Student Accessibility Resources

• Learning disabilities: LD, slow processing speed, dyslexia
• Attention deficit disorder:ADD / ADHD
• Psychological: depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar, PTSD, OCD, etc.
• Medical / chronic illness: epilepsy, sickle cell, cancer, crohn's, migraines, diabetes, fibromyalgia, asthma, lupus, etc.
• Autism spectrum / autism / asperger's
• Physical: cerebral palsy, spina bifida, spinal cord injury, arthritis, carpal tunnel, etc.
• Hearing: hearing impaired or deaf
• Cognitive: brain injury, concussion
• Visual: low vision or blind
• Temporary: broken bone, recent surgery, pregnancy complications

• Writing Center: one-on-one appointments with tutor who can assist with any phase of writing assignments (from idea generation to the final draft).
• Study Skills: one-on-one appointments with tutor who helps students with organization, reading comprehension, staying on schedule, effective note taking and test anxiety
• Math Lab: small group tutoring and some individual tutoring during non-peak times.
• Science Lab: small group tutoring and some individual tutoring during non-peak times.
• Foreign Language Lab: extensive listening library.
• Accounting and Economics tutor
• Most tutoring labs are open six days a week and evenings.
• Most instructors are readily available to work with students during their office hours.

The University encourages the reporting of incidents of disability discrimination. Individuals who believe they have experienced disability discrimination in a University program or activity are encouraged, but not required, to discuss the matter informally as follows:

• Students who wish to participate in informal resolution of their concerns may contact
  • Executive Director for Accessibility
    ADA/EIT/Rehabilitation Act Coordinator (the "Coordinator")
    Tel: 513-556-9791
    Heidi.Pettyjohn@uc.edu
  • If there is a conflict of interest with the Coordinator, students may contact:
    Executive Director of Equal Opportunity & Access
    5150 Edwards Center 1
    45 Corry Blvd
    Cincinnati, OH 45221-0214
    Tel: 513-556-5503
    oeohelp@ucmail.uc.edu
    
• Employees who wish to participate in the informal resolution process may contact their immediate supervisor. If there is a conflict of interest with the supervisor, employees may contact the University Section 504/ADA Coordinator.
• The representative of the OMBUDS office will facilitate discussion between the parties during the informal process. The parties may participate in joint and/or separate sessions with the facilitator to attempt to resolve the complaint. The sessions will be confidential to the extent permitted by law.
• Participation in the informal process is voluntary, and the grievant may end the informal process at any time and file a formal complaint.
• The informal process generally will be concluded within 30 business days. Within 10 business days of the conclusion of the process, written notice of the outcome will be provided to the parties and the Coordinator.

• If the informal Step 1 process does not resolve the matter, or if the grievant does not wish to use the informal procedures set forth in Step 1, a written complaint may be submitted to the Coordinator. The Coordinator will investigate the complaint personally or through his/her designee. If the Coordinator is the subject of the complaint or otherwise has a conflict of interest, the complaint shall be submitted to the Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance who will appoint another administrator to conduct the investigation.
• The complaint shall be signed or otherwise attested by the grievant and include 1) the grievant's name and contact information; 2) the facts of the incident or action complained of; 3) the approximate date of the incident or action giving rise to the complaint; 4) the type of discrimination alleged to have occurred; and 5) the specific relief sought. Names of witnesses and other relevant evidence may also be submitted. If in the investigator's judgment the complaint also falls within the jurisdiction of the Student Code of Conduct, the investigator shall refer the matter to the Office for Judicial Affairs. The investigation provided for in this procedure shall continue in parallel with any action taken by the Office for Judicial Affairs.
• An investigation of the complaint will be initiated within 5 business days following the submission of the written complaint. As appropriate, the investigation shall include an interview of the parties and witnesses, a review of relevant evidence, and any other steps necessary to ensure a prompt and thorough investigation of the complaint. The investigation shall generally be completed within 30 business days after initiation.
• A written disposition of the complaint shall be issued to the parties within 5 business days of completion of the investigation. If discrimination or harassment was found to have occurred by a preponderance of the evidence, the disposition will include the steps that the University will take to prevent recurrence of any discrimination/harassment and to correct its discriminatory effects on the grievant and others, if appropriate.

• If the grievant wishes to appeal the decision in Step 2 above, he/she may submit a signed or attested written appeal to the Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance within 10 business days after receipt of the written disposition.
• The only permissable grounds for appeal shall be:
  1. New information was discovered, which was not available at the time of the hearing, and such evidence is material and is likely to affect the outcome of the matter; or...
  2. A substantial procedual error occured in the process, which materially affecte the decision; or...
  3. a sanction of suspension or dismissal from the university was imposed and is not commensurate with the violation.

