Background & Guiding Principles
The Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR) promotes access and equity for all students of Carleton. We value full access to the wide range of academic, organizational, residential, and work opportunities for Carleton students, regardless of disability status. It is the policy of Carleton College to create and maintain an environment in which all students, regardless of disability status, can learn and work to their fullest potential. The College is committed to providing equal access and reasonable accommodation to qualified students.
Students with disabilities must make themselves known to OAR by submitting a first-time accommodation request form or emailing OAR@carleton.edu. The accommodation request should be supported by documentation from a licensed and appropriate medical or healthcare provider identifying the disability and why an accommodation is needed.
Based on the documentation provided and the interactive process between OAR and the student, OAR staff will advise the student by letter of the accommodation(s) that will be provided (the “Accommodation Letter”). The Accommodation Letter will be used to notify faculty and other relevant College personnel of the approved accommodations.
Accommodations & Language Requirement Exemption Petition Process
The Accommodation Letter will detail approved accommodations that are intended to address the most commonly encountered scenarios in an academic setting. In some cases, elements of a specific course design may present a barrier based on the student’s disability, and additional accommodations may need to be explored in collaboration with the student, OAR staff, and the course instructor. This can include language learning coursework that is part of the language requirement.
If a student believes that their difficulties learning a second language are due to a documented disability, they should be directed to OAR director Sam Thayer to discuss potential accommodations and resources. They should also be directed to their language instructor for advice regarding academic resources, study strategies, and other forms of support.
Students who have disabilities related to language learning and/or who have experienced inordinate difficulty in language learning may be eligible to petition for an exemption from (or replacement of) the language requirement. More information about the petition process can be found here.
Students seeking to petition based on a disability must:
- be formally registered with OAR
- have sufficiently engaged in an interactive process with OAR to explore potential reasonable accommodations (other than an exemption)
- provide OAR with adequate supporting documentation from a qualified provider