Lincoln Christian University accepts students who meet its admission requirements without regard to disability. Reasonable accommodations are provided for all students with special needs who self-disclose sufficiently in advance and who provide official documentation of that special need.
Resources for Students with Disabilities
To inquire about disability accommodations, Email Director of Academics & Student Services, Sarah Farwell
In higher education, the student is responsible for disclosing and advocating for their needs. At Lincoln Christian University, the Academic Resource Center (ARC) serves as a resource to help students advocate their needs and provide additional support as needed. LCU provides reasonable accommodations in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). LCU strives to connect students to other support organizations that might be able to provide resources that the school cannot.
Student FAQs
Do I have to disclose my disability to anyone at LCU?
You are not required to disclose your disability to anyone at LCU. However, you cannot receive accommodations without disclosing your disability through the disability coordinator. You must also provide documentation of your disability. Your information will only be shared with relevant LCU faculty and staff on a need-to-know basis. Accommodations cannot be provided retroactively to work completed before you were approved for accommodations.
What is the accommodation request process?
Any student in need of accommodations must submit the necessary form(s) and documentation to the disability coordinator. After this request is made, the disability coordinator will meet with the student (either in person or through technology) and discuss what accommodations will help the student succeed and their class schedule. After this, the student will receive an e-mail outlining any policies related to their accommodations and notification that their professors have been contacted with information about student accommodations.
Each semester after the request, students will be sent a survey to use to request accommodations for the next semester. Since some accommodations, like alternate forms of text, require time to put into place, some students may also receive additional communication from the disability coordinator about their accommodations throughout the year.
When should I submit documentation? What counts as documentation?
Documentation can be submitted at any time. Students are encouraged to submit documentation as soon as they know they will be attending classes at LCU.
Submit documentation to LCU by:
- Email Director of Academics & Student Services, Sarah Farwell
- Mail:
Lincoln Christian University
ATTN: Disability Coordinator
100 Campus View Drive
Lincoln, IL 62656 - Bringing your documentation to Restoration Hall, Office R29.
Types of documentation that may be helpful include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Educational, psychological, or medical records
Reports and assessments created by healthcare providers, psychologists, or the educational system (e.g., a psychoeducational evaluation) - Documents that reflect education and accommodation history, such as an Individual Education Program (IEP), Summary of Performance (SOP), and teacher observations
What are some of the accommodations LCU offers?
Accommodations and services are provided on a course by course and case by case basis. Therefore, each student may receive different accommodations based upon their specific needs. The most common academic accommodations are: extra time on exams, text in alternate formats, writing support, and organizational support.
Students work one-on-one with the Disability Coordinator to determine what accommodations will be the most appropriate and effective for each semester.
Is it ever too late to request accommodations?
No, it is never too late. However, accommodations cannot be applied retroactively, so the sooner documentation is submitted, the better.
At my high school, I received different or more accommodations, why is there such a difference in services between high school and college?
The requirements under the laws governing public education access (high school) and higher education differ greatly. As a result, accommodations and services may be different in college than they were in high school.
For more in-depth information about these differences, refer to the U.S. Department of Education’s document: “Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know your Rights and Responsibilities.”
Do I have to use my accommodations in every class?
At the beginning of every semester, students with documentation on file are sent a form to complete asking for classes and the accommodations needed in those classes. After completing this form, the Disability Coordinator e-mails this information out to professors.
Students may choose to utilize their accommodations differently depending on course requirements and components. For example, a student may have an accommodation for extra paper on an exam, but if the exam is online, then the paper is not needed. The choice and responsibility to ask for accommodations is up to the student.
Since accommodations cannot be applied retroactively, if a student chooses not to use an accommodation in a class, then that student will not be given the opportunity to retake exams or make-up assignments with the accommodation at a later date.
What can I do to help myself succeed once I start classes at LCU?
The main thing that students struggle with at the beginning of their college experience is advocating for themselves. Students are expected to communicate when an accommodation isn’t working or when they need an accommodation. The best thing you can do to help yourself succeed is to start practicing these skills now. For example, write an introductory e-mail to your future professors where you introduce yourself and share how accommodations can help you learn.