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Policies, Rules, Rights and Responsibilities

ADA and University Policy

Virginia Tech is committed to ensuring that all qualified students with disabilities can pursue a postsecondary education without barriers to instruction and services. Under Policy Memorandum 178 and university Policy 4075, Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) leads an interactive process that includes interpreting disability documentation, determining the existence of a disability, and determining reasonable accommodations in this university setting. Reasonable accommodations are intended to provide students with disabilities equal access to the University.

Confidentiality

Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) takes confidentiality very seriously and has taken steps to ensure that your paperwork and sensitive information remain private. SSD treats as confidential, any written material obtained to verify a disability, to plan for appropriate services, or to document services and contacts within the department.

• To give SSD permission to share confidential information with a specific institution or individual, please use the Authorization for Release of Information form in AIM by clicking Information Release Consents under the My Accommodations menu.

Grievances

If you believe that you may have experienced discrimination or harassment on the basis of disability, or any other trait, identity, or characteristic covered by the university’s nondiscrimination policy, we encourage you to contact the Office for Civil Rights Compliance and Prevention Education. You can contact the Office for Civil Rights Compliance and Prevention Education via email at civilrights@vt.edu, via phone at 540-231-2010, or by using the office’s online reporting form.

Examples of issues or concerns that students or employees may want to report to the Office for Civil Rights Compliance and Prevention Education include the following:

  • Denial of a requested disability-related service or accommodation
  • Inaccessibility of a university program or activity for one or more individuals with disabilities
  • Access of a service animal
  • Harassment on the basis of disability
  • Any other alleged university violation of the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, or a university nondiscrimination policy
  • Retaliation

Service Animals

Virginia Tech's Guidelines on Service Animals and Assistance/Support Animals are available in this secure downloadable document. 

Documentation Guidelines

For guidelines on documentation, see our Documentation Guidelines page.