Welcome to ODAS
The Office of Disability Accommodation Support (ODAS) exists to provide equal access to students with documented disabilities and temporary medical conditions. We arrange reasonable accommodations upon request and make every effort to ensure that our campus is fully accessible to all students.
Attention Faculty: See our updated Faculty Support Information and accommodation advancements on our new Closed Captioning and Modified Attendance pages.
LUO or LUOA student seeking accommodations? Visit LUO ODAS.
Receiving Accommodations
ODAS is committed to providing accommodations in a timely fashion. A student requesting accommodations must contact our office and submit disability documentation from his or her licensed healthcare provider. A Disability Support advisor will meet with the student to discuss appropriate accommodations and resources, notify his or her professors of the accommodations, and advocate for the student as needed.
Documentation of the Disability
It is the student’s responsibility to disclose the disability to ODAS for the purpose of receiving accommodations. If the student fails to do so, professors and others are not obligated to accommodate the disability. The accommodation process begins with the student submitting written documentation of the disability to ODAS. Examples of acceptable documentation include a copy of the student’s high school IEP or 504 plan, psychoeducational evaluation, or letter (on letterhead with signature) from the student’s physician or therapist. Documentation can be faxed (434-582-3858), scanned and emailed (odas@liberty.edu), or hand-delivered to our office (DeMoss Hall 1264).
Intake Meeting
Once the documentation has been received by ODAS, the student will be contacted to set up a short intake meeting to discuss possible accommodations and helpful campus resources.
Accommodation Requests
After the initial meeting with an ODAS Advisor, a student who requests academic accommodations is required to fill out an “Academic Accommodation Request Form” each subsequent semester, giving ODAS staff permission to post the student’s accommodations. The student is encouraged to follow up with his or her professors regarding particular details of the accommodation request (i.e. a make-up test or modified attendance) and to self-advocate as needed.
Resident Student: Academic Accommodation Request Submission
LU Online Student: Academic Accommodation Request Submission
Non-Academic Accommodations
- Housing Disability Accommodation Request
- Dietary Accommodation Request
- Service/Emotional Support Animal Accommodation Request
Questions can be emailed to: accessibility@liberty.edu.
Additional Accommodations
- Alternative Textbook Services
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
- Closed Captioning
- For Liberty University Interpreting Services, please visit the LUIS website.
Institutional Responsibilities
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability against students in institutions of higher education. Section 504 mandates “reasonable” accommodations to provide equal program access to all students with disabilities. Faculty must provide accommodations that meet the needs of each student with a disability, as determined by the Office of Disability Accommodation Support.
The university has an obligation to make reasonable accommodations in policies, practices, or procedures when needed to prevent discrimination on the basis of disability unless making such accommodations would fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program or activity, or would result in undue financial and administrative burdens.
We realize that individuals with temporarily disabling conditions resulting from injuries, surgery or short-term medical conditions may need access to accommodations similar to individuals with permanent disabilities. Examples of temporary disabilities may include, but are not limited to, pregnancy and parenting complications, broken limbs, concussions, or short-term impairments following surgery or medical treatments. Short-term medical conditions generally do not include common illnesses like Covid-19, bronchitis, or flu.
We are committed to providing pregnant and parenting students with the same benefits and services provided to the rest of the Liberty University community. Pregnant students, or students with parenting responsibilities, may request accommodations through ODAS.
A disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of the individual.
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- Major Life Activities:
The phrase major life activities refers to normal functions such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working. - Physical Impairment:
A physical impairment includes any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: neurological, musculoskeletal, special sense organs, respiratory and speech organs, cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, genitourinary, hemic and lymphatic, skin and endocrine. - Mental Impairment:
A mental impairment includes any mental or psychological disorder such as organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities. - Learning Disability:
A learning disability is a generic term that refers to a heterogeneous group of disorders manifested by significant difficulties in the acquisition and use of listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning, or mathematical abilities. These disorders occur in persons of average to very superior intelligence and are presumed to be due to central nervous system dysfunction.
- Major Life Activities:
Specific disabilities include, but are not limited to, the following: blindness or visual impairment; chronic illnesses; psychiatric and emotional disabilities (ADHD, anxiety and related disorders, depression, etc.); deafness or hearing impairments; epilepsy or seizure disorders; orthopedic impairment; specific learning disability; speech disorder; spinal cord or traumatic brain injury; and neurological and neuromuscular disorders.
Students with documented disabilities may be eligible for some of the following accommodations:
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- Extended time for testing
- Testing in a quiet environment
- Extensions on assignments
- Priority registration
- ASL Interpreters
- Other accommodations as deemed appropriate
Resources
Have Questions?
Contact ODAS: We’re here to help!
Visit us in DeMoss Hall 1264 or give us a call at (434) 592-4016.
Need to Report a Discrimination Complaint?
Speak Up today by reaching out to the Office of Equity and Compliance.