The Student Disability Center (SDC) works in collaboration with Housing and Dining Services (HDS) to provide students with disabilities with housing and/or dining accommodations if they are living, or planning to live, in university-owned and operated housing.   

Students with disabilities who are requesting housing and/or dining accommodations will follow the established process for requesting accommodations:  

1. Completing a New SDC Student Application 
2. Contacting the SDC to set up an appointment  
3. Engaging in the interactive accommodations process 
4. Submitting relevant documentation, as needed. 

Accommodation Procedures

If housing and/or dining accommodations are approved the following process will occur:  

• The SDC will notify HDS of the accommodations that the student has been approved for.  
• HDS will use the provided information to implement the needed accommodations.  
• Depending on the timing of the request and the availability of units that meet the accommodation needed, there may be some delay in providing the accommodation. 
• HDS will notify the student of any changes to their housing assignment,and any additional steps the student needs to take in relation to the accommodation.  
• If the needed accommodation cannot be fully provided, HDS and the SDC will work with the student to determine if there are other or partial accommodations that can be provided to meet the student’s access needs.  Efforts to find an assignment to fully meet the accommodation will continue as space becomes available. 
• In the event SDC and HDS have exhausted all reasonable options, and the accommodations cannot be provided, a housing exemption may be granted to allow the student to seek other housing arrangements that can meet their access needs.  
• Any approved accommodation will only be provided from the date of approval forward. Accommodations will not be applied retroactively.  

Accommodation Provisions

Accommodation Definitions

SDC and HDS use the following definitions when specifying commonly approved accommodations. This is not an exhaustive list of what accommodations can be requested or provided, rather standard definitions for commonly approved accommodations.  

• Single room (any style): a residence hall room that is only occupied by one student. There is no disability-related need for a specific type of bathroom or building.  
• Single room in a suite: a residence hall room that is only occupied by one student with an attached bathroom that is shared with an adjoining room.  
• Single room with private bathroom: a residence hall room that is only occupied by one student with an attached bathroom.  
• Single occupancy apartment: an apartment that is only occupied by one student.  
• Suite style bathroom: a residence hall room with an attached bathroom that is shared with one adjoining room.  
• Climate control: a residence hall or apartment building that has a central HVAC system that both cools and heats the building. Temperature regulation is based on a standard temperature that has been set for the building.  

Housing Assignments

• Housing assignments are dependent on availability of units that meet the needed accommodation. Students are encouraged to request housing accommodations as soon as they know they will be needed to increase their chances of being placed in a unit that meets their accommodation needs.  
• The SDC cannot assist with the identification, selection, or assignment of roommates. All students can search for and identify preferred roommates through the housing application process.  

Housing Exemptions

• Students seeking an exemption from the live-on requirement must engage in the housing exemption process.  

Personal Care Attendants

• If a student requires a personal care attendant (PCA) to assist with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, eating, cleaning, etc., the PCAs will be provided  access to residence hall and apartment facilities, if approved as an accommodation and subject to  background check requirements.  
• CSU staff are not responsible for personal tasks including, but not limited to, cleaning, garbage disposal, delivering mail to a specific room or apartment, etc. These tasks are the responsibility of the student.  
• It is the student’s responsibility to identify, hire, train, and pay PCAs. Students may also work with independent agencies that provide PCA services.  
• Once the PCA accommodation is approved HDS staff will work with the student to facilitate their PCAs being granted access to HDS facilities.  
• PCAs must pass a background check before being granted access to any HDS facility.  
• If needed, the SDC will assist the student in working with Parking and Transportation Services to purchase a parking permit for their PCAs. 
  • The student is responsible for purchasing the parking permit.  
  • The parking permit will be assigned to the student, and it is the student’s responsibility to manage the permit. 

Price Adjustments

• For students approved for a single room as an accommodation for the residence halls, their cost will be adjusted. The students will be charged the price of a double room in the building to which they are assigned.  
• For students who are approved for a single occupancy apartment as an accommodation, there will not be a cost adjustment. Students will be charged the full rent rate of the apartment they are assigned to. 

Renewing and Transferring Housing Accommodations 

• Housing accommodations will remain on record for as long as the student is living on campus. If students wish to continue to live in the residence halls or apartments for multiple years, their accommodations will continue to be provided if the student continues to need them. Students will need to engage in the returning room selection and/or lease renewal process conducted annually. Students need to contact SDC or HDS staff if they have concerns about their accommodations not being renewed.  
• Accommodations approved for the residence halls do not automatically transfer to university apartments. If students are planning to move from the residence halls into university apartments and will need accommodations for the apartments, they need to contact the SDC to discuss apartment specific accommodations. 
• For more information about renewing residence hall assignments or apartment leases please visit the Housing and Dining Services website. 
• Accommodations approved for university-owned and operated housing do not transfer to housing outside of the university. Students will need to work with the property manager of non-university housing to request accommodations. 

Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals

• For information about service Dogs animals and/or Emotional Support animals please visit the following resources. 
  • CSU Policy on Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals 
  • SDC resource: assistance animals 

Medical Incident Response Guidelines

Among the scope of disability accommodations coordinated between the SDC and HDS, there are regularly a few inquiries from students/families seeking agreement on how staff may respond to and assist with medical circumstances.  These circumstances have included but not been limited to seizure disorders, diabetes, allergic reactions, responding to emergencies such as fire alarms, and help with daily tasks such as getting dressed or taking medication.  The SDC and HDS have long acknowledged and agreed that limits are necessary to clarify what staff can and cannot do when they become aware of a medical concern.  Specifically, it is critical that emergency responders be contacted to address any medical situation, no matter how “small” it may seem to be at the moment. 

