL in the past or received accommodations from your previous educational institution(s). The fact that you received an accommodation in the past is not a guarantee that you will receive a similar accommodation in law school.

UP Students must schedule an appointment with the Office for Disability Services (ODS). Contact information may be found at their website: http://www.equity.psu.edu/ods/index.html. In general, you must meet with a member of the ODS staff for an intake interview and provide diagnostic documentation from a licensed professional. It is your responsibility to obtain documentation and present a copy to ODS for review. Carlisle Students must schedule an appointment to meet with the Assistant Dean for Student Services, who will submit the documentation you provide to ODS for evaluation.

Documentation must meet Penn State's guidelines. For detailed information regarding Penn State's guidelines for documenting a specific disability, go to the following section of their web site: http://www.equity.psu.edu/ods/guidelines.asp.

Documentation will be reviewed by ODS and recommendations for accommodations, if any, will be made to the Law School. The determination of reasonable academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and/or services is determined on a case by case and a course by course basis. You are required to demonstrate through documentation that your disorder/impairment meets the definition of a disability under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

Since it may take you several weeks to obtain all requisite documentation, you are encouraged to begin this process as soon as possible.