Request Accommodations

If you're ready to begin the accommodation process, we're here to help. Every request is reviewed individually because every student's experience, disability, and access needs are unique.

Accommodations are determined through an individualized, interactive process that considers your disability-related needs, supporting documentation, and the essential requirements of the university's programs and services. We encourage students to begin the process as early as possible to allow adequate time for review and implementation. Because accommodations are not retroactive, students should not wait until academic difficulties arise before submitting a request.

Getting Started

To request accommodations:

1. Complete the Student Accommodation Request Form through the Accommodations Portal.

2. Submit supporting documentation from a qualified healthcare or licensed professional.

3. Meet with Accessibility Services to participate in the interactive process.

If you're unsure where to begin or have questions about the process, we're happy to help. Contact Accessibility Services at charlottecasstaff@jwu.edu or 980-598-1500.

Documentation Requirements

Documentation helps Accessibility Services better understand your disability, its functional impacts, and the barriers you may experience within the university environment. This information allows us to engage in the interactive process and determine reasonable accommodations that promote equal access to the JWU experience.

All documentation is reviewed individually and maintained confidentially. The type of documentation needed may vary depending on the nature of the disability and the accommodations being requested.

Documentation should:

• Be completed by a qualified healthcare or licensed professional with appropriate training and experience related to the condition being evaluated.

• Be current, signed, and on official letterhead, including the provider's name, credentials, license or certification, and date.

• Include a diagnosis and relevant history, including medical, educational, developmental, or psychosocial information that helps explain the disability. Documentation should also indicate the provider's history of working with the student and the date of the most recent evaluation or appointment.

• Describe the evaluation process used to determine the diagnosis, including appropriate assessments, clinical observations, or diagnostic methods.

• Explain the current functional impacts of the disability, including how it substantially limits one or more major life activities within the academic, residential, or campus environment.

• Include accommodation recommendations, when appropriate. Recommendations are welcomed and carefully considered; however, Accessibility Services makes the final determination regarding eligibility and reasonable accommodations through the interactive process.

Examples of acceptable documentation include, but are not limited to:

• Psychoeducational evaluations

• Treatment provider notes

• Medical records

• Letters from medical providers

• Comprehensive Clinical Assessments

• Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)*

• 504 Plans*

An IEP or 504 Plan may need to be accompanied by additional medical or clinical documentation to help us better understand your current level of functioning and disability-related impacts.

Submit Your Documentation

The Accommodations Portal is the preferred and most secure method for submitting documentation to Accessibility Services.

New Students

If this is your first time requesting accommodations at JWU, you'll upload your documentation on page two of the Student Accommodation Request Form. After submitting page one of the application, you'll automatically be directed to the document upload page.

Returning Students

If you've previously requested or received accommodations at JWU, you can upload additional documentation directly through your profile in the Accommodation Portal.

To upload additional documentation:

1. Log in to the Accommodations Portal.

2. Select "Submit Additional Documentation" from the menu on the left side of the screen.

3. Complete the form, review the acknowledgment, and select Submit.

4. On the upload page, provide a title for your document, upload your file, and select Update Application to complete your submission.

Alternative Submission Methods

If you're unable to upload your documentation through the Accommodation Portal, documentation may also be submitted by:

Fax

980-598-1505

Attn: Academic Success Center - Accessibility Services

Mail or In Person

Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte

Academic Success Center

801 W. Trade Street

Charlotte, NC 28202

If you have questions about submitting documentation or need assistance with the process, please contact Accessibility Services.  We're happy to help.

Phone: 980-598-1500

Email: charlottecasstaff@jwu.edu

The Interactive Process

The interactive process is an individualized and collaborative partnership between you and Accessibility Services that begins when you request accommodations. Throughout the process, we'll work together to better understand your disability, how it affects you, and any barriers you may experience within the university environment. Together, this information helps us determine reasonable accommodations that promote equal access while maintaining the essential requirements of the university's programs, services, and activities.

What to Expect

Once we've received your accommodation request and supporting documentation, Accessibility Services will review the information you've provided. During the interactive process, we may:

• Review your request and supporting documentation.

• Determine whether additional information or clarification is needed.

• Meet with you to better understand your disability, discuss your experiences, and explore potential accommodations.

