Disability-Related Housing or Dietary Requests

Housing Accommodations

Students with a disability may be eligible for disability-related housing accommodations when a specific aspect of the residence hall environment affects the student differently than other students because of their disability. Examples of housing accommodations include the following: flashing fire alarms for student who are deaf or hard of hearing, bathroom grab bars, ground floor assignment, wheelchair access, private room, and private bathroom. Housing accommodations are approved based on disability-related need and are not granted solely based on student preference, to provide access to study space, or to resolve roommate conflict.

Dietary Accommodations

Students with documented medical conditions, disabilities, or severe food allergies may make accommodation requests related to their meal plan. Generally, this applies to students with severe or anaphylactic food allergies.

If students have mild food allergies or sensitivities, Dining Services can typically accommodate their needs without changes to the meal plan. Chartwells, the operator of Dining Services at UM, has dedicated allergen specialists on every shift in the dining hall who are specifically trained to answer questions and guide students to safe choices. Students are also able to view menus that label common food allergies and sensitivities ahead of time on http://dineoncampus.com/montevallo. Students who require accommodations due to mild food allergies or sensitivities are encouraged to reach out to Jason Quarles at jquarles@montevallo.edu to discuss options available in Dining Services.

Applying for Disability-Related Housing or Dietary Accommodations

Students who would like to request disability-related housing or dietary accommodations must complete the following steps:

Step One: Application

First, complete the DSS Housing & Dietary Accommodation Application which is available through the DSS Student Portal. In order to complete the application, you must sign in with your University of Montevallo credentials.

Step Two: Submit Documentation

Students requesting housing-relating accommodations must have their provider complete the Disability-Related Housing Request Form that will be emailed to the student upon receipt of the application. This form must be sent to DSS directly from the provider completing the form. DSS will not accept completed forms forwarded to DSS by the student.

Students requesting dietary accommodations may submit their documentation with their application, via email, via fax, or in person at the DSS office.

Step Three: Meeting with DSS

Once DSS has received and reviewed your application and documentation, you will be contacted to schedule a Zoom meeting with DSS. During this appointment, you will meet with a DSS staff member to discuss your individual needs and specific accommodation requests.

Priority Deadlines

To maximize the university’s ability to consider requests, students should submit the following information by the priority deadlines below:

Fall
May 1^st

Spring
November 1^st

May/Summer I/Summer II
March 1st

Late requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis regardless of when they are received, but they cannot be guaranteed if the priority deadline has passed.

Below is a summary of the factors considered when evaluating housing requests. It could be helpful to share this information with the treating professional if you are requesting new documentation for the University.

Severity of Condition

• Is the impact of the condition life-threatening if the request is not met?
• Is there a negative health impact that may be permanent if the request is not met?
• Is the request an integral component of a treatment plan for the condition in question?
• What is the likely impact on academic performance if the request is not met?

Timing of Request

• Was the request made at the time of the initial housing request?
• Was the request made before the deadline for housing requests for the semester in question?
• Was the request made as soon as possible after identifying the need? (Based on date of diagnosis, receipt of housing assignment, change in status, etc.)

Feasibility and Availability

• Is space available that meets the student’s needs?
• Can space or procedures be adapted to provide the requested configuration?
• Are there other effective methods or housing configurations that would achieve similar benefits as the requested configuration?
• How does meeting this request impact housing commitments to other students?

Disability Support Services

University of Montevallo
Phone: (205) 665-6250
Fax: (205) 665-6255
Email: DSS@montevallo.edu