Accommodations

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Accommodation Types

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Sample Classroom Accommodations

Common classroom accommodations include:

Notetaking assistance

  • Accessibility Services uses JamWorks to provide students with notetaking support.

Preferred seating

  • While assigned seating is not typical for CIA classes, if a student requires seating in a specific part of the classroom, an accommodation may be warranted. Students typically will either request a specific area of the classroom (i.e. closer to the faculty) or will discuss the specifics with each professor regarding where it is best to seat in each classroom.

Breaks as needed to address immediate concerns

  • These breaks are typically short in nature (i.e. 5-10 minutes). Students are responsible for any course content or activities missed during their breaks.

Exam Accommodations

Common Exam Accommodations Include:

Extended time on exams

  • Increments commonly requested are an additional 50% or 100%. (Must be scheduled by student one week before assessment.)

Separate test location for on campus exams

  • This is a distraction reduced setting. (Must be scheduled by student one week before assessment.)

Read aloud

  • Wellness and Accessibility Services staff can read test questions and answer options to students.

Scribe or use of a word processor

  • Wellness and Accessibility Services staff can scribe or write down answers for the student and/or the student may be approved to use a word processor to type their answers.

The following procedures govern an exam accommodation:

  • Students will determine which accommodations they want to use at least 7 days prior to the exam
    • Students will notify faculty if they intend to use extended time only.
    • Students will notify Wellness and Accessibility Services (disabilityservices@cia.edu) if they intend to use any of the following: separate test location, separate test location with extended time, read aloud, and/or scribe.
  • If testing with Wellness and Accessibility Services, they will arrange an exam time that takes into account the student’s schedule. Every effort will be made to give the exam at the regularly scheduled time.
  • Wellness and Accessibility Services will secure the exam from the professor and will conduct the exam. There may be more than one student taking the exam in a given location at the same time. Academic integrity will be enforced as outlined in the CIA Student Handbook.
  • Students who are late to an exam are not able to make up the time lost.
  • Students who fail to show up for the exam will be considered absent, and the professor will determine the grade for the exam.

Housing Accommodations Requests

Before requesting accommodations in CIA housing, please review our guidelines and processes: Reasonable Accommodation Guidelines and Processes for CIA Housing.pdf. 

The following two forms must be completed to apply for housing accommodations:

Accommodation Request Form for CIA Housing - 2026.pdf

Disability Verification 26-27.pdf

Please contact Wellness and Accessibility Services to schedule a consultation if you have questions about your situation and housing needs.

Schedule a Wellness and Accessibility Services consultation.

Single Bedroom

A note on single-room accommodation requests: The residential living environment is central to the CIA experience and a requirement for first- and second-year students. It should be noted that living within the community and learning to share space and be considerate of others is part of that experience. Accommodations within the housing environment are intended to provide equal access to students whose disability substantially impacts their ability to live on campus. Living in a communal environment requires compromise and communication for all students. Living with another person can sometimes be a challenging experience, and it is understandable that students may be hesitant to share a room or bathroom with other students. However, the residence halls are designed as a community where students live and learn together with a balance of rights and responsibilities that are supported by CIA residential staff who are trained to assist students in navigating spaces and relationships. As such, requests for single room disability accommodations, based on a desire to have a quiet or undisturbed environment will be granted only in very unusual circumstances. By virtue of the shared facilities, resources, and number of people living in one building, it is not logical to assume that having a private room would provide for such a quiet, distraction-free space to any appreciable degree beyond living in a standard room. We evaluate requests for housing related accommodations carefully.

Here is the process to request a single bedroom accommodation:

Once all documents are submitted, they are reviewed. If your request is approved, then we will communicate with Student Life + Housing. It is best to request this as early as possible. If all of the room placements are made, it is possible that a single bedroom may not be available.

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs)

Emotional Support Animals provide necessary emotional support to a student with a mental or psychiatric disability that alleviates one or more identified symptoms so that a student may have full participation in and equal access to CIA's housing.

The process to request an ESA is to:

  • Review and complete the attached ESA Policy ESA Policy and Agreement 2026.pdf and Agreement.
  • Submit veterinarian records including a letter of good health/visit summary indicating good health and vaccine records.
  • Submit documentation via the attached ESA Information ESA Information Request Form Provider 2026.pdf Request Form or submit a letter from your licensed health care provider on official letterhead that includes all of the following: 
    • A clear and specific diagnosis.
    • Explanation of the current manifestations or functional limitations of the disability.
    • Indication of an ongoing relationship between the provider and the student (not a single appointment).
    • Recommendation for an ESA, typically includes the current treatment plan.
    • Explanation of what symptoms an ESA will address and indicate how the ESA will address your symptoms.
    • Credentials of the licensed professional providing the diagnosis (no personal relationship with the individual being evaluated).

Once all documents are submitted, they are reviewed. If your request is approved, that decision will be communicated to Student Life + Housing to confer with your roommates. If your roommates affirm that they do not have concerns with living with an ESA, you will be notified. The process to review documents and conduct the roommate check can take time. You should not plan to bring the ESA to your suite until you have your final approval.

Please note: The letter of good health and vaccine records are required annually and must be submitted before you return to campus with your ESA. 

CIA Reasonable Accommodation Policy for Housing