Contact the Office of Disability Services for more information

ODS Disability Documentation

Documentation of your disability provides valuable insight into your experience. We ask students to provide documentation to register with ODS and receive disability-related accommodations.

Documentation is only one piece of the accommodation process --- please do not be deterred from starting the intake process because of a lack of documentation. Disability Specialists are happy to meet and consult with you regarding the accommodation process.

Please contact the ODS office by emailing ODS@uis.edu or by phone at 217-206-6666.

Provisional accommodations may be available as you gather new documentation.

Potential Disability Documentation Options:

• Have a licensed clinical professional send a letter on their letterhead that states your diagnosis, signed, and dated by the licensed clinical professional.
• Use existing documentation such as an IEP/504 Plan, Psychological Evaluation or Re-Evaluation, or a letter from your health care provider. Please note that we may request additional documentation from you if your IEP/504 Plan is not in effect immediately prior to the date you exited High School.

Ideal Documentation will contain the following information:

• Your disability diagnosis from a licensed clinical professional who is familiar with your history, e.g. a therapist, physician, social worker, or school psychologist.
• Explanation of how your disability impacts your participation in courses, programs, services, or activities at the university; and
• Recommendation of accommodation(s).

To register for services and/or upload your disability documentation, please visit the Patient Portal.

Documentation of a Disability for Housing Accommodations

Housing Accommodation Requests

Certain medical conditions or disabilities may require an accommodation for Campus Housing.

All housing accommodations and related placement will be determined in collaboration between Office of Disability Services (ODS) and Residence Life/Campus Housing. Accommodated housing placement is based on student need, but will not always be amenable to student preference.

All UIS Housing requests must follow the same timelines and deadlines required of other students. It is important that housing needs are anticipated early in the application process. Requests for accessible housing and appropriate documentation must be communicated prior to housing request deadlines.

Examples of disability-related requests include:

• Townhouses and Apartments with kitchen.
• Permission to live with an Emotional Support Animal (ESA).
• Assignment to a single room.

Campus Policy for Animals in Buildings and on Grounds

1. Except for animals in use in official University research or activities, or animals present to perform specific disability-related tasks as an approved or obvious accommodation for a person with a documented disability, dogs and other animals are not permitted within University-owned or leased buildings. Unauthorized animals in University-controlled buildings are prohibited and may be impounded.
2. Therefore, pets, comfort animals, or companion animals are not allowed to accompany part-time or full-time employees to work or students to class or other University events or areas associated with work functions or classroom activities.
3. Dogs on a leash, under the control of an individual, and supported by veterinarian’s certifications confirming sound health and up-to-date vaccinations are permitted on University grounds, at the discretion of Campus Police. A dog trailing a leash that is not restrained by an individual, or one tied to a fixed object, is not considered to be under the control of an individual.
4. The owner or person in control of a dog shall promptly remove any fecal matter deposited on University property, and provide for the proper disposal of this material.
5. All dogs which are unleashed, or unattended if leashed, on University property may be impounded. Dogs participating in approved events such as shows and exhibitions may be exempt from this requirement during the time of their participation.
6. After impoundment, the owner, upon the payment in full of all costs incurred as a result of the impoundment, including any veterinary expenses, may reclaim impounded animals. Sangamon County Animal Control, 2100 Shale Street, Springfield, IL is the agency designated for pick-up and impoundment of animals found in University buildings or on the campus.
7. The owners of impounded animals with identification or registration tags will be notified when possible. Owners of animals that are without means of identification may inquire at the Campus Police Building for information regarding impoundments.
8. Illinois state regulations require the owners or managers of public food service establishments to exclude animals from such premises, except service animals providing an accommodation for a person with a disability. When animals are found in a food service area they will be removed and possibly impounded.

Reminder: Service Animals provide very important assistance to persons with disabilities, and are not considered pets, nor should they be interacted with as pets when you see them on campus.  Please remember — Do not assume you can pet, talk to, say the animal’s name, make eye contact with or attempt to get the service animal’s attention, even if it doesn’t have a vest on that states “Do not pet my animal, he/she is working”.   Always remember to first ask the person the service animal is assisting before you attempt any of these approaches.  Please respect what they tell you.  It’s very confusing for the animal if distracted while working. The animal serves to take care of their partner by assisting with health and wellness needs and keeping their partner safe from harm.  It’s very confusing for the animal if petted while working as it distracts from doing his/her job.  Please pass this on to others!  Thank you

Those persons who wish to report a loose or unattended animal or those who wish to inquire about an animal that may have been impounded should call the UIS Police Department at 206-6690. Persons with disabilities with questions regarding the implementation of this policy should contact the ADA Campus Compliance Coordinator and Associate Chancellor for Access and Equal Opportunity at 206-6662. NOTE: Law Enforcement service dogs and service animals performing disability-related tasks for persons with disabilities (See addendum for definition and guidance) are EXEMPT from the prohibitions outlined in this policy.

Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals

Service Animals

A service animal is a dog or miniature horse that is trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability.

Emotional Support Animals (ESA)

This is an animal that provides support to the student with a documented disability in their residence hall room only. The animal cannot come to campus without approval from the ODS office and the Housing Office. The ESA is allowed in the student’s residence hall room only. The student must register for services at the ODS website and meet with a disability specialist to get permission to have their ESA in their residence hall room. Documentation of the students disability is required.

When and Where a Service Animal is Allowed Access

Individuals with disabilities can bring their service animals in all areas of public facilities and private businesses where members of the public, program participants, clients, customers, patrons, or invitees are allowed. A service animal can be excluded from a facility if its presence interferes with legitimate safety requirements of the facility (e.g., from a surgery or burn unit in a hospital in which a sterile field is required).

A public entity or a private business may ask an individual with a disability to remove a service animal if the animal is not housebroken or is out of control and the individual is not able to control it. A service animal must have a harness, leash or other tether, unless the handler is unable to use a tether because of a disability or the use of a tether would interfere with the service animal’s ability to safely perform its work or tasks. In these cases, the service animal must be under the handler’s control through voice commands, hand signals, or other effective means. If a service animal is excluded, the individual with a disability must still be offered the opportunity to obtain goods, services, and accommodations without having the service animal on the premises.

RE: Use of University Premises and Facilities Policies

Source: ADA National Network.