• Within 30 business days, the Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance or his/her designee shall review all the evidence presented to the previous investigator. If the Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance or his/her designee determines that he/she agrees with the grounds for appeal, he/she may, if deemed necessary, require that additional investigation be conducted or shall make his/her own determination.
• Written notice of the Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance’s decision will be given to both the grievant and the respondent. If discrimination or harassment was found to have occurred, the disposition will include the steps that the University will take to prevent recurrence of any discrimination/harassment and to correct its discriminatory effects on the grievant and others, if appropriate.
• The University hereby provides assurance that it strictly prohibits any form of retaliation against any person for asserting his/her rights under Section 504 and/or the ADA. Anyone engaging in retaliation will be subject to disciplinary action. Complaints of retaliation may also be addressed through the foregoing procedure.
• A person is not required to use this procedure and may instead file a complaint directly with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, 1350 Euclid Avenue, Suite 325, Cleveland, OH 44115

In order to begin receiving academic accommodations for online courses, you must register with the Accessibility Resources Office (AR).

1. Contact our office at 513-558-9414 or via our email at ucba.accessibilityresources@uc.edu to schedule an Intake Interview (or phone interview, if applicable) with a Director of Accessibility Resources to review documentation (see below) and ensure that accommodations will be provided. Please note that the intake interview will take about 35 to 40 minutes to complete.
   1. Documentation Guidelines: In order for our office to provide the most appropriate and reasonable accommodations, we would prefer to receive documentation that follows the guidelines listed below. Once the documentation is provided, an intake will follow to discuss the impact of the disability within the academic environment. Please contact our office if you have any additional questions or comments.
   2. Documentation from a qualified professional should be recent (three years old or newer is preferred). The best quality documentation is from a licensed or credentialed professional who is a good match for the disability described (e.g., a psychologist should not diagnose an orthopedic disability). Documentation should include the following:
      1. A clear diagnostic statement that describes when and how the condition was diagnosed and provides information on the impact of the disability;
      2. A description of the diagnostic methods (if applicable) should be included;
      3. Documentation should contain a description of how the condition will impact the student within the academic environment;
      4. Current and past accommodations, services, and/or medications should be documented if applicable;
2. Fax or bring your documentation to our campus location: 112L Muntz Hall or fax to 513-792-8624. Upon scheduling an Intake Interview, our Director of Accessibiity Resources will then review your documentation. You will be notified if your documentation meets requirements or if additional information/documentation is required before accommodations can be provided.
   
3. Once your documentation is approved and accommodations determined, the Director of Accessibiity Resources will complete all appropriate paperwork and submit your file to the Accommodation Coordinator of your respective home college, i.e. College of Education, College of Engineering, etc., who will be your main point person for problems/issues/advocacy related to your status as a student with a disability. The Director will then provide you with the appropriate contact name, phone, and e-mail of your Accommodation Coordinator. Please note that this person is housed in the Accessibility Resources Office and not your home college. 
   
4. Accessibiity Resources will send a PDF version of your accommodations to your UC e-mail. This will serve as your Accommodation Form for that term. Your responsibility will be to forward the Accommodation Form to each online instructor.
   
5. If there are problems/issues associated with the accommodations listed, the Director of Accessibiity Resources will work with you and the instructor to determine a reasonable solution. The student should alert his or her Director of AR about any such issue.

Through the generosity of the Marge and Charles J. Schott Foundation, the University of Cincinnati is proud to offer a scholarship to a student that has self-identified with a significant physical disability, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia. It is the hope of the trustees of the Foundation and family members of Marge Schott that the recipient will continue his/her quests for knowledge and realize his/her dreams.

This scholarship is available to an undergraduate student, with sophomore to senior status, who is enrolled full-time and matriculating at any college of the University of Cincinnati. It may be renewed annually as long as the student is in good academic standing and demonstrates financial need.

The confidential, three-part application must be completed by you and a personal or professional reference; this individual may not be a member of your family. All three sections of the application must be submitted together.

• Download the Winnie Unnewehr Fraser Scholarship Form

One $475 scholarship is awarded in two $237.50 installments for the fall and spring semesters. This award is contingent upon the student continuing in his/her program and maintaining at least a 2.5 GPA.

Sherri Warshaw is a registered dental hygienist, Mayo-Clinic Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist and a UC Blue Ash Alumna, Class of 1995. Her inspiration for starting this scholarship is a member of her family who has Asperger syndrome. By providing the scholarship support, Sherri will help future students with disabilities to be "set up for success" while navigating college at UC Blue Ash.