Office of Accessibility Services (OAS)

The Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) works closely with the Learning Commons and Testing Center in providing accommodations and services to meet the needs of qualified students. Qualified students are those who have a disability* as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or the guidelines for Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act.

• Definition of a Disability A person has a disability if he or she has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more “major life activities.” Major life activities include functions such as walking, seeing, hearing, breathing, learning, working, caring for oneself, and performing manual tasks

For additional questions, please email accommodate@franklin.edu

How To Register

Please follow the guidelines below to register with the Office of Accessibility Services.

Gather supporting medical documentation from a qualified medical professional (you will need this to submit your OAS Application) Click here for the OAS Medical Form.
Apply – click here to fill out the Office of Accessibility Services Student Application. (Note: you must be a registered student with valid student ID number to apply)
Submit supporting medical documentation – attach provided medical form to the bottom of OAS application.

a. If you are unable to get the provided form filled out, we will also accept a letter from your doctor, psychologist, or a copy of your medical records that discusses your disability.

b. Additional documentation can be submitted at any time through the ClockWork dashboard
Schedule Intake Appointment - all students are required to schedule an intake interview with our office in order to move forward with determining what accommodation(s), if any, would make an equitable learning experience for you at Franklin. This should be done as early as possible to ensure that we can set up accommodations before you start your courses as accommodations are never retroactive.

a. To schedule your intake appointment please click here
-If you are unable to access the online registration form, please contact OAS at accommodate@franklin.edu to request a copy of the application in an alternate format.

Confidentiality Statement: Disability information is shared only on a limited basis within the University and only when there is compelling need to communicate with faculty and staff in order to achieve implementation of reasonable accommodations.

Documentation Guidelines: If the information on the submitted form is incomplete or inadequate, you may be required to provide additional information. You are responsible for any costs associated with obtaining documentation. Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the nature of the disability and the information provided.

Success Strategies

Success Strategies for Students with Disabilities

Seek out help when you need it.
Support from others is key to success. Don't get discouraged; speak with your Academic Advisor for help in picking classes, then create a study schedule. Communicating directly with your instructors is an important part of a successful academic career at Franklin University. Not only will one-on-one meetings help you to get the most out of the academic opportunities available to you, but they also give you the chance to clearly convey your particular accommodation needs.
Map out how you will use your time.
With more unscheduled time, it can be easy to fall behind in coursework. Find a time management tool that's easy and convenient for you, like a daily planner or a PDA, and set aside 15 minutes daily to map out your day. Be realistic about the time your tasks will take, and remember to schedule in breaks and adequate sleep.
Plan ahead, especially for final projects and tests that are a big part of your grade.
Break down assignments into smaller, more manageable chunks, using the syllabus that the professor has given you. For example, if you know reading a chapter takes you several hours, break it into sections and plan to read in chunks.
Organize your study space.
Clutter at your desk makes it tough to work. Make a task list of the things you need to get done and keep it in your work space. Develop study routines so that your study habits are conducive to learning.
Start early.
Fear of failure or feeling overwhelmed are some of the main reasons that students procrastinate. If you have difficulty getting started, don't be afraid to talk to the professor. They can help you outline realistic steps toward beginning and completing your work.
Identify problems that repeatedly get in your way.
If you're feeling frustrated, try to figure out why you are feeling that way and how you can problem-solve. Some questions you can ask yourself: "Am I frustrated because my disability sometimes requires me to work harder than other students? Do I need a study buddy? Should I work on this course in smaller bites because it's so difficult for me?"

Success Strategies for Instructors Working with Students with Disabilities

Keep the Lines of Communication Open.
Dialogue between students with disabilities and their instructors is essential early in the term, and follow-up meetings are recommended. Faculty should not feel apprehensive about discussing students’ needs as they relate to the course.
Facilitate Access not Necessarily Success.
The objective of academic adjustments is always to accommodate the student’s disability and not to dilute scholastic requirements. The purpose of any accommodation is to facilitate access and not student success.
Universal Design in Education.

“The design of products and environments to be usable by all students, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.” Proactively creating and promoting a more accessible and inclusive Franklin University environment that offers access as part of the natural educational experience.

Disabled individuals must be able to:

Engage in the same activities
Access the same information; and
Enjoy the same services and benefits as a person without a disability

This access must occur:

In an equally effective and integrated manner
With substantially equivalent ease of use; and
Free of discrimination

Office of Accessibility Services (OAS)

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