The mission of the Disability Services Office is to assist students with disabilities at Boston College in achieving their educational, career, and personal goals through the full range of institutional and community resources. The office ensures that students with disabilities receive support services and accommodations that permit equal access to all Boston College programs and the opportunity to realize their potential and develop effective self-advocacy skills.
Boston College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations and integrated access for students with disabilities to all available academic, social, and recreational programs and activities. The Disability Services Office at Boston College, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, works closely with students, administrators, and faculty to develop and implement individualized accommodations tailored to students' needs.
Appropriate support services are provided by Suzy Conway, Assistant Dean for Students with Disabilities. The Disability Services Office serves undergraduate and graduate students with hearing, visual, mobility, medical, and psychiatric disabilities. The Assistant Dean also works with University administrators to develop policies and procedures pertinent to students with disabilities and acts as a general information and referral service on disability issues.
services available
Students with disabilities are entitled by law to equal access to University programs and facilities. The most relevant laws are Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Under these laws, students cannot be discriminated against on the basis of their disability. In the University setting, this often means that alterations must be made in the classroom or in testing procedures.
To be considered eligible for services through the Disability Services Office, students should make an appointment to meet with the Assistant Dean for Students with Disabilities in addition to providing documentation of a disability. The documentation serves as the foundation for legitimizing the request for a reasonable accommodation. Appropriate documentation must include the following:
- A clear diagnosis of the disability by a licensed professional who has firsthand knowledge of the student's condition and has experience and training in diagnosing and treating people with disabilities.
- Documentation of the disability must be current, preferably within four years. (The age of the required documentation also may be dependent upon the nature of the disability and the specific requested accommodation.)
- A statement of the functional impact and limitations of the disability on major life activities.
- A list of recommended accommodations with an explanation of the relevance of each to the diagnosed disability.
Handicapped access maps of Boston College provide information such as accessible building entrances, bathroom facilities, paths of travel, parking, elevators, and other access resource information. Maps are available at the Disability Services Office located in the Office of the Dean for Student Development, 21 Campanella Way, Suite 212, or by clicking on the links below.
contact information
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Suzy Conway, Ph.D., LICSW |
Phone: 617-552-3470 |