Student Life

Disability Services

Welcome to the main Mercer University Disability Services web page!

As of July 1st 2013, Disability Services will become the ACCESS and Accommodation Office. The new name is intended to reflect the mission of the office which is to improve the accessibility of Mercer University Programs, Services and Facilities for persons with disabilities. The office provides Accommodations, Consultation, Collaboration, Education, Support and Services (ACCESS) related to students and visitors with disabilities as required under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the ADAAA.

***The Medical or Disability Housing/Meal Plan Accommodation Request Deadline for new requests is 60 days before the beginning of each semester and will be reviewed by the Medical Disability Petition Committee. The deadline for annual renewal of a request is the Housing Contract Deadline date***

Here you will find an overview of the mission and procedures of Disability Services. More detailed information can be found on the pages linked in the pink box on the left and the forms linked in the blue box on the right. Contact information for the Disability Services Coordinator on the various campuses can be found below.

Sincerely,

Carole Burrowbridge, M.S.

Director of Disability Services and ADA/504 Coordinator

Section 504 and the ADA

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Mercer University is committed to providing persons with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified, an equal opportunity to access a Mercer education through the provision of reasonable and appropriate accommodations and support services.

No qualified individual with a disability will, solely by reason of his/her disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity offered by an educational institution receiving federal funding. With respect to post-secondary educational services, "qualified" means "a person who meets the academic and technical standards requisite to admission or participation in the educational program or activity whether with or without reasonable modifications to rules, policies or practices; the removal of architectural, communication or transportation barriers; or the provision of auxiliary aids and services."

As required by law, students requiring accommodations for a disability must initially self-identify as a student with a disability by registering with Disability Services (DS). Only students who are registered with DS will be eligible to request accommodations and be recognized by the institution as a student with a disability. Accommodations are approved by the Disability Services Coordinator or a Disability Petition Committee on a case-by-case basis and may require additional or updated medical documentation to be submitted. Employees requesting Disability Accommodations should contact the Equal Opportunity Officer in Human Resources. Visitors should contact the office they are visiting or the event coordinator to request Disability Accommodations for their visit or event. The event coordinator will work with the ADA/504 Coordinator to make sure that equal access is provided.

Students requesting accommodations - Please download the "Process Overview" and appropriate "Verification of Disability Form" linked in the blue box to the right.

Physical Accessibility and Event Accessibility

Classroom accessibility problems should be identified at the time of registration for classes each term. The problem should immediately be brought to the attention of the Chair of the Academic Department offering the class or brought to the attention of the Disability Services Coordinator for remediation or to arrange for the class to be moved to a more accessible location. Any identified problems with physical accessibility or out of order elevators on campus should reported immediately to the Disability Services Coordinator for the campus concerned or to the ADA/504 Coordinator. While not all buildings and rooms may be accessible, Mercer continues to strive to insure that all programs and activities are accessible to persons with disabilities.If you are a student and think you might need accommodations, please continue reading and please download the "Process Overview" and "Verification of Disability Form" linked in the blue box on the right side of this page.

All newly admitted students who think they may need accommodations are encouraged to contact the Disability Services Coordinator as soon as they know that they will be attending Mercer University. Please contact us if you require accommodations on math or foreign language placement tests or for orientation programs. Requests for alternative textbooks, sign language, transcription or housing modifications must be submitted by deadlines. Disability Housing Accommodation requests submitted after the Housing Contract deadline for renewing students or after June 15th for new requests may be denied.

All student disability accommodation requests must be submitted to the Disability Services Coordinator by the student (if age 18 or older). Please let the coordinator know if you are not 18 yet.

Under FERPA, students over the age of 18 who would like the Disability Services Coordinator to be able to share educational information with their parents or parents of dependent students must have the appropriate forms on file with the Registrar's Office.

Disability accommodations may be provided for significant but temporary impairments a case-by-case basis depending on severity, impact and duration.

A lowering of admissions or academic program standards or the elimination of identified "essential elements" of a curriculum are not required by law. Petitions for a reduced course load or for Math and Foreign Language course substitutions may approved for students with substantial impairments on a case by case basis.

If you require accommodations on required admissions tests such as the SAT, ACT, GRE, MAT, GMAT, LSAT or MCAT, you must contact the testing agency directly for their documentation requirements and deadlines for submitting your documentation.

Disability Services on the Macon Campus is located in the Connell Student Center near the elevator on the third floor. The elevator is located next to the ATM near the Academic Resource Center on the parking lot level and near the Bear Necessities coffee shop on the main level.