Accessibility Services

About Accessibility Services

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1978, and the Fair Housing Act, Iona University is committed to providing equal access to all programs, activities, and facilities for students with disabilities. For more information click here.

The Accessibility Services Office (ASO) serves as the University’s agent for ensuring that students are able to access and participate in all aspects of campus life, including (but not limited to) learning. The ASO specialist is responsible for reviewing requests and determining reasonable accommodations on a case-by-case basis. In some instances, it may be necessary for the ASO specialist to engage in the interactive process with faculty about course requirements and reasonable modifications.

The process may take several weeks, depending on the nature of the disability and the requested accommodations.

Once admitted to the University, students who have a diagnosed disability (including, but not limited to, learning disability, mental health impairment, physical impairment or chronic medical condition) should follow the steps below to register for accommodations.

Within 10 days of receiving a request, an ASO specialist will contact the student to schedule a meeting to discuss past use of accommodations and any disability-related barriers the student anticipates while pursuing their degree at the University. The purpose of the meeting is so that the specialist can get a clear understanding of the student’s experience with their disability, potential barriers, and effective accommodations that will provide equal educational access while at the University. It is also important for the specialist to understand the connection between the barrier described, the student’s disability and the requested accommodation.

Depending on the nature of the disability, its impact, and requested accommodations, the student may be required to have their Medical Provider complete the University’s Medical Provider Questionnaire before accommodations are approved. It may also be necessary to schedule multiple meetings in order to finalize accommodations. In cases where a student is requesting basic accommodations based on an IEP or 504 Plan, (i.e. extended time for exams/quizzes in a distraction reduced environment, permission to record lecture, etc.), the high school documentation can be used as a basis for determining past use of specific accommodations. To expedite the process, students should upload supporting documentation when registering for accommodations.

Generally, the Accessibility Services Specialist can implement accommodations immediately based on the above alone; however, in cases where it is not clear how the disability is connected to the barrier, and how the accommodation would provide access, the ASO may request that the student provide additional documentation that illustrates that connection. No student should delay registering with the ASO out of concern for not having appropriate documentation.

Instructions for registering for accommodations:

• Log into your Single Sign-on account (myiona.iona.edu)
• Click Accommodate, then Student
• From the left side menu, select Accommodations then Request Accommodations to complete the registration form.
• If you have supporting documentation, such as an IEP, please upload it by selecting Upload Supporting Documentation from the homepage.