About Housing Accommodations for Disability-Related Needs

Lyon College housing facilities consist primarily of shared living spaces. Some residences require using stairs while others have an elevator or ground-level entry. When a student has a medical or psychological condition that creates a need to be assigned a particular type of residence or amenity, the student should submit a housing accommodation request to the Director of Academic Support & Accessibility. Students requesting housing accommodations must follow the procedure outlined below and provide sufficient professional documentation to verify the need for the requested accommodation.

Please note that the diagnosis of a medical/psychological condition and a physician's or therapist's recommendation do not automatically qualify a student for disability-related housing accommodations. Healthcare providers' recommendations are considered; however, not all medical conditions rise to the level of being a disability that requires accommodation for the student to access the housing program. Lyon College evaluates housing accommodations and determines what is necessary for the student to access and live in college housing.

Incoming or prospective students requesting housing accommodations need to complete the necessary registration and deposit procedures through Enrollment Services and Student Life before being eligible to request and be evaluated for accessibility/disability-related housing accommodations.

Disability Access versus Preference

Student housing has a limited number of single rooms available. A single room is a disability accommodation only when clinical history and professional documentation clearly demonstrate a history of substantial limitations and provide a rationale that supports the student's need for a separate living/sleeping space to be able to access and utilize housing. For example, a student who needs extra space to utilize specialized medical equipment may need extra space. This is an access need because, without extra space to utilize medical equipment, the student would not be able to participate equitably in the housing program. When a single room is assigned as an accessibility accommodation to create access, Lyon bills the student at the standard room double rate.

ADD, Generalized Anxiety, and Depression are diagnoses commonly presented as reasons a student believes they need a single room. However, these diagnoses rarely present as true barriers to access. Following is some of the reasoning for when a single room may not be determined to be a necessary and reasonable accessibility accommodation required for access.

My What if my disability means that I need a quiet place to study?

Student housing is designed as living spaces; they do not fall into the category of needing to be quiet study spaces for disabilities that affect focus, concentration, or distractibility. Due to the number of people who live in close proximity, you cannot assume that having a private room would provide a quiet, distraction-free space to any appreciable degree beyond living in a standard double room. The residential experience extends beyond the sleeping space so there are multiple settings on campus (study rooms in residence halls, art studios, computer labs, private library study rooms, outdoor hammock spots, etc.) that provide quiet and private places where students can study, relax, or be alone. Tools like noise-canceling headphones, white noise devices, or phone apps also can help block distracting sounds.

What if I need to be alone or have a single room to decompress?

Having a diagnosis of anxiety or depression and wanting a private space to be alone or to decompress generally does not rise to the level of being a disability that requires a single room to remove barriers related to access. The campus provides students spaces to decompress, unwind, or process their emotions other than the room where they sleep. Here are some ideas:

• Enjoy solitary walks on campus grounds

• Find a private nook in the library or other academic buildings to nestle in and read or think

• Sit beside and relax at Bryan Lake

• Use a white noise machine/phone app or earplugs/earphones to help block out extraneous sounds

• Work with Residence Life for guidance on conversation starters and boundary setting.

What if I need to have control over my space?

On a college campus, students share spaces with peers in multiple settings including classrooms, campus dining, athletic and fine arts facilities, etc. Rarely does a student's disability rise to the level of being unable to do so in a shared living space. In the standard shared residence, students are assigned their own bed, dresser, closet, and study space. When it comes to issues like quiet hours, noise levels, visitors, cleaning responsibilities, etc., living with a roommate can help students learn essential skills like communication, compromise, and respect for others' boundaries. However, these may be new skills for many students who have never had to share a room with another family member. Community standards for behavior are listed in the current Student Handbook and housing staff are available to assist students who need assistance with negotiating concerns.

What if I don't want to deal with a bad roommate?

Although many lifelong friendships are developed with former roommates, most who have attended college can recall a less-than-perfect roommate situation. However, Residence Life and the Student Handbook have tools and procedures for dealing with roommate concerns. Make an appointment with Residence Life to discuss the situation.

What if I have medications I fear might be stolen?

All students should consider locking valuables, including medications.

• Buy a lockbox or small safe to keep tucked away and out of sight.

• Lock your dorm room door when you leave.

Housing Accommodation Requests & Documentation Requirements

• The student should obtain appropriate documentation from their healthcare provider to support their housing request. Click here for guidance on required supporting documentation.
  
  Please note that a medical diagnosis alone and a recommendation for a particular accommodation do not establish an accessibility-related need for accommodations. A student's professional healthcare provider documentation must establish the following for a condition to be considered a disability: (A) Compelling evidence, including treatment history, to indicate the impact, of a physical or mental health impairment that limits the student's participation in a major life activity; (B) A substantial degree of functional impairment; (C) Sufficient explanation of how the requested housing assignment relates to the current impact of the condition.

• The student should complete an online request using theAccommodate Disabilities Portal; if the student already receives an accommodation and this is a an additional request, they should submit a Supplemental Request in the Disabilities Portal.

Housing Accommodations for Temporary Impairments

Students who experience injuries, surgeries, extended illness, or any other sudden medical condition may need temporary academic, housing, or facility-related accommodations. Whenever possible, the Office of Academic Support & Accessibility and the Office of Student Life will arrange for any necessary changes to student housing in order to accommodate unexpected accessibility needs. Contact the Director of Academic Support & Accessibility by calling 870-307-7319 or email academicsupport@lyon.edu if you are experiencing a condition that requires temporary accommodations. Due to space limitations, the College does not guarantee that requests can be honored at any given time.