The University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration

Student Disability and AccommodationThe American's with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is the civil rights guarantee forpersons with disabilities in the United States and provides protection fromdiscrimination for individuals on the basis of disability. As soon as possible afterhaving been admitted, students with disabilities should contact their area dean ofstudents for the coordination of accommodations at the University.A "person with a disability" is anyone with a physical or mental impairment thatsubstantially limits one or more major life activities, such as caring for one's self,performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learningand working. The definition also includes people with a whole range of "invisible"disabilities such as psychological problems, learning disabilities, or chronic healthimpairment, such as epilepsy, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, cardiac problems,HIV/AIDS. Documentation of the disability may be required and the costs of anyspecific tests fall in most cases to the students.Prior to placement, students who are requesting special consideration oraccommodations concerning their placement are expected to discuss the nature oftheir disability with the Director of Field Education and the Dean of Students inorder for reasonable accommodations to be identified and recommended.Reasonable accommodations are tools or arrangements that facilitate or enhancethe performance of an individual with a disability and will be discussed with thestudent and field instructor. Reasonable accommodations do not necessarilymean extraordinary accommodations.In placing students with disabilities, their acceptance of their own disability/disabilities; clients'willingness to accept disabilities; and the ability of the field instructor and agency staff to respond tothe student's needs are considered in matching students with agencies. Students with disabilitiesare expected to meet the same educational standards and requirements for competent social workpractice as required for all students.Additional SSA Procedures1. All students registered for fieldwork in the School of Social Work are covered by theUniversity’s malpractice insurance.2. The field placements ordinarily run concurrently with the classroom courses.3. Students must complete all required core level courses prior to their second year fieldplacement4. Satisfactory completion of field hours, field seminars, and reflection logs is required of allcandidates for the Master's degree.5. Unless other arrangements are made by the agency and the school, students follow theworkday of the agency for starting and finishing time, and lunch hours.6. Travel to an agency may require additional transportation time and is the responsibility ofthe student.