Assistance with Disabilities

Notice of Non-Discrimination: VCOM does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, ethnicity, sex, religion or age. Students must meet certain minimal technical standards to be successful in the curriculum and to practice medicine safely and competently. Students who, with assistance, can meet the technical standards to be successful in the VCOM curriculum and to safely and competently practice medicine are considered for admission. VCOM recognizes that there are varying levels of disability and needs and is committed to supporting those with disabilities who, with assistance, can meet the technical standards. VCOM assures that no adverse view of the application will be made if accommodations are required. VCOM asks that each student provide the College with information in advance of matriculation so that assistance may be provided where necessary. Verification by a health professional of disabilities that require accommodations is required with assurance that the student can meet the standards when accommodation is made. VCOM may require additional professional testing, at the applicant’s expense, prior to matriculation, to assure the student meets technical standards with accommodations and that all appropriate accommodations can be made in a timely manner. Students who have had prior documented disabilities that required accommodation or that are in question of needing accommodation, must notify the Office of Admissions in advance so that these processes may be in place. Each student is accommodated individually based upon the disability and the ability to meet technical standards with reasonable accommodations.

Requesting Assistance as an Applicant: Additional special learning needs for applicants should be discussed with the Associate Vice President for Student Services. VCOM makes reasonable accommodations including seating arrangement adjustments, visual or auditory aids, and other classroom or learning needs. A letter from a health professional verifying the need is generally required. Examples of assistance include: Wireless auditory assists for each classroom; a curriculum that is provided visually online and verbally in the classroom so that various learning styles may be met; extended test taking times are given for every exam extending up to twice the normal time for national board test items; and all test taking environments at VCOM are quiet and monitored so as to be free from distraction and noise. If you have questions regarding VCOM's assistance for a specific disability, please contact the Associate Vice President for Student Services.

VCOM is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to make students with disabilities (who meet the technical standards) successful. Please see Technical Standards section. Applicants should question the Assistant Vice President for Student Services in advance on the many types of accommodations that might be needed for a student to succeed.

Requesting Assistance for Currently Enrolled Students:

Students who develop a disability while enrolled who need accommodations should contact the Associate Dean for Medical Education and/or the Associate Vice President for Student Services. VCOM is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to make students with disabilities (who meet the technical standards) successful.

Students are requested to notify VCOM of any disability as an applicant, or that is developed after admission immediately so that accommodations may be made prior to or during the first months of school. Notification after failures will not result in an alteration in the grade.

If a student has a difficulty with the facility: The Chief Operating Officer should be contacted. The entire building was designed to accommodate those with disabilities and meets American with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines.

Documenting a Disability: Students who are seeking accommodations must submit documentation to verify the existence of disabilities. The purpose of the documentation is to determine eligibility for academic accommodation(s) and the type of accommodation(s) VCOM can reasonably provide. Eligibility to receive accommodations under applicable laws is based upon the existence of a disability that currently substantially limits a major life activity, especially learning.

The following guidelines assure that the documentation verifies eligibility and adequately supports request for reasonable accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids. The Associate Vice President for Student Services coordinates student accommodations for disabilities and may be contacted through the 540-231-4000 number (follow the phone tree).

Documentation of a specific disability should be comprehensive and should include a diagnostic interview, an examination by a licensed physician and clinician experienced in that disability, any applicable ICD-9 or DSM-IV code,. all test scores, assessment data and laboratory or diagnostic results, MUST be included. The assessment or evaluation should provide a clearly stated diagnosis and clear accommodations that would improve the student’s performance in a medical school program. Students must also have a signed statement from the specialist evaluating the student that verifies they have read the VCOM Technical Standards and that the student will meet the Technical Standards with reasonable accommodations and will not be a risk to future patients.
An individualized Education Plan or a 504 Plan developed at another time or for another school, even if it is for the condition reported, is inadequate documentation for a medical disability; however, it can be provided as a supplement to documentation.
Clinical specialists in the area of disability should provide all assessments, interviews and diagnoses. (Example: A written note on a prescription pad or summary statement is not considered adequate documentation of a disability.)
The diagnostic interview must include presenting problems, developmental, medical and psychosocial histories, family history and discussions of dual diagnoses where indicated.
Testing must be current and completed when the student is an adult. Because the provision of reasonable accommodations is based upon An assessment of the disability on current medical school academic programs, recent documentation and appropriate evaluations are required. Functional limitations should address the students performance in an environment specific to an osteopathic medical school.
The documentation should provide clear and specific evidence of the presence of a disability. Chronic medical conditions alone (depression or diabetes) do not constitute a disability. Acute conditions might lead to limitations that could be considered disabilities. The diagnosis should be in direct language and avoid such terms as “suggests” or “is indicative of.” If a disability is not present, that should be clearly stated in the report.
The diagnostic summary should define the disability, rule out alternative explanations for academic problems and suggest reasonable accommodations with reasons for the specific disability. Each accommodation recommended by the evaluator must include a rationale.
Reports should be legible, i.e., they should be typed in a readable font on unblemished paper. Reports in digital format are not acceptable.

If a student requires special assistance not listed above: Students should meet with the Associate Vice President for Student Services. A contract exists with a primary care practice to assist with meeting health care needs, and minimum co-pay is required for an appointment. The College holds a contract with an outside counseling service for free and confidential counseling. The Associate Vice President for Student Services will make arrangements with the best resources available to the student from the community or College resources.

All students who request accommodations or assistance due to a disability: Students must supply a verification of the disability from their health care professional and must provide a waiver that allows VCOM administration and the health care provider to discuss the accommodations needed. In the case that the College requests a second opinion, students may be required to have an independent evaluation for the disability at VCOM’s request from an unbiased third party health provider. Students should be familiar with VCOM’s technical standards and the accommodations that are already provided. Students are not compared with other students in their performance within VCOM but instead are evaluated as to the ability to gain the minimal amount of knowledge and perform the clinical skills necessary to practice safely and competently as a physician.

Any student who experiences difficulty obtaining an accommodation for a disability: Students should first contact the Director for Human Resources with a specific request regarding a disability that is not currently being met or if they feel they are being discriminated against in any way to begin the resolution process. Please refer to the Grievance Procedures section of VCOM’s website at www.vcom.vt.edu or Catalog/Handbook which describes the Resolution and Grievance Procedure. VCOM seeks to accommodate those with a disability wherever possible. VCOM supports non-discrimination on the basis of gender, age, religion, national origin, color, or race. Therefore it is generally true that difficulties can be resolved through the resolution process.

All individuals listed above may be contacted at 2265 Kraft Drive; Blacksburg, VA 24060, phone: 540-231-4000, Fax: 540-231-5252.

VCOM College Catalog

Assistance with Disabilities