Medical Student Handbook

Medical Student Education

Support for Disabilities: Technical Standards and Provision of Americans with Disabilities Act Accommodations

Policy 310.00

Policy Statement

The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at The University of Vermont is committed to assisting learners with disabilities reach their full potential and succeed in our educational environment. The Technical Standards for Admission, Advancement & Graduation (“Technical Standards”) is made available to all prospective, admitted and current students via the College website and referenced in all admissions marketing materials. Current or prospective students can, at any point, work with UVM Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to confidentially explore eligibility for an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation to meet technical standards and to ensure equal access to education materials and experiences.

All candidates for admission to the Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at The University of Vermont will be considered using established Larner College of Medicine Admissions criteria.

The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at The University of Vermont is committed to protecting the privacy of all learners throughout this process. In addition, early communication with the Office of Medical Education (i.e., curriculum and student support administrators) is essential to a successful partnership in arranging and successfully implementing ADA accommodations.

Policy Elaboration

Process

Step 1: Review Technical Standards for Advancement & Graduation

Upon acceptance to the UVM LCOM, the student is referred to the Larner College of Medicine Technical Standards and will be required to affirm that they can meet the Technical Standards, with or without reasonable accommodation. If a student believes they require accommodations, they must reach out to SAS to schedule a meeting. This initial meeting can occur as soon as they are accepted.

To learn more about disability services and ADA accommodations procedures at UVM LCOM, please visit and review information and resources available on the UVM Student Accessibility Services and Medical Student Accommodations web-page, and/or arrange a confidential intake/informational meeting with the SAS office. Appointments with SAS can take place remotely, via phone, or in person with the SAS Health Sciences Disability Coordinator.

Step 2: Contact UVM Student Accessibility Services (SAS)

An accepted applicant or student in the Larner College of Medicine may contact SAS to initiate the process of requesting reasonable ADA accommodations at any point in order to meet the Technical Standards and to seek clinical site exemptions.

Step 3: Provide documentation of your disability

SAS will work with a student by securing documentation and determining what may constitute reasonable accommodations within the Larner College of Medicine curriculum. For the purpose of determining reasonable accommodations that do not compromise the integrity of the Technical Standards, SAS may at its discretion ask that the accepted applicant or student respond to questions regarding the limitations that affect their ability to meet the technical standards. Students are encouraged to send disability documentation in advance of an intake appointment, however, can also bring documentation to the appointment. Students are encouraged to provide all historical documentation for evaluation. Guidance will be provided regarding the extent and type of documentation needed after an intake appointment. Students who do not have documentation of their condition, and/or who believe they have an undiagnosed condition, should contact SAS for consultation.

Step 4: Determine eligibility and accommodations

SAS will review all requests for ADA accommodations, taking into consideration the information provided during the intake meeting, all disability documentation, and the requirements of the Larner College of Medicine to determine eligibility for services, and, if appropriate, recommend specific accommodations. SAS will work directly with the corresponding curriculum and student support administrators to ensure that the requested accommodations uphold the essential features of the curriculum and technical standards.

Step 5: Accessing accommodations

If a student is eligible for ADA accommodations, they will meet with SAS’ Health Science Disability Coordinator to review policies and procedures regarding the provision of accommodations. SAS will provide the student with a copy of their accommodation letter that describes their eligibility for services. Once the student receives an accommodation letter from SAS, they must submit this document to the Office of Medical Education’s Director of Academic Achievement, or as otherwise instructed by SAS. The Office of Medical Education will confirm receipt of the letter and provide the student with any required next steps for formal implementation.

It is the student’s responsibility to proactively follow up with SAS and the Director of Academic Achievement to ensure that the most current accommodation letter has A) been received by the Office of Medical Education and B) is being implemented accordingly for current and upcoming curricular levels, and that C) any necessary implementation plans are finalized. Further, it is the student’s responsibility to follow any written implementation instructions, or “next steps” provided by Office of Medical Education staff. Any concerns related to implementation of an ADA accommodation should be reported to SAS, the Director of Academic Achievement, and the Associate Dean for Students in a timely manner.

If the recommended accommodations cannot be provided, the student may appeal the decision through SAS and/or discuss with an Associate/Assistant Dean for Students.

ADA accommodations are approved after SAS’ thoughtful analysis of the student’s disability-related needs, the university’s programs and curricula, and the university’s legal obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The intent of all reasonable accommodations is to provide students with disabilities equal opportunity; not to lessen or undermine academic standards. The interactive process for determining “reasonable accommodations” for medical students is outlined in the flowchart included below.

Applicability of the Policy

All Medical Students and Applicants

Related Larner College of Medicine Policies

• 130.00 Competencies and Medical Education Programmatic Objectives
• 300.00 Technical Standards for Admission, Advancement & Graduation
• 560.00 Satisfactory Academic Progress
• 565.10 Advancement Committee Procedure and Review of Academic Performance
  
• 565.20 Review of Academic Performance: Foundations Level
• 565.30 Review of Academic Performance: Clerkship Level
• 565.40 Review of Academic Performance: Advanced Integration Level
• 610.00 Statement on Medical Professionalism
• 610.10 The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont Tenets of Professionalism
• 620.00 Student Honor Code
• 625.00 Policy on Standards for Professional Code of Conduct
• 630.00 Positive Learning Environment and Mistreatment Prevention Policy
• 690.10 Fitness Committee Procedure and Review of Professional Performance

Related University of Vermont Policies

• 2.7.8 Code of Academic Integrity
• 1.6.1 Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards
• 2.8.8 Code of Students Rights and Responsibilities 
• 2.13.2 Disability Certification, Accommodation and Support - Students
• 4.30.1 Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct 
• 7.4.11 Equal Opportunity in Educational Programs and Activities and Non-Harassment
• UOP53 Handling and Resolving Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Complaints
• UOP62 Hearing Procedures for Title IX Offenses Involving Student Respondents
• UOP55 Process for Resolution of Academic Accommodations 
• UOP36 Service and Emotional Support Animals

Related Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) Standard(s)

• 10.5 Technical Standards
• 11.0 Medical Student Academic Support, Career Advising, and Educational Records

History

• 5/12/2015 Policy Adopted/Affirmed [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 12/8/2015 Policy Revised [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 8/3/2016 Policy Edit (ACCESS changed to SAS) [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 12/20/2016 Policy Revised [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 3/21/2017 Policy Revised [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 12/15/2018 Policy Revised [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 3/17/2020 Reformatted [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 8/6/2020 Policy Edit [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 2/16/2021 Policy Edit [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 9/21/2021 Policy Edit [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 9/20/2022 Policy Revision [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 9/18/2023 Policy Revision [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 12/19/2023 Policy Edit [Medical Curriculum Committee]

Policy Oversight

Associate Dean for Admissions pre-matriculation; Associate/Assistant Dean for Students post-matriculation (Director of Academic Achievement)

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