Academic Support Services

Services for Students with Disabilities

Disability Related Resources  - Links to useful external websites



While Reed academics are admittedly challenging, the college's tradition of extensive use of the conference system, small classes, faculty interaction and personal attention strives to provide a positive educational environment for all students. Reed is committed to providing equality of opportunity and meaningful access for all qualified students.

Services Provided

Reed College's approach to providing services for students with disabilities is highly individualized. Upon receipt of a request for services and the appropriate documentation, student services works with the student to provide or establish the most suitable and reasonable accommodations or services given the context of a particular class, professor's pedagogy, or area of campus. Typical services have included:

  • arrangements for priority seating, interpreters, taped class materials, readers, specialized tutoring, organizational coaching, or note-takers;
  • access to adaptive equipment and auxiliary aids, academic and personal counseling;
  • referral to community resources, or off-campus testing and diagnosis specialists;
  • ongoing and timely communication with faculty members about academic adjustments or alternative ways of fulfilling course requirements;
  • coordination with student's referring disability specialist; and
  • advocacy and adjustments for a barrier-free environment when reasonable.

Campus Facilities

Reed's academic buildings are clustered compactly on a relatively flat terrain. Classrooms are generally small and accessible, and the three largest lecture halls are wired with assistive listening devices. Accessible public transportation serves the Portland metropolitan area and has bus stops at the edge of campus.

Although living on campus is not required, more than 70% of Reed students choose to do so. Seven residence halls are fully accessible/ADA compliant and five have been renovated to accommodate students with physical challenges. Special needs and requests for services should be brought to the attention of the office of Residence Life prior to housing assignment.

Student Responsibilities

Although Reed offers services to assist students with disabilities, students are responsible for contacting the disabilities office with their request and providing the necessary documentation in a timely manner.

Each student with a disability who would like to receive accommodations has the responsibility to:

  • request the accommodations and provide appropriate disability documentation:
  • meet with student services each semester regarding approved academic adjustments or other accommodation needs;
  • talk with your adviser and professors about in class accommodations; and
  • inform student services of disability-related barriers to a successful education and participation in community standards at Reed College.

Lily Copenagle, Interim Associate Dean of Student Services, coordinates academic support services and accommodations for students with specialized needs. She acts as a liaison to the faculty and offers personal assistance to students with disability-related questions and concerns.

For more information about disability services at Reed College, to receive a copy of the college's Services for Students with Disabilities Documentation Guidelines, or to disclose a disability and/or seek accommodation, please contact:

 

Libby Rapkoch, Psy. D., Learning Resources Director 503/517-7921

Lily Copenagle, Ph.D., Interim Associate Dean of Student Services 503/517-7916

Reed College, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd., Portland, OR 97202; Fax 503/777-7225

Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students: It has been the historic practice at Reed College to admit students of any race, color, religion, sex, national and ethnic origin, and without regard to disabilities, veteran's status, or any other unlawful basis, nor upon sexual orientation, gender identity or political beliefs, to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Reed does not consider any of the above attributes in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarships and loan program, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Pursuant to Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the 1972 educational amendment, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, equal opportunity is national policy. Inquiries on the application of Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504 may be made to Edwin O. McFarlane, Reed College, or the director of the Office for Civil Rights.