The following information seeks to outline why such limits exist and offer some explanation why they must continue.   

• Whether it be an RA in a residence hall or employee in a dining center, there is a limit on the role and responsibility of staff when they become aware of a medical concern.  While some individuals may have some training or expertise, no consistent or monitored expectation exists for employees to make a medical assessment of what is happening and/or what an appropriate intervention may be.  Those assessments and decisions are properly conducted by trained emergency responders if there is a a medical concern.  
  • University staff whose roles would allow for that assessment are primarily limited to medical employees in the Health Center and CSUPD officers.  There may be a few other roles that hold this responsibility.  Overall, though, any time staff become aware of a medical concern they are directed to call for emergency responders. .  
• University staff cannot responsibly or reasonably evaluate what is a minor versus major medical concern, even if the individual involved is offering their explanation or assurance that this is “normal.”  Unfortunately, and consistently, staff encountersituations every year that may present minor concerns initially but escalate to something more severe.  Accordingly, only trained and authorized emergency personnel can determine what level of response is appropriate for a medical concern.  
• The SDC and HDS acknowledge that students and families may have long been managing medical needs in a variety of ways and in a variety of settings where requested responses may have been effective.  Upon transitioning to campus, though, we must be clear that such arrangements may no longer be applicable.  Examples of some requested actions and campus limitations include:  
  • Requests for University Housing staff to enter a student’s room to check on their welfare.  University Housing staff may assist with some level of welfare check, such as visiting a room to see if the student might answer the door. However, if there is concern that a medical need is present, the welfare check will be referred to CSUPD who can more immediately and effectively intervene should added help be needed.  
  • Help allowing a friend into a student’s room or apartment to help with tasks or check on their welfare.  HDS prohibits staff from allowing anyone entry into a residential space to which they’re not assigned.  Policy also prohibits issuing a key to anyone other than the resident(s) of the room or apartment.  
  • Assisting a student to their room or apartment if experiencing a medical episode.  Again, with few exceptions, CSU staff cannot determine if it’s safe to leave someone in their room during a medical event where there may not be anyone to help monitor or assist should concerns worsen.  Only appropriate medical personnel can assist in that determination.  
  • Assigning a particular roommate familiar with the medical condition and how to offer support.  It is possible and may occur that roommates are willing or even eager to support their friend.  CSU/HDS, however, cannot enforce such expectations of one student for another should arrangements made prior to arriving on campus change.   
  • Administering medication. CSU employees, other than licensed providers at CSU Health Network, are not permitted to administer medication to a student. Students are responsible for managing and administering their own medications.   
• Some students and families have expressed concern about the cost of ambulance transport and/or hospitalization when emergency personnel are called in for medical situations.  It has been and remains true, if someone is well enough to decline transport, the emergency personnel will permit them to do so. 
• Students and families have also expressed worry that emergency personnel responding to every incident can cause embarrassment or other anxiety of feeling singled out and at the center of commotion that can be associated when friends and neighbors see emergency personnel assisting someone.  We do not doubt that worry can be burdensome, and we also must make a decision based on the safety and welfare of the person at  risk.  
• Ultimately.  and perhaps most importantly, experience has taught us that not everyone’s transition to college will be successfully supported using prior strategies.  That is in no way implying prior strategies will fail.  Rather, i for CSU,  contacting emergency personnel is a correct response for all medical circumstances where  assistance appears needed.  Coming to campus comes with a lot of changes, large and small, but none entirely predictable until they are experienced.  Even then, CSU staff will continue to contact emergency respondersto determine what medical support may be needed.  
• Another regular request has been assistance with storage of medication.  Students are responsible for storage and management of their own medication.  Housing staff cannot assist or secure medication on a student’s behalf.  All residence hall rooms come with one lockable drawer or cabinet per occupant, allowing students to use a padlock or similar lock of their choosing to secure items they want to keep a little safer than other belongings.  Also, students are allowed to bring a small personal fridge for any items, including medication, that may need to be refrigerated.  Additional discussion and assistance with managing medication can be directed to the CSU Health Network and their campus pharmacy services (https://health.colostate.edu/pharmacy/).  

We do not want to add any measure of difficulty to students who may already have plenty on their shoulders to manage their medical needs and college experience.  Nonetheless, we must set clear, direct expectations for how medical situations will be handled, even if a student or their family would prefer a different response.  

Resources

If students/families have concerns about safety protocols while living in university housing, they can contact their community Residence Director/Resident Manager or the main University Housing Office at 970-491-4719 or [email protected].   

Additional information and resources can be found by contacting the departments listed below.  

CSU Police Department:
Emergency: call 911
Non-emergencies: call 970-491-6425  

CSU Health Network
Main Phone: 970-491-7121 
Pharmacy: 970-491-1402 

Exceptions 

Exceptions may be granted to these processes and procedures in unique situations. Exceptions are at the discretion of the SDC and HDS staff members in consultation with appropriate leadership within each department or the institution.