Special Services for Students with Disabilities • Main page • Special Services Staff

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I start planning for my (or my child's) accommodations?

It is always a good idea to alert the college about needed accommodations several months before a student's first semester of attendance. Documentation of a student's disability and the need for accommodation should also be submitted well in advance of first semester attendance. Accommodations in classroom teaching methods and testing cannot be offered unless appropriate documentation is on file with the college.

What, exactly, constitutes documentation?

Documentation should be no more than 5 years old and should include neuropsychological or educational testing results that indicate specific learning strengths and weaknesses, as well as summary recommendations for reasonable accommodations in classroom teaching and testing.

If I (or my child) realize(s) towards the end of the semester (say, when finals come around) that I am (or my child is) having trouble and need(s) more time on exams, can I send documentation then? Or, is it ever too late to provide documentation?

Accommodations (like extended time on tests) are based on recommendations within the documentation, can only be requested through the Special Services Counselors in the Counseling & Advising Center, and MUST be made with a minimum 2 week notice to instructors, so the instructors can plan the accommodation accordingly.

Right and Responsibilities

Berklee College of Music has developed policies and procedures that comply with federal law and support the accommodation needs of students with documented disabilities while also maintaining academic standards and curricular integrity. The purpose of this document is to identify the rights and responsibilities of all involved community members.

Students who sign an Agreement of Understanding with a special services counselor have a right to:

• Equal access to Berklee's programs, courses, activities and facilities.
• Reasonable and appropriate accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids determined on a case-by-case basis, and based on recent and complete documentation supplied to the college.
• Appropriate confidentiality pertaining to his/her disability with the choice of to whom their disability will be disclosed.
• Appeal decisions regarding reasonable accommodations as stated in college policies and procedures.

Students who sign an Agreement of Understanding with a special services counselor have a responsibility to:

• Meet the college's qualifications and essential academic standards.
• Provide recent and thorough documentation from a professional evaluator who verifies the nature of the disability, functional limitations, and the need for specific accommodations.
• Contact the special services counselors in the Counseling and Advising Center at the beginning of each semester (within the first two weeks) so that accommodations can be arranged in a timely manner. This will include signing accommodation request forms itemizing the student's needs and recommended accommodations.
• Acknowledge and adhere to specific procedures and timelines for obtaining reasonable accommodations and/or auxiliary aids in a timely manner. This responsibility extends to actively participating in the process of securing accommodation or auxiliary aids, through personal contact with faculty to arrange exam times and locations.
• After meeting with a special services counselor, inform all involved faculty members at the beginning of each semester (within the first two weeks) about the nature of the disability, how class performance might be affected, and what reasonable accommodations may be necessary.

Berklee College of Music, through the special services counselors, has a right to:

• Verify the need for reasonable accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids through review of current and thorough documentation submitted from an appropriate professional source.
• Select effective and appropriate academic accommodations in consultation with the student and involved faculty members.
• Deny a request for accommodations, modifications, or auxiliary aid if the documentation fails to support the need for the requested services, or the documentation or request for accommodation is not provided in a timely manner.
• Refuse to provide an accommodation, modification, or auxiliary aid that is unreasonable and/or inappropriate. This includes accommodations that may pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others, constitute a fundamental change or alteration to an essential component of a course or program, or pose an undue financial or administrative burden on the college.

Berklee College of Music, through the special services counselors, has a responsibility to:

• Ensure that, with or without accommodations, students with disabilities have equal access to college programs, activities, services, and facilities.
• Inform students with disabilities about the availability and range of accommodations, and provide policies and procedures necessary to obtain requested accommodations.
• Determine each student's eligibility for accommodations under the American with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
• Protect and maintain the integrity of academic standards and curricular requirements.
• Coordinate the efforts of the student, faculty member and special services counselor to ensure that eligible students are provided with approved accommodations and support services in a timely manner.
• Maintain confidentiality of documentation and communication concerning students with disabilities except when otherwise specified by law, or consent to release disability-related information is provided by the student.