Lawyer for Accommodations in College?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What accommodations did you ask for?

Related to housing. No, not an emotional support animal or any animal at all.

This situation arose with a sudden event -- think a serious fall with multiple broken ones, or a stroke -- and the ensuing physical AND mental recovery. ie, a significant % of people who have a stroke will also develop depression.

Anyway, we asked for a housing-related accommodation and they said 'nope.' Just ignored supporting documents from multiple doctors.

Advice from this forum will only be useful if you provide more information. What is the disability and what is the accommodation you requested?

If the school is denying physical accommodations (such as a ramp, railings, etc.) for a physical disability then a lawyer makes sense. If you are requesting a single room, for example, because it might make your child feel more comfortable but isn't objectively necessary for them to live in the dorms, then you might just need to accept their answer and perhaps look for off-campus housing. Also - ADA does not cover disabilities that may happen in the future (e.g., might become depressed).

[Anonymous]

There is a Facebook group called College Transitions and Accommodations Information for Parents that might be useful to give you some specific advise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What accommodations did you ask for?

Related to housing. No, not an emotional support animal or any animal at all.

This situation arose with a sudden event -- think a serious fall with multiple broken ones, or a stroke -- and the ensuing physical AND mental recovery. ie, a significant % of people who have a stroke will also develop depression.

Anyway, we asked for a housing-related accommodation and they said 'nope.' Just ignored supporting documents from multiple doctors.

Advice from this forum will only be useful if you provide more information. What is the disability and what is the accommodation you requested?

If the school is denying physical accommodations (such as a ramp, railings, etc.) for a physical disability then a lawyer makes sense. If you are requesting a single room, for example, because it might make your child feel more comfortable but isn't objectively necessary for them to live in the dorms, then you might just need to accept their answer and perhaps look for off-campus housing. Also - ADA does not cover disabilities that may happen in the future (e.g., might become depressed).

You don't need to have an opinion on whether OP's kid needs the accommodation to answer her question, which is "Can you recommend a lawyer who . . . ".

If someone's health need puts them at risk of a medical episode, then ADA or 504 can absolutely apply. For example, ADA or 504 covers people with allergies who need protections in situations where reactions might happen. If someone is recovering from a head injury and needs accommodations like no contact sports in PE because another head injury could be catastrophic, ADA or 504 would apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What accommodations did you ask for?

Related to housing. No, not an emotional support animal or any animal at all.

This situation arose with a sudden event -- think a serious fall with multiple broken ones, or a stroke -- and the ensuing physical AND mental recovery. ie, a significant % of people who have a stroke will also develop depression.

Anyway, we asked for a housing-related accommodation and they said 'nope.' Just ignored supporting documents from multiple doctors.

Advice from this forum will only be useful if you provide more information. What is the disability and what is the accommodation you requested?

If the school is denying physical accommodations (such as a ramp, railings, etc.) for a physical disability then a lawyer makes sense. If you are requesting a single room, for example, because it might make your child feel more comfortable but isn't objectively necessary for them to live in the dorms, then you might just need to accept their answer and perhaps look for off-campus housing. Also - ADA does not cover disabilities that may happen in the future (e.g., might become depressed).

You don't need to have an opinion on whether OP's kid needs the accommodation to answer her question, which is "Can you recommend a lawyer who . . . ".

If someone's health need puts them at risk of a medical episode, then ADA or 504 can absolutely apply. For example, ADA or 504 covers people with allergies who need protections in situations where reactions might happen. If someone is recovering from a head injury and needs accommodations like no contact sports in PE because another head injury could be catastrophic, ADA or 504 would apply.

DP. If OP wants a lawyer rec and no other posts or opinions, she needs to say the state where her DC is at school.

[Anonymous]

Is the accommodation something the school can actually offer? For example, a single room or room near a particular building? Or are you asking for something that doesn’t currently exist within their infrastructure?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What accommodations did you ask for?

Related to housing. No, not an emotional support animal or any animal at all.

This situation arose with a sudden event -- think a serious fall with multiple broken ones, or a stroke -- and the ensuing physical AND mental recovery. ie, a significant % of people who have a stroke will also develop depression.

Anyway, we asked for a housing-related accommodation and they said 'nope.' Just ignored supporting documents from multiple doctors.

Advice from this forum will only be useful if you provide more information. What is the disability and what is the accommodation you requested?

If the school is denying physical accommodations (such as a ramp, railings, etc.) for a physical disability then a lawyer makes sense. If you are requesting a single room, for example, because it might make your child feel more comfortable but isn't objectively necessary for them to live in the dorms, then you might just need to accept their answer and perhaps look for off-campus housing. Also - ADA does not cover disabilities that may happen in the future (e.g., might become depressed).

You don't need to have an opinion on whether OP's kid needs the accommodation to answer her question, which is "Can you recommend a lawyer who . . . ".

If someone's health need puts them at risk of a medical episode, then ADA or 504 can absolutely apply. For example, ADA or 504 covers people with allergies who need protections in situations where reactions might happen. If someone is recovering from a head injury and needs accommodations like no contact sports in PE because another head injury could be catastrophic, ADA or 504 would apply.

Sure. But I also hate to see parents wasting their money on lawyers when it's unnecessary. The OP can 100% choose to ignore my question, and that's fine. But I'm still going to put it out there on the off chance it might be helpful.

In your example, the diagnosed condition directly relates to the accommodation. The possibility of developing depression following a medical condition is not the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid’s university has rejected an ADA accommodation request related to a new illness. Because this is a new illness-related disability, we don’t have any experience with legal representation under the ADA. Can anyone here recommend a lawyer or a firm that you’ve worked with to advocate for accommodations in higher education? Or even just the name of a good firm that’s known for ADA advocacy would be a good start and more than I have right now.

