Accessibility at the BAC
The Boston Architectural College (BAC) is mandated by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to provide reasonable accommodations. The BAC is committed to providing individualized support to students with disabilities based on their unique needs.
Who Is Eligible for Accommodations?
- You must be officially accepted and planning to attend the BAC
- Exceptions will be made for students who are eligible to receive accommodations during the enrollment process
- You must hand-deliver the required documentation to the DS Coordinator
- Distance student should contact the DS Coordinator to make alternate arrangements
How Do I Request Accommodations?
Accommodations/services can only be activated at the BAC once a student self-discloses their disability to the DS Coordinator, Karen Stephanides at 617-585-0274 or Karen.Stephanides@the-bac.edu.
You may schedule a meeting with the DS Coordinator at any time during your academic career at the BAC. However, it is highly encouraged to schedule a meeting as early as possible.
All information and documentation related to a disability is confidential and is not released without the student's written consent.
What are my responsibilities as a student with a disability?
- To identify yourself to the DS Coordinator
- To meet and maintain the BAC 's academic standards
- To deliver required documentation to the DS Coordinator at least two weeks prior to the intended use of accommodations
- To maintain compliance with the BAC 's documentation requirements
- To bear the cost of the evaluation(s) required by the BAC
- To complete the Disability Support Services Packet (provided to you by the DS Coordinator)
- To schedule a meeting with the DS Coordinator every semester to activate accommodations
- To actively participate in the search for accommodations and auxiliary aids
- To communicate with instructors about how accommodations will be implemented in each classroom
- To notify instructors and the DS Coordinator at least two days ( five days for final exams ) prior to the intended use of accommodations
What are the BAC’s responsibilities to a student with a disability?
- To review documentation and activate reasonable accommodations in a timely manner
- To provide reasonable accommodations once they are activated (accommodations will not be provided retroactively)
- To request additional documentation if that which is provided is inadequate or outdated
- To share information regarding a student 's accommodations only with those individuals involved in the assessment and implementation of their accommodations
- To make every effort to reasonably accommodate students with disabilities unless unreasonable notice, undue hardship, or fundamental alteration of a program is corroborated
- To, when feasible, assist temporarily injured and impaired students, although not required by applicable law
- To provide students with information about area medical facilities, but to abstain from providing medical care or dispensing medication
What are the BAC’s documentation requirements?
- All documentation must be on letterhead, dated, signed, and include the diagnosing professional 's name, title, organization, license, or certification
- All documentation should be reflective of the current student experience and will be reviewed for such appropriateness
- Specific documentation requirements apply based on the nature of one 's disability and individual circumstance
- Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) are typically not accepted as the primary source of documentation
- Documentation prepared by a family member will not be accepted as the primary source of documentation
Specific Documentation Requirements
- A psycho-educational or neuropsychological evaluation completed within the past three years to include:
- A clearly stated diagnosis of a learning disability and/or AD/HD
- Scores from any psychological and/or educational testing
- Recommendations for accommodations
- Documentation completed within the past three years to include:
- A description of the nature of the disability and/or a clearly stated diagnosis
- Scores from any psychological and/or educational testing
- Recommendations for accommodations
- Documentation completed within the past six months to include:
- A clearly stated diagnosis of a psychiatric/emotional/behavioral disorder(s)
- Scores from any psychological and/or educational testing
- Recommendations for accommodations
- Documentation completed within the past six months to include:
- A clearly stated diagnosis of a temporary disability
- Scores from any psychological and/or educational testing
- Recommendations for accommodations
These may include a student's self-report (a student's narrative of his or her experiences of disability, barriers, and effective and ineffective accommodations) and observation and interaction (the impressions and conclusions formed by the Disability Services Coordinator during interviews and conversations with a student or in evaluating the effectiveness of previously implemented accommodations). Contact karen.stephanides@the-bac.edu for more information.
Technical Issues?
If at any time you cannot access forms or pages on this site and need to request an accessible format, please email karen.stephanides@the-bac.edu and an accessible format will be provided to you.
Karen Stephanides, MSW
Director of Advising & Disability Services
320 Newbury Street, First Floor, #108
Boston, MA 02115
617-585-0274, Karen.Stephanides@the-bac.edu