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Housing Accommodation Policies and Procedures

In compliance with Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Brown University students with documented disabilities may request special housing accommodations within the context of current housing policies.

 

Off-Campus Policy

All students, including students with disabilities, are normally required to reside on campus for six semesters.  Permission to reside off-campus is granted for students in accordance with procedures established by the Residential Life Office.  In the case of accommodation requests by students with disabilities who otherwise are not eligible for off-campus permission, accommodations can usually be met within the on-campus housing environment.

 

Room selection

Incoming students, with or without disabilities, are required to live in multiple-person rooms in traditional corridor-type residence halls; roommate selection is based on individual questionnaires distributed to all first-year students during the summer prior to their Fall admission. Transfer students are housed based on availability and are traditionally placed in multiple-person rooms.

For students who need wheelchair-accessible housing, there are rooms that have been modified with adjoining bath and roll-in shower facilities.

Students who are not wheelchair-users but require some type of specialized housing relating to their disability (additional space for medical equipment, access to private bath, proximity to cafeteria, etc.) may also apply for these spaces. Students with disabilities who are not in a wheelchair who are placed in accessible rooms may be relocated in the event that a wheelchair user needs an accessible room. A limited number of accessible spaces are available.

All students seeking housing accommodations are required to register with DEEP, the Disability Emergency Evacuation Program, and a list will be distributed to Public Safety as well as the Fire Department, in the event of an emergency.

 

Dates & Deadlines for Housing Accommodation

Housing requests must be renewed on a yearly basis by submitting request to SEAS.

First year students entering-Fall:

June 15th - Fall Semester

First year students entering-mid-year:

December 15 - Spring Semester

Transfers and readmitting students:

July 1st - Fall Semester; December 15 - Spring Semester

Currently enrolled students:

February 15 - Next Academic Year

 

Procedures for Applying For Housing Accommodations

In order for student disability-related housing accommodation requests to be considered, students must first be registered with the Office of Student and Employee Accessibility Services (SEAS). In order to register with SEAS you must complete the following process:

  1. Contact SEAS and complete an "Information & Release Form".
  2. Submit a Housing Accommodation Request form which requires a brief written explanation of your particular disability and why it requires some form of specialized housing consideration.
  3. Fax, deliver, or mail all documentation (a physician’s letter or psychoeducational report or other) certifying the disability and reasons for needing specialized housing accommodations. Fax: 401-863-1999 (Attention: SEAS Director)
  4. Schedule a brief meeting with the SEAS Director to discuss housing needs. Telephone appointments can be arranged. Please call (401) 863-9588 (V/TTY).
  5. Be mindful of housing deadlines, which are posted on the SEAS website.
  6. Applications not completed by housing deadlines will be accepted and considered, but there is no guarantee that late requests will be met.
  7. If you'd like to request to be housed with/near friends or in a specific location on campus, you may submit your request in writing to the SEAS Director.
  8. Please keep in mind that housing accommodations are only based on disability-related needs and are determined on a case-by-case basis. Housing accommodations do not circumvent the regular housing lottery for you or your friends. Our first priority is to accommodate your disability and we'll do our best to try and get you close to friends (there are no guarantees). If you have a question about this policy please ask the SEAS Director for clarification.
  9. Once housing decisions are made, you will be notified by mail of your placement. Decisions are usually made within 2-6 weeks. Please do not call SEAS or Residential Life for housing assignment information. Housing decisions are final.