Disability Services

Contact Information

While encouraging self-advocacy, our office works in partnership with members of the university community to provide access to individuals with disabilities.

Initiatives

  • Build strong campus partnerships to create the best possible services and ensure individuals are given equal access to university opportunities
  • Provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities in order to enrich educational experiences and student success
  • Educate the campus community, including faculty, staff, students, and administrators, on equitable treatment of individuals with disabilities

ACCOMMODATE

  • New or Returning Students who wish to confidentially disclose a disability and request accommodations are invited to complete the online initial accommodation request form and submit disability documentation.
  • Registered students will access their student account as needed to continue to receive services.
  • Faculty will access the accommodations of registered students in their courses.  

Prospective and Current Students

Our office is located in the Warren Student Services Center, Room 043 with hours of operation from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm during the semester and until 4:00 pm during the summer.

 

Log into ACCOMMODATE   First Time Users

 

Accommodations are available to any enrolled Bloomsburg University student having a documented disability. Documentation is required, must satisfy the documentation guidelines, and is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Bloomsburg University is committed to providing equitable access to educational experiences, campus facilities, and university related opportunities for all students. The University Disability Services office supports these requests for accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Services include assistance with, but are not limited to, the following disabilities covered by the above laws:

  • Learning disabilities
  • Medical disabilities
  • ADD/ADHD
  • Physical/mobility impairments
  • Hearing loss
  • Visual impairments
  • Emotional/psychological diagnosis
  • Autism spectrum disorder
  • Traumatic brain injury

Bloomsburg University's Disability Services offers a wide range of activities designed to support and enhance the performance of students with permanent disabilities. The office also serves as an advocate for the student in issues of accommodation beyond the classroom and acts as a liaison with other campus offices. The need for a specific accommodation must be clearly established within the documentation provided by the student.

Services include but aren't limited to:

  • advanced course registration
  • accommodative testing
  • notetakers
  • scribes
  • sign language interpreters
  • oral interpreters
  • readers
  • auxiliary aids
  • adaptive equipment
  • lecture Recording 
  • liaison between students and faculty in classroom accommodations
  • coordination of support activities with external agencies, such as vocational rehabilitation

Online coursework may result in a need for different accommodations. Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis with documentation that's been provided and discussion with the student. It's important to contact University Disability Services at 570-389-4491 as soon as possible if you'll be requesting an online accommodation as it may require more time to arrange.

Students are responsible for contacting University Disability Services to request accommodations according to their documented disability. To do this, please follow the steps below:

  1. Contact the office staff to discuss what is necessary for eligibility
  2. Review documentation information online (see below) and collect the necessary information
  3. Submit documentation through Accommodate
  4. Contact the UDS office for a registration meeting

View our documentation guidelines for full details.

This program is intended to provide a multi-layered approach to supporting students with disabilities. In particular, efforts will be made to onboard students with significant challenges in executive functioning. Through fostering connections, and building specific skills, the program aims to establish a holistic experience at BU, along with creating the development of self-awareness and cultivating an engaging and supporting collegiate environment.

Please complete the application if you are interested in joining as spots are limited.

STRIDE BrochureMentee Application

We are also looking for students who have received accommodations and are well versed in campus life to be mentors. Please see the job description below and fill out the application if interested in this work study position.

Job DescriptionMentor Application

Notification of Semester Accommodations

It is the responsibility of the students to submit a UDS Letter of Accommodation Semester Request for each class in which they wish to receive accommodations. This must be initiated in a timely manner, preferably just before the start of the semester, to ensure accommodations are in place. Accommodations cannot be applied retroactively.

Semester Meetings

Once accommodations are established, students are encouraged to meet with the Director every semester they are enrolled at Bloomsburg University.  This meeting should be scheduled in a timely manner to discuss how your accommodations are impacting academic success.  

Self-Advocacy

It is the responsibility of the student to be a good self-advocate by initiating a request for services, providing documentation, informing of needs, and discussing questions pertaining to academics with faculty. The University Disability Services staff are here to assist you as needed. Communicating changes in accommodations or other needs as they may arise is imperative. It is the student's responsibility to contact University Disability Services if there is a concern with the quality of accommodations or if there are questions regarding the accommodation process.

Faculty and Staff Resources

Log into ACCOMMODATE 

Faculty members at Bloomsburg University play a crucial part in ensuring access for students with disabilities. Therefore, University Disability Services has compiled a selection of resources to assist faculty with this process. We hope these resources will give faculty more tailored information and direction for providing accommodations and services to students registered in our office. We also welcome all faculty members to contact our office staff to address any questions you may have. With the common goal of quality service for students, we encourage open communication and collaboration with all campus community members. Please click on the links below to access the information within.

If you identify a student who may be eligible for accommodations from our office, please refer them to the University Disability Services office in Warren Student Services Center 043. You can also direct them to our page on the BU website to read more about how to register for services.

For questions or concerns, please contact our office Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. during the semester and until 4 p.m. during the summer.

Commonwealth University at Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield is committed to providing equitable access to educational experiences, campus facilities, and university related opportunities for all students. Disability Services supports these requests for accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. If you have or believe that you have a disability, please contact the office, which is located in:

  • Bloomsburg University - Warren Student Services Room 043, or call 570-389-4491 for an appointment to discuss your requests
  • Lock Haven University - 205 Ulmer Hall, or call 570-484-2665
  • Mansfield University - 570-484-2665 or 570-389-4491

It is recommended that students contact the Disability Services office during the first two weeks of classes or immediately upon diagnosis to ensure accommodations are met in an efficient, appropriate, and timely manner for the best student learning outcome.  Upon qualification, the disability professional will arrange to provide an accommodation letter to the professor for the identification of academic or accessibility adjustments.  You must contact the Disability Services office to renew accommodation letters at the start of each semeste

Syllabus Statement Guidelines

Campus Accessibility

Bloomsburg University is continually striving to upgrade campus access in areas such as curb cuts, sidewalks, ramps, and power doors.

Upon admission to BU, students requesting housing accommodations should contact the Housing and Residence Life Office at 800-287-7543 and the University Disability Services office at 570-389-4491.

Students requiring a Medical Permit for parking will need to follow the directives on the instructions paper.  View our Medical Parking Permit information for full details.

To obtain answers to general and technical questions about the ADA and to order technical assistance materials call: 800-514-0301 (voice) or 800-514-0383 (TDD).

Campus Map


Bloomsburg University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, or veteran status in its programs and activities as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and university policies.

Additionally, inquiries concerning Title IX and its implementing regulation can be made to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, Region III, The Wanamaker Building, 100 Penn Square East - Suite 505, Philadelphia, PA 19107; Phone: 215-656-6010;
Fax: 215-656-6020.

Contact Information