Office of Accessibility Resources and Services

The mission of the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services (OARS) is to pursue ongoing development that provides an accessible university, embraces and celebrates diversity, and ensures those with a disability have equal access and opportunity to the university and its programs.

Students qualify for services through OARS upon self-disclosure of a disability and the presentation of documentation. Reasonable accommodations are arranged on an individual basis through an interactive process to provide students with disabilities equal access to living and learning at Bethel.

Examples of accommodations:

• Extended time for exams and quizzes
• Testing in a reduced distraction location
• Note-taking support 
• Alternative format of texts 
• Sign language interpreters
• Single room housing options

Bethel is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. ADA defines an individual with a disability as "a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. This includes people who have a record of such an impairment, even if they do not currently have a disability. It also includes individuals who do not have a disability but are regarded as having a disability. The ADA also makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person based on that person’s association with a person with a disability."

This includes, but is not limited to:

• ADD/ADHD
• Anxiety
• Blind/Visual Impairment
• Brain Injury
• Chronic Health Condition
• Deaf/Hard of Hearing
• Depression
• Food Allergy
• Learning Disability
• Mobility/Motor Impairment
• Speech Impairment

Students

Do you need to request an accommodation? We work with students with disabilities to eliminate barriers to learning and living within the Bethel community.

Faculty and staff

We are committed to providing resources and information about disability-related needs to our faculty and staff here at Bethel.

Parents

We will work with you and your child by coordinating accommodations, providing disability-specific programming and resources, and providing individual support in an effort to facilitate a smooth transition to Bethel.

Employees

Employees seeking accommodations for a documented diagnosis should contact the Office of People and Culture (people-culture@bethel.edu).

BUILD

The BUILD program is an integrated two-year postsecondary, residential transition program for individuals with intellectual disabilities that provides opportunities for inclusive academic, vocational, residential, spiritual, and social learning experiences.