The services featured here are specifically for students with physical, medical, temporary, or psychological disabilities, and provide an example of possible accommodations. Students who are solely diagnosed with a learning disability or ADHD and require acccommodations shouldcontactADHD and Learning Disability Support Services in the Connors Family Learning Center.


Canvas and Jaws Compatibility

Boston College has implemented the Canvas Learning Management System. Faculty use this application to post class notes, class readings, and syllabi. Canvas should be completely accessible for all students, but if students experience difficulties using Canvas Vista with the JAWS screen reader software program, they should contact the Information Technology Services Help Center at617-552-HELP (4357) for assistance.


Campus Mobility Orientation

Students with visual impairments may receive campus mobility orientation to assist them in becoming acclimated to the campus.The Assistant Dean for Students with Disabilities arranges this orientation with staff members from the Carroll Center for the Blind in Newton, MA.


Cart Services for Students with Hearing Impairments

CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation), also known as realtime captioning, is a computer program that translates spoken English into realtime captioning for students with hearing impairments.Students who need CART services should contact the Associate Director for Students with Disabilities as soon as they have finalized their class schedule in order to make arrangements with an appropriate provider prior to the beginning of the academic semester.


Course Underloading

Students whose documentation supports taking four courses rather than five per semester may underload during the academic year. They may make up these courses during the summer session at Boston College. This is commonly referred to as the "4-4-2" plan. Tuition remission for the two summer courses (but not on-campus housing) will be provided. This accommodation is available to undergraduatestudents only. Students in the Woods College of Advancing Studies are not eligible.


Accessible Texts

Students with visual impairments who have the JAWS screen reader software program installed on their computer may be interested in obtaining their required textbooks in electronic format. In order to allow sufficient time to obtain textbooks in this format, it is imperative that studentsprovide the Assistant Dean for Students with Disabilities with the title, author, publisher, and year of publication for each text as soon as they have confirmed their course selection. It is equally imperative for professors to provide students with this information at their earliest convenience, since it may take several weeks for publishers to respond to requests for this alternate format.

Housing Accommodations

Learn the process and requirements for requestingHousing Accommodations.


Interpreters

Students who are Deaf or have hearing impairements who are interested in using interpreters in their classes must inform the Associated Director for Student Disability Services of the need for this accommodation at their earliest possible convenience following course registration due to thetime needed to secure interpreters for the following academic semester. There is no guarantee that an interpreter will be found if a student does not provide sufficient notice of this need.


Library Services

To ensure that all Boston College faculty, staff,students, and visitors have access to the libraries' collections, resources and facilities, a variety of services are provided to assist userswith disabilities.


Service Animals

Introductions and Definitions

Boston College is committed to the accessibility of its programs and services to students with disabilities, including accommodating service and assistance animals in accordance with its obligations under federal and state law.

“Service animal” is a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform specific tasks for a person with a disability. Under Massachusetts law, a person raising or training a service dog has the same rights as a person with a disability who has a service dog. Service animals do not include assistance animals.

“Assistance animal” is an animal that assists an individual with a disability or provides necessary emotional support to an individual with a mental or psychiatric disability that alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of the disability, but does not meet the definition of a service animal.


Retaliation and Grievances

The University will not retaliate against any person because the person has requested or received a reasonable accommodation, including one that involves a service or assistance animal.

Grievances

Any Boston College student who believes that a disability accommodation has been inappropriately denied, or otherwise believes that the University has discriminated against the student because of a disability, may bring a grievance under the Student Grievance Procedure for Students with Disabilities.

Boston College Student Grievance Procedures