The Chapin School recognizes that there are some students with documented learning disabilities who would benefit from various classroom accommodations and other assistance. The Chapin School ("the School") offers reasonable accommodations to students with learning and other disabilities in accordance with the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 and New York State law.

All requests for accommodations are considered by the Learning Resources Committee ("the Committee"), which is chaired by Ms. Brenda Philip. A parent or guardian should direct requests for accommodations to the Committee. No one except the Committee, in consultation with Head of School, is authorized to grant accommodation requests.

To be entitled to an accommodation, the parent or guardian must provide the Committee with proper documentation of the physical or learning disability and the need for accommodations. The Committee may require that students undergo certain tests to determine the existence and extent of a student's disability. For example, the Committee may require tests specializing in determining learning disabilities, as well as hearing tests, physical agility tests, and/or vision examinations. For learning disabilities, the Committee will generally seek to obtain an I.Q. test and compare it with academic-based examinations such as the Woodcock Johnson III, the Nelson Denny Reading Test, the Test of Written Language, the Bender VMI, and the CELF-3. The Committee may require students with learning disabilities to be retested to ensure the information is up to date and relevant.

If a parent or guardian requests accommodations for a student due to Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, the Committee requires that the student be tested only by persons with doctorates or medical degrees. The Committee also requires that a full battery of educational and aptitude testing be given.

Once the Committee receives documented proof of a student's need for an accommodation, the Committee will determine whether the documentation is sufficient to establish a condition requiring accommodation and whether the accommodation is appropriate. In general, only those students who have a physical, mental, or learning impairment that substantially limits one or more of her major life activities (walking, learning, etc.) are entitled to accommodations. Once the Committee determines that a student is qualified to receive and requires an accommodation, it then evaluates the need for the accommodation specifically requested. The Committee considers many factors when making this determination including but not limited to the following: how appropriate is the requested accommodation, whether there are available alternatives, and whether the requested accommodation unduly burdens the school or fundamentally alters its mission and program.

It is important to note that the Committee may decide that the requested accommodation is not appropriate, or that there are other, more suitable accommodations that would sufficiently resolve the matter. In such cases, the Committee will work with the student and the parent/guardian to determine a fair and reasonable accommodation. Parents and guardians are required to work with the School during this interactive process. The Committee will inform the parent, student, and/or guardian of its decision, and if the Committee denies an accommodation request or offers an alternative accommodation, it will explain its reasoning.

All Committee decisions are final and are not subject to appeal. Both the School and families, however, will necessarily revisit issues and specific student requirements as disabilities and accommodations change over time.

Questions regarding this policy and the Committee's work should be directed to Ms. Brenda Philip.

Last updated 01.23.08

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