Mission
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 allow them equal access to all Boston College programs and the opportunity to realize potential and develop effective self-advocacy skills.
Boston College is committed to providing equal 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, ensures that students with disabilities receive appropriate accommodations and assistance in order to participate fully in University programs.
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. Students receive assistance in gaining access to Boston College programs and activities and in arranging reasonable accommodations with professors. 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 for Students with Hearing, Visual, Mobility, Medical, and Psychiatric Disabilities
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 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 must 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 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.
For more information, please contact:
Suzy Conway, Ph.D., LICSW
Assistant Dean for Students with Disabilities
Office of the Dean for Student Development
Campanella Way, Suite 212
Boston College
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
Phone: 617-552-3470
TTY: 617-552-2548
Fax: 617-552-3473
Email: conwaymh@bc.edu
Services for Students with Learning Disabilities
The Connors Family Learning Center provides academic support services and accommodations to undergraduate and graduate students with learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. For more information, please visit the website at www.bc.edu/connors or contact:
Kathleen M. Duggan, Ph.D.
Assistant Director, Connors Family Learning Center
O'Neill Library
Boston College
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
Phone: 617-552-8093
Email: kathleen.duggan@bc.edu