The bill mandates that each institution of higher education in Colorado develop and implement a policy and process to support students with disabilities in self-disclosing their disabilities to receive academic adjustments. The policy must include:
Eligibility Determination Process: A clear description of how the institution assesses whether a student qualifies for academic adjustments.
Documentation Requirements: An outline of the documentation the institution may request to verify a student's eligibility for academic adjustments.
Available Resources and Adjustments: Information on the disability resources and academic adjustments offered to students with disabilities.
Grievance Procedure: A process for students to dispute decisions made by the institution regarding academic adjustments.
The policy must be distributed in an accessible format to applicants, students, parents, and faculty, and made available during the student application process, student orientation, in academic catalogues, and on the institution's website.
Institutions may request documentation to determine eligibility for academic adjustments, which can include:
Individualized Education Program (IEP): Documentation indicating the student had an IEP that includes a stated disability.
Section 504 Plan: Documentation showing the student received services or accommodations under a Section 504 Plan that includes a stated disability.
Private School or Other Educational Records: Documentation from private schools, local education providers, or other educational institutions indicating the student had a qualifying disability.
Healthcare Provider Documentation: Records from a qualified healthcare provider confirming the student has a disability.
Military Service Disability: Documentation of a disability due to military service.
Additional Information: Any other relevant information from a qualified healthcare provider clarifying the need for academic adjustments.
Summary
The bill requires each institution of higher education (institution)
in Colorado to create and adopt a policy and a process to support the ability of a student with a disability (student) to self-disclose the student's disability so the student can receive an academic adjustment from the institution.
The adopted policy must, at a minimum, include information that: •
Describes the institution's process to determine whether a student is eligible for an academic adjustment;
•
Outlines documentation that the institution may request to determine whether a student is eligible for an academic adjustment;
•
Provides information on the available disability resources and academic adjustments provided to students with disabilities; and
•
Describes a grievance procedure for students who dispute a decision made by the institution.
Each institution shall distribute the policy in an accessible format
to applicants, students, parents, and faculty. The institution shall make the policy available:
•
During the student application process;
•
During student orientation;
•
In academic catalogues; and
•
On the institution's website.
The bill describes the documentation that an admitted or enrolled
student may submit to an institution to request an academic adjustment.
