Housing accommodations
Residential Life coordinates accommodations for students with special needs in their living spaces, including emotional support animals. The office is in Andreen Hall and is open from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Housing Accommodations are provided for students with diagnosed disabilities. Students are required to provide documentation verifying that they have a diagnosed disorder that meets the legal definition of a disability covered under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. These laws define a disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Accommodations are intended to be outcome neutral.
Housing accommodations address significant barriers preventing a student from accessing housing equitably. Not all conditions qualify as disabilities under the ADA. The diagnosis of a medical/psychological condition or a physician's/therapist's recommendation does not automatically qualify a student for disability-related housing accommodations.
Types of accommodations
Accommodations are in place to ensure that students with disabilities or other needs are able to participate equally in the residential environment. Examples of housing accommodations include air conditioning, ground-level or elevator access rooms, non-lofted beds, non-communal bathrooms, smoke detectors with strobes, or single bedrooms. Requests for specific housing assignments are not generally accommodations that are granted. For instance, requests for students’ housing such as living with a particular roommate, living in a particular room or building, religious practices, proximity to academic/campus buildings (unless impacted by mobility), or a desire for a quiet/undisturbed place to study, are typically considered housing preferences and not accommodations. Students with approved housing accommodations are encouraged to remember that having an approved housing accommodation does not guarantee preferred housing placements.
Students who have temporary medical conditions (such as injuries) may impact a student’s ability to live comfortably in certain residential spaces. Any student with a temporary condition who may need adaptations to their housing assignment is encouraged to contact Residential Life to explore their options. The availability of temporary housing adaptations is not guaranteed.
Accommodations process
The deadline for requesting housing accommodations is below:
- Returning students: March 21, 2025
- New students: June 30, 2025
The Office of Residential Life will make a good faith effort to provide reasonable accommodations for applications submitted after the deadline, however, the ability to accommodate requests received after these dates is limited. In situations where Residential Life is unable to grant a late accommodation request, the student will be placed on a waiting list until a suitable arrangement becomes available. Students who experience a disabling condition after these deadlines may still request an accommodation and should contact the Office of Residential Life.
Note: Returning students do not need to submit a new accommodation request each year unless their needs have changed.
Applying for Housing Accommodations is a three-step process. You must complete all three steps for your request to be complete.
- Complete an online Housing Accommodation Application.
- Submit the Housing Accommodation Documentation Form. The form will be emailed to the student within 48 business hours of submitting step 1 and must be filled out by a medical professional. This documentation and all relevant information must be provided by the student’s physician, psychologist, rehabilitation counselor, social worker or any qualified licensed or certified health care professional able to assess the disability. If a student seeks accommodations related to more than one disability, more than one professional may need to be involved in providing documentation.
- Intake meeting (if applicable). After both your application and documentation form are received, staff will review it and may request an intake meeting. The intake meeting allows us to discuss your disability and what accommodations and other supports we can put in place to assist you.
All disability information submitted will not become part of the student’s educational records. It will be kept in the student’s file within the Office of Residential Life, where it will be protected by confidentiality requirements. The records may be released to the student at their request.
All accommodation requests will be reviewed on an individual basis.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What if I have an accommodation request related to my academic needs?
A: Students who are seeking academic accommodations are encouraged to work with the Office of Disability Services.
Q: When should I submit my accommodation request?
A: Housing accommodation requests for the next academic year must be submitted by March 21st (returning students) or June 30th (new students).
Q: Do I need to resubmit my documentation each year?
A: No. Students do not need to submit a new accommodation request each year unless their needs have changed.
Q: Can I request a specific building?
A: A request should not name a specific building but rather describe an environment necessary for accommodating the student's needs. Approved housing accommodations can usually be provided in a variety of locations. Residential Life will work to ensure a placement that best meets the approved accommodation(s).
Q: Can I request a room with air-conditioning?
A: Requests for air-conditioning accommodations due to allergies or asthma are carefully considered for students whose conditions are documented by a qualified medical provider as causing a substantial impact on daily functioning. Mild allergies that do not substantially limit major life activities would not typically qualify for this accommodation.
Q: Can I request a single bedroom?
A: Single rooms are provided as a disability accommodation only when medical documentation indicates a significant access barrier requiring a private space. For example, a student who needs extra space to utilize specialized medical equipment may need a single room. This is an access need because, without extra space to utilize medical equipment, the student would not be able to participate equitably in the residential experience.
Q: Can I request an accommodation for a quiet space to study?
A: Student housing is designed to be a living space. Due to the number of people who live in close proximity, Residential Life can’t ensure students a quiet, distraction-free space in campus housing. Tools like noise-canceling headphones, white noise devices, or phone apps can help block distracting sounds for those who wish to study in the residence hall. There are also plenty of quiet study locations across campus outside of the residence halls.
Q: Can I request an accommodation for a single room to decompress?
A: Having a diagnosis of anxiety or depression generally does not rise to the level of being a disability that requires a single room to remove barriers related to access. The campus can provide students spaces to decompress, unwind, or process their emotions, other than the room where they sleep. Here are some ideas:
- Enjoy solitary walks on campus grounds
- Find a private nook in the library or other academic buildings
- Relax beside the Slough
- Make use of the Meditation Room in Lindberg or the Chapel in Bahls
- Use a white noise machine, phone app, or headphones to help block out extraneous sounds
- Talk with your Community Advisor for guidance on conversation starters and boundary setting with roommates
Q: What if I need to have control over my space?
A: In the standard shared residence, students are assigned their own bed, dresser, closet, and desk. When it comes to issues like quiet hours, noise levels, visitors, cleaning responsibilities, etc., living with a roommate can help students learn essential skills like communication, compromise, and respect for others' boundaries. However, these may be new skills for many students who have never had to share a room. Policies for behavior are listed in the Residential Handbook and community advisors are available to students who need assistance with negotiating communal living concerns.
Contacts
Contact Amanda Tumbarello, Assistant Director of Residential Life, 309-794-2686; fax 309-794-7152.
By mail: Attn. Amanda Tumbarello, 639 38th St., Rock Island, Ill. 61201.