OP here: my son’s university requires all undergraduates to live on campus for four years. He is seeking exemption from the housing requirement due to depression and anxiety tied to on-campus living associated with a new and ongoing physical illness (documented and supported by his psychologist). A housing exemption is defined as a reasonable accommodation under the ADA.

[Anonymous]

^^Forgot to mention: the school is in Tennessee.

[Anonymous]

Transfer to another school. You won’t win this battle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid’s university has rejected an ADA accommodation request related to a new illness. Because this is a new illness-related disability, we don’t have any experience with legal representation under the ADA. Can anyone here recommend a lawyer or a firm that you’ve worked with to advocate for accommodations in higher education? Or even just the name of a good firm that’s known for ADA advocacy would be a good start and more than I have right now.

OP here: my son’s university requires all undergraduates to live on campus for four years. He is seeking exemption from the housing requirement due to depression and anxiety tied to on-campus living associated with a new and ongoing physical illness (documented and supported by his psychologist). A housing exemption is defined as a reasonable accommodation under the ADA.

Did disability services offer an alternative accommodation? What do the doctors think of that alternative?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid’s university has rejected an ADA accommodation request related to a new illness. Because this is a new illness-related disability, we don’t have any experience with legal representation under the ADA. Can anyone here recommend a lawyer or a firm that you’ve worked with to advocate for accommodations in higher education? Or even just the name of a good firm that’s known for ADA advocacy would be a good start and more than I have right now.

OP here: my son’s university requires all undergraduates to live on campus for four years. He is seeking exemption from the housing requirement due to depression and anxiety tied to on-campus living associated with a new and ongoing physical illness (documented and supported by his psychologist). A housing exemption is defined as a reasonable accommodation under the ADA.

Would he be living at home, by himself, or someplace else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid’s university has rejected an ADA accommodation request related to a new illness. Because this is a new illness-related disability, we don’t have any experience with legal representation under the ADA. Can anyone here recommend a lawyer or a firm that you’ve worked with to advocate for accommodations in higher education? Or even just the name of a good firm that’s known for ADA advocacy would be a good start and more than I have right now.

OP here: my son’s university requires all undergraduates to live on campus for four years. He is seeking exemption from the housing requirement due to depression and anxiety tied to on-campus living associated with a new and ongoing physical illness (documented and supported by his psychologist). A housing exemption is defined as a reasonable accommodation under the ADA.

It may be out of the school’s hands. I went to a college with a similar restriction and students could not live off-campus because of an agreement with the town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid’s university has rejected an ADA accommodation request related to a new illness. Because this is a new illness-related disability, we don’t have any experience with legal representation under the ADA. Can anyone here recommend a lawyer or a firm that you’ve worked with to advocate for accommodations in higher education? Or even just the name of a good firm that’s known for ADA advocacy would be a good start and more than I have right now.

OP here: my son’s university requires all undergraduates to live on campus for four years. He is seeking exemption from the housing requirement due to depression and anxiety tied to on-campus living associated with a new and ongoing physical illness (documented and supported by his psychologist). A housing exemption is defined as a reasonable accommodation under the ADA.

Did disability services offer an alternative accommodation? What do the doctors think of that alternative?

They did not — they said a case could be made for a private bathroom if more documentation was provided (this is after three letters including one from a highly qualified GI specialist outline the diagnosis and symptoms).

Doctors were not happy with the answer, and one is planning to write a follow up telling them as much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid’s university has rejected an ADA accommodation request related to a new illness. Because this is a new illness-related disability, we don’t have any experience with legal representation under the ADA. Can anyone here recommend a lawyer or a firm that you’ve worked with to advocate for accommodations in higher education? Or even just the name of a good firm that’s known for ADA advocacy would be a good start and more than I have right now.

OP here: my son’s university requires all undergraduates to live on campus for four years. He is seeking exemption from the housing requirement due to depression and anxiety tied to on-campus living associated with a new and ongoing physical illness (documented and supported by his psychologist). A housing exemption is defined as a reasonable accommodation under the ADA.

It may be out of the school’s hands. I went to a college with a similar restriction and students could not live off-campus because of an agreement with the town.

Seniors are allowed to live off campus with approval from a random lottery application (around 15% of the school actually lives off campus, and the word on the street is that it’s easy to be approved as a senior). My son has a legitimate medical need and is only asking to be put ahead of one random senior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid’s university has rejected an ADA accommodation request related to a new illness. Because this is a new illness-related disability, we don’t have any experience with legal representation under the ADA. Can anyone here recommend a lawyer or a firm that you’ve worked with to advocate for accommodations in higher education? Or even just the name of a good firm that’s known for ADA advocacy would be a good start and more than I have right now.

OP here: my son’s university requires all undergraduates to live on campus for four years. He is seeking exemption from the housing requirement due to depression and anxiety tied to on-campus living associated with a new and ongoing physical illness (documented and supported by his psychologist). A housing exemption is defined as a reasonable accommodation under the ADA.

Did disability services offer an alternative accommodation? What do the doctors think of that alternative?

They did not — they said a case could be made for a private bathroom if more documentation was provided (this is after three letters including one from a highly qualified GI specialist outline the diagnosis and symptoms).

Doctors were not happy with the answer, and one is planning to write a follow up telling them as much.

I mean if your kid has a private bathroom what else is really necessary? This seems like an OTT request.