Disability Support Services (DSS) coordinates and facilitates services for students, faculty and staff with physical, psychological, and learning disabilities.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, an individual with a disability is defined as a person who "has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities of such an individual; has a record of such an impairment; or is regarded as having an impairment." Services for students, faculty and staff members with disabilities are provided by many offices of the University and are coordinated through DSS.
Students, faculty or staff members requesting an accommodation due to a qualifying disability should self-identify by registering with Disability Support Services. Informing other University offices, faculty, or staff does not constitute registering with DSS. The DSS Director will conduct a review and analysis prior to making a determination about the provision of reasonable accommodations. Accommodation requests are evaluated individually, based on documentation and completion of the registration process.
Welcome Members of the Class of 2013!
To request disability-related accommodations at Brown, you will need to register with the Disability Support Services office. This process requires completion of a DSS Registration and Release Form, the submission of documentation of your area of disability that supports your request, and in most cases, at least one meeting with the Director or Assistant Director of Disability Support Services.
As a newly admitted student, you will receive a form in your Admissions packet that lets you know how to get started with the process of registering with DSS. Please return that form or contact us by phone (401-863-9588) or email (dss@brown.edu) as soon as possible, especially if you have any questions. We will email the necessary forms to you.
If you are requesting disability-related accommodations for your residence hall, a Housing Accommodation Request Form, the DSS Registration form and supporting documentation are due by June 15, 2009. Please note that our residence halls are not air conditioned and many of them have stairs. If you have any questions about whether or not you need to request an accommodation, please contact our Assistant Director, Stephanie Vece who manages this process by email at Stephanie_Vece@brown.edu or 401-863-9588.
For students who are requesting academic accommodations, it will be important to make sure you have complete documentation on file before the start of the fall semester. Please review our documentation requirements and contact us if you have any questions about whether or not you have what is needed. Our preference would be that you send the documentation in advance so that we can review it over the summer. Once you are on the campus, it will be important to schedule a meeting with one of us to discuss your needs, complete an Academic Accommodation Request Form, and review the process of requesting academic accommodations.
If you will need any accommodations related to physical access (including wheelchair access, interpreters, Braille, etc.), please contact us as soon as possible so we can ensure that services and materials are available, especially if you are attending A Day on College Hill (ADOCH) in April. Our general email address dss@brown.edu is the best place to send requests as it reaches all DSS staff.
Among other services, the DSS office also coordinates rides on the DSS Shuttle. The Shuttle provides both pre-scheduled and impromptu rides throughout the campus for eligible students, faculty and staff members. For more information, contact Erin_Karalekas@brown.edu or 401-863-9588.
We look forward to meeting you and working together during your time at Brown. Congratulations!
Catherine Axe, ‘87
Director, Disability Support Services
Catherine_Axe@brown.edu
Construction Updates
Brown will be undergoing extensive construction. If any temporary closures or changes pose access issues, please contact Disability Support Services at 401-863-9588 or dss@brown.edu during business hours (8:30 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday) to report any concerns or request assistance. After hours, please contact Public Safety at 401-863-3322. Our goal is to eliminate any barriers this process may pose.
Update on University Improvements for Housing for Students with Disabilities
Brown University offers a range of campus housing that accommodates the needs of students with disabilities. Brown University has been revising policies and performing various campus projects to improve accessibility to these facilities for students with disabilities. These improvements run the gamut from short term to long term projects. Although some of some of the improvements remain to be completed, we want to report to the community on the substantial progress that has been made in completing projects that improve the infrastructure of housing for students with disabilities. Among the completed projects are the following:
Campus Residence Hall Facilities
The university has made improvement to accessibility features of dormitory rooms, bathrooms, and kitchens. Although some work remains to be completed, facilities where improvements have been made are Poland House, Buxton House, Chapin House, Diman House, Goddard House, Harkness House, Marcy House, Olney House, Sears House, Andrews Hall, Champlin Hall, Emery Hall, Barbour Hall, Vartan Gregorian Quads, and Young Orchard #2.
Campus Site Improvements
Improvements have been performed relating to the accessibility of routes of travel on campus to accessible dormitories. Among the effected facilities are the following: Poland House, Buxton House, Chapin House, Diman House, Goddard House, Harkness House, Marcy House, Olney House, Sears House, Champlin House , and Vartan Gregorian Quads.
The university has also completed projects creating accessible parking in the lower level of the Power Street parking garage, and renovating Sharpe Refectory dining hall for the purpose of making the dining hall accessible to students with disabilities.
Brown University has campus accessibility maps that provide information about campus accessibility, including but not limited to information about accessible paths of travel, lift locations, and accessible parking. These maps can be found at: http://www.brown.edu/Facilities/ Facilities_Management/map_download1.php
For specific information about accessibility, please contact the Office of Disability Support Services, at 401-863-9588 (phone), 401-863-9588 (TTY), 401-863-1999 (fax), DSS@Brown.edu (e-mail).
Program Houses
The university has renovated the following facilities where program houses are located so that they are accessible to and usable by students with disabilities:
- Machado House ( 87 Prospect Street ), French House and Hispanic House
- King House (154 Hope Street), St. Anthony Hall
Auxiliary (Rental) Housing
Two university owned facilities have been renovated so that they are accessible to and usable by students with disabilities who have been granted permission to reside off-campus. The newly renovated buildings are located at the following addresses:
- 110 Charlesfield Street
- 71-73 Charlesfield Street
Brown University asks for your patience as it continues to work on projects that are a part of this important initiative. It continues to be the university's goal to perform these improvements with minimal interference to campus activities.