Boston College Law School is committed to meeting the needs of students with disabilities. We work hard to assist students with disabilities in achieving their educational, career, and personal goals through the full range of institutional and community resources.

Contact

  • Office of Academic & Student Services, Stuart House M308
  • Tel: (617) 552-2527
  • Email: lawADAservices@bc.edu

Accessibility at BC

  • We work closely with BC’s Disability Services Office (physical and mental disabilities) and the Connors Family Learning Center (learning disabilities and ADD/ADHD) to promote and improve accessibility on our campus and in our classrooms

  • To begin the accommodation request process for physical and mental disabilities please register online with BC’s Disability Services Office. 

    • Your Agora login is required to access the registration link.

    • Once you have completed the registration form and uploaded your documents, please contact the Disability Services Office at 617-552-3470 to schedule an intake appointment.

  • To begin the accommodation request process for learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) please complete the Special Accommodations Request form and submit the form and relevant documentation to Academic & Student Services in Stuart 308 or via email to lawADAservices@bc.edu

Guidelines

Students seeking support services from Boston College on the basis of a diagnosed learning disability or attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder must register with Academic & Student Services. Students must complete the following steps in order to register:

  1. Complete the Special Accommodations Request form available in Academic & Student Services, Stuart 308.
  2. Submit the form, along with medical documentation, in person to Stuart 308 or electronically to lawADAservices@bc.edu.
  3. Schedule an appointment with the Office of Academic & Student Services.


Documentation Guidelines for Specific Learning Disabilities:

Students seeking support services from Boston College on the basis of a diagnosed specific learning disability are required to submit documentation to verify eligibility under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The following guidelines are provided to ensure that documentation is appropriate to verify eligibility and to support requests for reasonable accommodation. The cost of obtaining the professional documentation is the responsibility of the student.

  1. Testing must be current
    Specifically, this means that the testing must be conducted within the last four years. Because the provision of all reasonable accommodations and services is based upon assessment of the current impact of the student's disabilities on his/her academic performance, it is in a student's best interest to provide recent and appropriate documentation.

  2. Testing must be comprehensive
    Testing must reflect the student's present levels of aptitude, achievement, and information processing. Tests used must be technically sound (i.e., statistically reliable and valid) and standardized for use with an adult population. Actual test scores must be provided. Standard scores and/or percentiles are acceptable. It is not acceptable to administer only one test for the purpose of diagnosis.

  3. Qualifications of the evaluator
    Trained and certified learning disability specialists and/or licensed psychologists may conduct the assessment. Diagnostic reports must include the names, titles, and professional credentials of the evaluators as well as the date(s) of testing.

  4. Specific disability must be diagnosed
    There must be clear and specific evidence of a learning disability. "Individual learning styles" and "learning differences" in and of themselves do not constitute a learning disability.

  5. Educational Recommendations
    Educational recommendations regarding the impact of the disability and accommodations recommended at the post-secondary level must be included.


Documentation Guidelines for ADD/ADHD:

Documentation must be no older than four years and provide information regarding the onset, longevity, and severity of the symptoms, as well as the specifics of describing how it has interfered with educational achievement. It must include an in-depth evaluation including both cognitive and achievement data from the psychiatrist/psychologist/physician who made the diagnosis, as well as specific educational recommendations. Information regarding suggested pharmacological interventions should be made as well.

Along with documentation, a letter of verification of accommodations from your previous institution and verification of accommodated standardized entrance exams is required.

Students who are seeking support services from Boston College on the basis of a diagnosed physical or mental disability must register with the Disability Services Offices. Students must complete the following steps in order to register:

  1. Complete the online registration form with on Disability Services Office.

  2. Upload medical documentation as described in the guidelines linked under “Documentation” on the Disability Service’s website.

  3. Once all information has been submitted, schedule an intake appointment by calling Disability Services at 617-552-3470.

A student with a physical, sensory, psychological, or health-related disability is to provide documentation verifying a disabling condition by a licensed healthcare professional who is qualified in the diagnosis of the disability and is currently or recently associated with the student. The diagnosis must reflect the student's present level of functioning of the major life activity affected by the disability. The cost of obtaining the professional verification is the student's responsibility.

If the initial verification is incomplete or inadequate to determine the present extent of the disability and/or appropriate accommodations, the Disability Services Office  may request supplementary documentation or assessment of the disability. The cost of the supplementary documentation or assessment is the responsibility of the student. If the Disability Services Office requires a second professional opinion, then the University shall bear any cost not covered by any third party payer.

Students seeking accommodations or services on the basis of a temporary disability must provide documentation to Academic & Student Services verifying the nature of the condition, stating the expected duration of the condition, and describing the accommodation deemed necessary. Such verification must be provided by a professional health care provider who is qualified in the diagnosis of such conditions. The assessment or verification of disability must reflect the student's current level of disability, and shall be no older than 60 days. The cost of obtaining the professional verification is the responsibility of the student.

If the initial verification is incomplete or inadequate to determine the extent of the disability and appropriate accommodations, Academic & Student Services may require supplementary documentation or assessment. The cost of supplementary documentation or assessment is the student's responsibility. If Academic & Student Services requires a second professional opinion, then the University shall bear any cost not covered by any third party payer.

Can't find what you're looking for? 

Contact Academic & Student Services at lawacastu@bc.edu or 617-552-2527.

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