Richmindale College provides equal access to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and other applicable federal, state, and local requirements. Richmindale provides reasonable accommodations and appropriate academic adjustments based on documented individual needs. An accommodation will not be denied merely because it requires a modification to ordinary practice; however, Richmindale is not required to make an adjustment that would fundamentally alter an essential academic requirement or impose an undue burden as determined under applicable law.

Students and applicants are encouraged to request accommodations as early as practicable so that approved adjustments can be implemented without avoidable delay. A request may be submitted at any time; approved accommodations are implemented prospectively as reasonably feasible and do not ordinarily require alteration of grades or requirements already completed before approval. Richmindale may request documentation reasonably necessary to understand the current functional limitations and the relationship of the requested accommodation to those limitations.

The following procedure applies to requests for disability-related accommodations:

An applicant or student submits a request to disability@richmindale.com outlining the disability. All required supporting documentation must be provided in the email, as an attachment or part of the message, by the student and at the student’s expense.

The Chief Academic Officer or designee decides and advises the student, in writing, of the decision within 15 business days from the receipt of the request. Further information may be requested if needed.

If the request is approved, the Chief Academic Officer or designee notifies the faculty member required to make accommodation, without disclosing the medical information shared by the student.

Documentation should be current and sufficient to establish the existence of a disability, the present functional limitations relevant to the academic environment, and the need for the requested accommodation. The appropriate recency and form of documentation depend on the nature of the disability, whether the condition is permanent or changing, and the accommodation requested. Richmindale does not apply a rigid documentation-age rule when older documentation, together with available current information, adequately establishes the student’s present needs.

Documentation may include records or evaluation from an appropriately qualified or licensed professional, prior accommodation records, or other reliable information appropriate to the circumstances. Richmindale may request updated information when existing documentation does not reasonably establish current functional limitations or the need for the requested adjustment.

For temporary, episodic, or changing conditions, Richmindale may request information sufficient to determine the anticipated duration, current limitations, and appropriate period of accommodation. Requests are evaluated individually rather than solely by diagnosis or documentation date.

Documentation should contain only information reasonably necessary to evaluate the request. Disability-related information is handled as confidential information, maintained separately or with appropriate access controls, and disclosed to faculty or staff only to the extent necessary to implement approved accommodations or as otherwise permitted by law.

Applicants or students whose accommodation requests are denied have the right to appeal against that decision within 15 business days of being informed of it in writing. The appeal must be submitted to the email address disability@richmindale.com containing the reason and supporting documentation for reconsideration. The appeal follows the same disability application process and timeline.