Housing Accommodations
Housing accommodations are intended to provide equal access for people with disabilities. Requests based on personal preference cannot be approved. If you believe that you have a substantial medical need or a disability that requires reasonable accommodation, please read the information below.
To be eligible, you must meet the posted deadlines and follow all policies related to the housing application and selection process.
Documentation
Housing accommodations are based on medical evidence of need and are determined on a case-by-case basis. Documentation should provide information about the specific functional limitations caused by the disability. Any recommendations should be directly linked to the impact or functional limitations associated with the disability, or medication prescribed to control symptoms, and include a clear rationale based on level of impairment. While recommendations about specific accommodations from medical providers will be taken into consideration, educational support services determines what housing accommodations are necessary to provide equal access.
Reasons a Housing Accommodation May Be Denied
- The documentation does not support a substantial limitation of major life activity.
- The disability-related need does not require an alteration to the living environment.
- There is a more reasonable accommodation available.
Requests for a Specific Residence Hall
Educational support services does not handle housing assignments and will not request specific residence halls for students, unless a specific building is the only solution to accessibility. Our office works with residence life & housing to identify reasonable and appropriate accommodations based on disability-related needs only and not personal preferences.
Single Room Requests
A limited number of single or suite-style rooms are available for all students. Students who prefer to be in a single room can contact residence life & housing about the availability of such rooms.
Please be advised that medical singles are reserved for individuals who document substantial needs and for whom living with a roommate is not possible. Examples of conditions that ordinarily do not warrant a medical single.
- Asthma
- Allergies
- ADHD
- Learning disorders
- Insomnia and sleep problems
- Orthopedic problems
- Depression
- Anxiety
While the thought of having a roommate is often stressful for first-year students, this distress does not generally warrant placing the student in a medical single as an accommodation.
Requests for a single room as an accommodation based on a desire to have a "quiet, undisturbed place to study" will not be granted. By virtue of the shared facilities, resources and number of people living under one roof, it is not logical to assume that having a private room would provide such quiet, distraction-free space to any appreciable degree beyond living in a standard double room.
Given that Whitworth is a residential university by design, the student may be asked to attempt residence life for a semester (or year) if the provided documentation is insufficient. During this time, the student can work on acquiring complete documentation and also can be in direct contact with our office regarding what is and isn’t working well during their time in residence life. This trial basis can often be helpful in determining best next steps for students in meeting their disability needs.
Examples of Housing Accommodations
Examples of accessibility features:
- Buildings with elevators
- Rooms on the first floor
- Roll-in showers
- Wheelchair accessible units
- Grab bars in the shower
- Private or semi-private bath
- Rooms equipped with a fire alarm strobe
- Dining plan exemption or modification
Housing Exemptions
Housing exemptions are appropriate when the university cannot provide housing that gives the student equal access. Whitworth University Residence Life & Housing together with educational support services works diligently to make appropriate accommodations for students with serious health problems and/or disabilities. There are many types of housing available on campus, and we are generally able to find a solution within on-campus housing to whatever problem is prompting the request for an exemption. Because of this, housing exemptions are rarely necessary.
Emotional Support Animals
Whitworth recognizes that living on campus and being in school can be stressful for students. The university maintains a no-pets policy in on-campus housing. However, in accordance with federal law, Whitworth will consider requests to allow students experiencing significant mental health problems to keep an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) with them in residence. The presence of an ESA may help students to manage their symptomology. The questions to be answered in determining if an ESA will be allowed in university housing are:
- If you qualify for accommodation as a person with a disability
- If the animal is necessary to provide you an equal opportunity to use and enjoy university housing
- If the presence of the specific ESA being requested is reasonable in university housing
There are a growing number of questionable website services that offer to create "ESA letters" for a set price, based on nothing more than answers to an online survey. Such letters will rarely provide the information necessary to support your request for accommodation and are not viewed by our office as a reliable source of information.
Students who wish to have an Emotional Support Animal should submit an application to begin the request process.
ESAs are not permitted on campus until the accommodation request has been made through Whitworth University Educational Support Services, documentation has been provided, and the student has met with and the request has been approved by both the accessibility manager and the applicable area coordinator.
Other Accommodations
If you need an accommodation that is not listed here, please contact educational support services. Keep in mind that making arrangements early ensures that we can assist you and answer any questions in a timely manner.