• Consult with university faculty, staff, healthcare providers, or other appropriate individuals when necessary to better understand your needs or determine reasonable accommodations. Any communication will be conducted confidentially and, when appropriate, only after obtaining your written permission.

Accommodation Determination

If your request is supported, Accessibility Services will contact you to schedule an enrollment meeting. During this meeting, we'll:

• Review your supported accommodations and discuss how they will be implemented.

• Explain your rights and responsibilities as a student receiving accommodations.

• Review important policies and procedures related to accommodation implementation.

• Complete the Accommodation Agreement Form.

• Provide your accommodation notification and explain how and when to share it with your instructors.

Academic accommodations become effective after your instructors have been notified of your supported accommodations.

If Additional Information Is Needed

If we're unable to support your request based on the information currently available, we'll contact you to discuss the next steps. Depending on your individual circumstances, this may include:

• Participating in additional interactive discussions.

• Providing additional documentation or clarification.

• Exploring alternative accommodations or support options.

• Connecting you with other campus resources that may be helpful.

Our goal is to work collaboratively with you throughout the process to identify accommodations that promote equal access.

Your Role in the Interactive Process

The interactive process is a collaborative partnership, and students play an important role in ensuring accommodations remain appropriate and effective. As a student participating in the interactive process, you're expected to:

• Participate actively in the interactive process.

• Complete the Accommodation Agreement Form.

• Notify Accessibility Services if your accommodations are not effective or if your needs change.

• Keep scheduled appointments or provide advance notice if you need to cancel or reschedule.

Housing Accommodations

Accessibility Services partners with students with disabilities and Residential Life to evaluate requests for housing accommodations that promote equal access to the residential experience. Housing accommodations are considered through an individualized, interactive process that focuses on disability-related needs and the barriers a student may experience within campus housing.

Housing accommodations are intended to provide equal access to university housing and are not based on personal preference, convenience, or additional benefit. Every request is reviewed individually to determine whether a reasonable housing accommodation is appropriate.

Requesting a Housing Accommodation

Students seeking housing accommodations should complete the Student Accommodation Request Form through the Student Accessibility Portal and submit supporting documentation from a qualified healthcare or licensed professional.

Students are encouraged to submit requests as early as possible to allow adequate time for review before housing assignments are finalized.

Campus Housing at JWU Charlotte

JWU's Charlotte campus offers traditional suite-style living in two residence halls:

• Cedar Hall North - First-year students

• Cedar Hall South - Returning students

Most suites house two to six students in a two-bedroom suite (2-3 students per bedroom) and include:

• Shared bathroom with separate toilet and sink area

• Common living space with an additional sink

• Wireless internet access

Students are encouraged to review the Resident Hall Floor plan and visit the Residential Life website for additional information.

Please contact the Academic Success Center with any questions or concerns:

Phone: 980-598-1500

Email: charlottecasstaff@jwu.edu. 

Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals

JWU is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive campus environment for students with disabilities. Service animals and emotional support animals (ESAs) serve different purposes and are subject to different laws, requirements, and university procedures. Understanding these differences can help you determine which process applies to your situation.

Service Animals

A service animal is a dog that is individually trained to perform work or tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. The work or task performed by the dog must be directly related to the individual's disability. Under JWU policy, a dog that is in training to become a service animal is also considered a service animal.

Students who plan to bring a service animal to campus should notify Accessibility Services before the animal arrives. If the service animal will reside in university housing, students must also notify Residential Life before bringing the animal into campus housing.

Service animals must remain under the control of their handler and may not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others or fundamentally disrupt the university community. Students are also responsible for the care, supervision, and behavior of their service animal while on campus.

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs)

• You have a disability.

• The ESA is necessary because of your disability to provide equal access to university housing.

• There is a clear relationship between your disability and the assistance the animal provides.

• The documentation is provided by a qualified healthcare or licensed professional with an established therapeutic relationship.

Documentation obtained solely through websites or brief online consultations that are intended only to generate an ESA letter may not provide sufficient information to support a request.

Learn More

Students with service animals and emotional support animals are responsible for understanding and following the university's requirements regarding animal care, supervision, and campus expectations.

For complete information, please review the Service Animal and Emotional Support Animal Policy and Procedures.

If you have questions about bringing an animal to campus or would like to discuss your individual circumstances, please contact Accessibility Services. We're happy to help.

Faculty Accommodation Portal