Albright College ensures that people with disabilities have equal opportunity to participate in its programs and activities, in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act and encourages students to request accommodations for which they qualify. Albright College offers services and accommodations for qualified students through the Academic Learning Center, which handles all requests for academic accommodations and makes referrals to other college units as needed. The ALC is committed to providing timely, individual assessment of student needs and promotes self-advocacy and intentional learning among all students, especially disabled students. The ALC is located in the Administration Building, phone 610-921-7662, e-mail: academiclearningcenter@albright.edu
We understand that self-disclosure of a disability or medical condition is a very personal matter. Students who wish to have a confidential conversation about their previous history of using accommodations, their eligibility for services, or any referrals for a disability related evaluations are encouraged to request an appointment at their earliest convenience. We recommend that students self disclose to the ALC as early as possible so that we can work together on a proactive approach to their learning and academic experience. In order to speak to parents about a student’s request for accommodations, students will need to sign a release form with the ALC. That being said, we highly encourage students to inform their parents directly about their choice to use the services available through the ALC for students with disabilities and/or medical conditions.
All disability records are kept separate from a student's educational record and utilization of accommodations will not be cited on transcripts, applications, or other permanent records. Further, the ALC has a responsibility to maintain the confidentiality of a student's clinical documentation. Without a student's informed consent, no records will be released to a third party. Should a student submit a written request for release of documentation, the ALC will process this request within 5-7 business daysfor current students and 7-10 business days for former students.
Albright College has established documentation guidelines that require
students to provide current and comprehensive information by a
credentialed professional or medical practitioner. A student’s high school IEP
may be helpful but cannot be the basis of accommodation decisions in college,
and even clinical evaluations can be too old to be of current use. It is
important that the disability be understood in relation to the College’s courses,
programs and activities. In other words, a diagnosis in and of itself may not
be a sufficient rationale for accommodations, and diagnosis or documentation of
a specific disability does not necessarily translate into having a particular
accommodation. Our evaluation of documentation may include consultation with
clinical consultants, and, with the student's written permission, we may need
to consult with the original evaluator when documentation guidelines have not
been followed or information is otherwise unclear. Please click on the link
below to access our documentation guidelines and review our suggested
accommodation checklist for students and families.
