Office of Accessibility Services

Welcome to the Caldwell University office of accessibility services. We offer support, advocacy, and accessibility services for students with disabilities and/or learning differences. Please don’t hesitate to contact our office with any questions or needs.

Contact:

Office of Accessibility Services at Caldwell University
Student Center, First Floor
Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm
Phone: 973-618-3645
Fax: 973-618-3488
Elizabeth Skinner, MA, MAA, LDT-C,
Director of Accessibility Services
Email: eskinner@caldwell.edu

Support for Students with Disabilities

Office of Accessibility Services is a dedicated office for students with disabilities that arranges for reasonable and appropriate accommodations for eligible students. Caldwell University ensures that all students will have equal access to all services, programs, and activities.

Please refer to the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) Documentation Guidelines and Timelines documents for information about the types of documentation required for specific disabilities and the relevant timelines. The Guideline and Timeline documents can be found on the Office of Accessibility Services page on the Caldwell University website.

Students are responsible for providing their accommodation documentation to professors for classes in which they wish to use their accommodations. The use of accommodations is not retroactive; accommodations can only be used if accommodation documentation has been provided to professors and professors have acknowledged receipt of the accommodation document to the Office of Accessibility Services and the student. Please provide disability documentation at least 2-3 weeks prior to the semester and allow 7-10 days for review of disability documentation.

Support for Students with Learning Differences

Caldwell students diagnosed with dyslexia, ADHD or other clinically recognized learning differences, can find assistance through our new SOAR (Student Outreach and Academic Resources) program. The SOAR program provides specialized support programs, including access to tutors and mentors, to help students with learning disabilities develop college level skills and reach their full potential.

Accessibility Services for Online Students

On-line students seeking disability accommodations should contact the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) for registration, documentation requirements, and accommodation implementation information. Contact Elizabeth Skinner at (973)-618-3645 or eskinner@caldwell.edu.

Please refer to the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) Documentation Guidelines documents for information about the types of documentation required for specific disabilities and the relevant timelines. The Guideline and Timeline documents can be found on the Office of Accessibility Services page on the Caldwell University website.

Disability documentation for on-line accommodations is reviewed and approved by the Office of Accessibility Services. Upon approval of documentation, on-line students will receive Office of Accessibility Services accommodation documents via email. Students are responsible for providing their accommodation documentation to professors for classes in which they wish to use their accommodations. The use of accommodations is not retroactive; accommodations can only be used if accommodation documentation has been provided to professors and professors have acknowledged receipt of the accommodation document to the Office of Accessibility Services and the student. Please provide disability documentation at least 2-3 weeks prior to the semester and allow 7-10 days for review of disability documentation.

Website Accessibility

If you are experiencing difficulty accessing information on this website due to a disability, or if you have questions or concerns regarding the accessibility of content on this site, please submit your feedback via email at webaccessibility@caldwell.edu

SOAR Program

Housing Accommodations 

Service/Assistance Animal Registration

Honor Society 

Requesting Accommodations and Delivery of Records to the Office of Accessibility Services

Requesting Housing Accommodations and the Housing Accommodation Form process: 

1. You (the student) and your physician / treatment specialist complete the Housing Accommodation form. Please read the form carefully before attempting to complete it with your physician / treatment specialist. Be sure to adhere to the documentation requirements as noted under the heading “Documentation Requirements”.

2. Return the form via mail, in-person, or by facsimile to the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS).

3. For faxing; please detach the “Documentation Requirements” pages before faxing. The fax number for the OAS is: (973) 618-3488.

4. All forms are reviewed by the Special Accommodations Team (SAT).

5. You will be notified of the SAT review decision through your Caldwell University email. 

The Special Accommodations Team (SAT), is comprised of several departments that review all housing accommodation requests. SAT decisions are based upon the information provided by you and your disability evaluator / treating specialist / or physician. Detailed information must be provided by a qualified individual who is not related to the student. Incomplete forms will not be reviewed or considered. Appeals are considered only when new information is provided. This process or form may change at any time at the discretion of the SAT. 

The SAT reserves the right to ask for additional documentation and / or meet with the student, if such information is needed to make an accommodation decision. 

Accommodation decisions are communicated to the student through Caldwell University email. Once you (the student) have received a SAT decision from the Office of Accessibility Services, you may contact the Office of Residence Life for details about your housing accommodation. 

Requesting Academic Accommodations and the Academic and Medical Accommodation Process 

Please adhere to the Document Timeline and Document Guideline (documents) posted on this web page. Documentation substantiating requests for accommodations may be delivered in-person, by mail, or by facsimile. The fax number is: (973) 618-3488.

Accessibility Services for Online Students 

Online students seeking disability accommodations should contact the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) for registration, documentation requirements, and accommodation implementation information. Please call: (973) 618-3645. 

Please refer to the OAS Documentation Guidelines and Documentation Timeline documents posted on the Office Accessibility Services webpage for information about the types of documentation required for specific disabilities and the related timelines. Documentation is reviewed by the Office of Accessibility Services and the Special Accommodations Team (housing only). Upon review and approval of documentation online students will receive communication about their accommodations through their Caldwell University email, and by telephone as applicable. OAS will assist students with distributing their accommodation documentation to professors for classes in which students wish to use their accommodations. The use of accommodations is not retroactive; accommodations can only be used if accommodation documentation has been provided to professors and professors have acknowledged receipt of the accommodation documentation to the OAS and the student, via email. Please provide disability documentation at least 2-3 weeks prior to the semester and allow 7-10 days for review of documentation. 

Our Mission

The mission of the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) is to provide a full range of reasonable and appropriate accommodations and support services to students with disabilities in order to ensure compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990).

The Office of Accessibility Services seeks to foster independence and to develop the self-advocacy of students with disabilities. In addition, the OAS serves as a liaison and resource to members of the Caldwell University community.