Policies and Procedures

Federal, State, and CSU Wide Policy

As part of the California State University (CSU) system, Cal State Fullerton (CSUF) is committed to ensuring equitable access to educational opportunities to qualified students with disabilities.  In both practice and policy, CSUF adheres to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008 (ADAAA); Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; and all other federal and state laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability.

To meet the legal requirements of these laws, the CSU system established the Policy for Provision of Accommodations and Support Services to Students with Disabilities and the California State University Policy on Disability Support and Accommodations (Executive Order 1111).

Under the provisions of this legislation:

• CSUF may not unlawfully exclude a qualified individual on the basis of a disability from participation in the services, programs, or activities offered on its campus.
• Appropriate accommodations and services will be provided to ensure equitable access unless it is demonstrated that providing such services would fundamentally alter the nature of the program or would create undue financial or administrative burden.   

For a list of all University Policy Statements either address CSUF's Disability Support Services office or student's with disabilities, please see the following:

Supporting Students with Disabilities - 300.001

Recording and Transcription of Class Content By Students - 330.230

Sale of Academic Presentation Materials for Commercial Gain - 330.233

Exclusion of Person(s) from Campus Meetings - 370.200

Policy on Online Instruction

 

 

Determining Eligibility for DSS Services

As defined by the CSU Policy for Provision of Accommodations and Support Services to Student with Disabilities, a disability is a physical or mental impairment of an individual that limits one or more of the major life activities and requires either a record of such an impairment, or documentation of having been regarded as having such an impairment.

The department director (or designee) of Disability Support Services (DSS) shall have the ultimate authority to determine disability status, and the decision shall be based on student self-report, interactions with and observations by professional staff in the DSS office, and third-party documentation from a verifying professional qualified to assess the nature and extent of the disability.

Documentation Guidelines

Disability Support Services (DSS) welcomes and encourages all students with disabilities at Cal State Fullerton to register with DSS. As part of the application process, DSS will ask students for disability verification from a qualified professional. The primary reasons for obtaining and reviewing documentation are to: (a) gather information from students; (b) consider all available information and materials; (c) determine functional limitations; and (d) identify reasonable services and accommodations.

Evaluating Requests for Accommodations

All accommodation requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Disability diagnosis, alone, does not always warrant the provision of academic accommodation. Decisions regarding accommodation eligibility are also based on the following:

1. Information provided by the student during the interactive process must establish substantial functional limitations that are a result of their physical or mental impairment.
2. Information provided by the student during the interactive process must demonstrate how functional limitations create academic barriers, and ensure that the requested accommodations are reasonable and necessary to ensure equitable access to campus services, programs, and/or activities.
3. The use of an accommodation is not reasonable if:
• It would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature and essential requirements of a University service, program, or activity;
• It causes an undue financial or administrative burden; or
• It poses a threat to the health or safety of others.
4. The provision of accommodations must not result in substantial modifications to essential content and/or level of instruction for a particular course, degree requirements, or other academic programs/activities.
5. The University is not required to provide personal aids and services, including attendants/assistants, individually prescribed devices, readers for personal use or individual study time, or other devices or services of a personal nature such as tutoring or typing.
6. Accommodations and support services offered through the DSS may not duplicate services or instruction available to all CSUF students (e.g., tutoring, counseling services).
7. The University is not required to provide retroactive accommodations for services, programs, or activities. 

DSS Dispute Resolution (Accommodation Reconsideration)

Informal Complaint Resolution

A student who has a complaint regarding determination of disability status, service provision and/or related issues should notify their Disability Management Specialist as soon as possible to resolve the issue. The Disability Management Specialist will arrange a meeting within 10 working days.

These complaints can include, but are not limited to, denial of accommodation, delay and/or denial of services or auxiliary equipment, unequal treatment and/or discrimination, program and architectural inaccessibility. The Disability Management Specialist will inform the student in writing (via email) of the outcome of the interaction no later than 10 working days after the meeting. 

If an informal resolution is not reached, the student may submit a formal complaint within 10days of the event/action (or the last date of a related series of events/actions), notwithstanding any action taken by the appropriate administrator.

Formal Complaint Resolution

A formal complaint may be filed by a student who has been denied services by their Disability Management Specialist or site designee or is dissatisfied with the services provided. See information on how to file a formal complaint with the DSS below:

Formal complaints must meet one of two criteria:

1. Procedural error occurred that may have impacted the decision, or
2. New evidence exists that was not reasonably available to present at the time of the original decision or informal complaint process.

The formal complaint must be made in writing to the DSS Director (by completing the Accommodation Reconsideration Form) and include the following information:

1. The accommodation or service that is subject to the complaint,
2. Date of the complaint,
3. The facts on which the complaint is based,
4. Alleged procedural error or violation of policy,
5. New evidence that was not previously available that may affect a student’s requested service(s), and
6. The resolution requested.

The decisions regarding formal complaints are made by a committee of three people appointed by the Associate Vice President overseeing the Disability Support Services (DSS). The Committee’s review is to ensure due process was followed and if appropriate, consider new evidence that may affect a student’s requested service or accommodation. The DSS Director will notify the student in writing (via email) of the Committee’s decision regarding the complaint. The committee's decision will be final.

If a student feels they have been discriminated against due to a disability, they may file a complaint pursuant to the CSU’s Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Misconduct, Sexual Exploitation, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, Stalking, and Retaliation (Nondiscrimination Policy). Complaints can be filed through the Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Department.