Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (OSSD)

SUNY College at Old Westbury is committed to providing equal access to its programs and services for students with disabilities. The university does not have a specially designed program for students with disabilities, but instead offers an array of support services and accommodations that are coordinated by the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (OSSD). Along with fully integrating students with disabilities in the Old Westbury college community, these services are designed to provide students, faculty and staff with assistance and information in meeting the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Students seeking accommodations and services must identify themselves to OSSD and request an appointment to discuss their needs and requests. Students are encouraged to register with OSSD as soon as possible after admission to the College to ensure timely provision of services. Up-to-date documentation of a disability is required for services; accommodations are provided based on individual needs and circumstances. Students are encouraged to visit the OSSD office to meet the staff and learn more about the services available.

Office of Services for Students with Disabilities Staff

Larry Goldinger, B.S.
Assistive Technologist Building: New Academic Building , Room: 2063
Phone: 516-876-3009
E-mail:

Malinibook Kumarbook
Secretarybook Building: New Academic Building , Room: 2064A
Phone: (516) 876-3009
E-mail: kumarm@oldwestbury.edu

Lisabook Whittenbook
Directorbook Building: New Academic Building , Room: 2051
Phone: (516) 876-3124
E-mail: whittenl@oldwestbury.edu
Web Page: http://www.oldwestbury.edu/academics/disabilities.cfm

Available Services and Accommodations

Services offered by OSSD include:

• Counseling
• Advocacy for "reasonable accommodations" in the classroom
• Assistance with registration
• Financial support referral
• Tutors
• Sign language interpreters
• Readers for the visually impaired or learning disabled
• Support groups
• Disability rights advocacy

Procedures for Accommodations/Services

A student enrolled at Old Westbury who wishes to receive accommodations must self-identify as having a disability and make a request to the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (OSSD). The steps are as follows:

1. Call or visit OSSD to schedule an appointment with an OSSD staff member to discuss your disability and types of accommodations and services that may be needed.
2. Have documentation of your disability available to review and discuss at the meeting. Since accommodations and services are based on the documentation, it is important that the information is complete and up-to-date. If the documentation is lacking in some respect, you will be given the opportunity to provide the needed information. Assistance in locating a qualified practitioner to conduct an assessment is also available. For information regarding documentation requirements, please contact OSSD.
3. OSSD will prepare a memorandum for each student's instructors specifying the accommodations needed as supported through documentation provided by the student. Students are responsible for picking up their memos from OSSD and giving them to their instructors as early as possible each semester. Students should work directly with their instructors to make arrangements for accommodations in each course. OSSD staff members are available to assist both students and instructors in implementing accommodations as they relate to specific course requirements.
4. Throughout the semester, OSSD staff members are available to discuss academic progress or concerns and provide assistance to students. Some direct services provided by OSSD include help with organization and time management, study and test-taking strategies, and reading and writing skills.
5. Students must renew their request for accommodations and pick up memos for their instructors each semester.

Confidentiality
All information related to a student's disability is treated in a confidential manner. Documentation is kept in a secure file with limited access in the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities. Such records are not part of the student's academic record. Disability-related information may be shared on a limited basis with other offices on campus (e.g., Counseling Center, Academic Advising, etc.) in order to provide accommodations and services. However, this information is shared only with permission of the student.

Specialized links to On-Line Resources:

• WebABLE
• US Dept. of Justice
• Assn. Of Higher Educations & Disability