Vision and Operations
SUNY Polytechnic Institute welcomes individuals with disabilities. The University values diversity and provides an inclusive learning community through the Office of Disability Services. The Office of Disability Services ensures students with disabilities have equal access to the complete college experience (i.e., equal access to all programs, services, and activities offered by the University). Students with a permanent or temporary disability are encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Services to discuss the resources and services available to accommodate their individual needs.
Disclosure of a disability and providing documentation supportive of the diagnosed condition is the student’s sole responsibility. The exact nature of one’s disability is kept confidential and, although the necessary paperwork is processed by the Office of Disability Services, the student must disseminate his or her own accommodation plan to instructors and other necessary personnel. Many students find disclosure useful in pursuit of their academic, social and/or personal goals at SUNY Polytechnic Institute. Individuals may also grant permission to the Office of Disability Services to discuss the nature of their disability with others in pursuit of these goals.
Students seeking accommodations and services must register through the Office of Disability Services. Depending on the nature of their condition, students are asked to provide sufficient and complete documentation from their medical provider, psychologist, former academic institution, and/or other appropriate professionals. Documentation must clearly identify the individual’s disability, how said disability impacts the academic environment provided by SUNY Polytechnic Institute, and recommendations for appropriate and reasonable accommodations. Once the documentation has been reviewed by the Office of Disability Services, an appointment will be scheduled to discuss the request for accommodations. Accommodations are not retroactive, so timely requests are encouraged. Reasonable and appropriate accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis upon on review of relevant documentation, the interactive process with the individual student, and with consideration of the courses in which the student is enrolled. Accommodation plans are active for one semester only; each semester the student’s plan is reviewed and reissued if appropriate.
Please keep in mind that each student’s situation is unique, and documentation requirements may vary by situation. No student should delay registering with our office out of concern for not having appropriate paperwork.
Student Services
The Office of Disability Services offers disability-specific accommodations, academic counseling, and advocacy services relevant to the needs of individuals with disabilities. The Office of Disability Services also serves as a National Voter Registration site.
Services include, but are not limited to:
- Academic accommodations and modifications
- Study hall periods providing assistance individualized to the student’s disability
- Supportive counseling related to an individual’s academic needs and goals
- Access to and training for relevant assistive technology and software
- Referrals to additional resources both on-campus and off-campus
- Accessible housing with relevant room features
- Emotional Support Animal (ESA) requests and processing
Rights and Responsibilities
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) prohibits discrimination against students with disabling conditions. Postsecondary institutions must comply with these nondiscrimination laws, and it is essential that students understand their rights as protected by this legislation. An excellent resource for students with diverse abilities entitled, Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities can be found online via the U.S. Department of Education (http://www.ed.gov/ocr/transition.html).
To request copies of this publication, please utilize the student’s preferred format listed below.
Standard Mail:
ED Pubs Education Publications Center
U.S. Department of Education
P.O. Box 22207
Alexandria, VA 22304
Facsimile:
(703) 605-6794
E-Mail:
edpubs@inet.ed.gov
Telephone:
(877) 433-7827 (toll-free)
Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a teletypewriter (TTY) should dial (877) 576-7734.
Contact Information
For general information regarding the services offered to students with disabilities, please contact the office via e-mail at ds@sunypoly.edu, by telephone at (315) 792-7170, or online (https://sunypoly.edu/student-life/diversity-equity-inclusion/disability-services-office.html)
Office of Disability Services
100 Seymour Road
Utica, NY 13502
Utica Campus: Peter J. Cayan Library, L145
Albany Campus: NanoFab South, Suite 309