Access & Accommodation
Academy Di Capelli provides academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities, in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Many students have disabilities that are not easily noticed. In accordance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), Academy Di Capelli (ADC) must provide academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities that are necessary to ensure students are not denied the benefits of, or excluded from participation in, ADC's program.
ADC must make modifications to its academic requirements that are necessary to ensure the requirements do not discriminate against students with disabilities. ADC must ensure that it provides physical access to students with disabilities, and permits students with disabilities to use service dogs on each campus.
When a student informs an ADC staff member that the student is disabled, or needs accommodations or assistance due to disability, the staff member will refer the student to ADC's ADA Compliance Coordinator. The Disability Intake Form must be filled out.
⬇ Download the Disability Intake FormPDF · Complete and return to the ADA Compliance CoordinatorAn "individual with a disability" is a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Individuals with a record of such an impairment, and individuals who are regarded as having such an impairment, are also protected by these federal laws.
Any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more body systems: neurological, musculoskeletal, special sense organs, respiratory (including speech organs), cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, genito-urinary, hemic and lymphatic, skin, and endocrine.
Any mental or psychological disorder, including but not limited to intellectual disability, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, specific learning disabilities, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and bipolar disorder. The phrase "substantially limits" must be interpreted without regard to the ameliorative effects of mitigating measures, other than ordinary eyeglasses or contact lenses. Mitigating measures — such as medications, prosthetic or assistive devices, or learned behavioral or adaptive neurological modifications — cannot be considered when determining whether a person has a substantially limiting impairment. An impairment that is episodic or in remission is a disability if, when in an active phase, it would substantially limit a major life activity.
Functions such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working. Major life activities also include major bodily functions such as functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, and digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions.
Students with disabilities who wish to request reasonable accommodations (including academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, or modifications) must contact the ADA Compliance Coordinator. It is the student's responsibility to self-disclose and provide appropriate documentation. Students who plan to request accommodations should contact the Coordinator promptly, so there is time to review the student's documentation and discuss accommodations before the student begins the class or program for which the accommodation is being requested.
When a student contacts the Coordinator, the Coordinator will keep a record of the dates and contacts with the student, including a record of the accommodations requested. Students who have questions about the type of documentation they need should contact the Coordinator to discuss.
Students must provide documentation of disability from an appropriate professional, depending on the nature of the disability. This may be existing medical records; reports created by a medical provider or an appropriate professional who conducts an assessment; past educational records such as reports from teachers or school psychologists; records showing educational history, disability assessment, and prior accommodations; or records from the state department of rehabilitation or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Documentation should be current and relevant — though a recent report is not needed in all cases, as some disabilities are stable lifelong conditions for which historic documentation is sufficient.
Privacy. Documentation of disability is kept at all times in a locked, private file at ADC. To protect privacy, direct access to this documentation is by written consent only. The ADA Compliance Coordinator determines what information needs to be shared with ADC staff, on an "as needed basis," in order to facilitate academic accommodations or other services.
It is up to the ADA Compliance Coordinator to determine what types of accommodation are reasonable and appropriate. Not all accommodations are reasonable, and not all are appropriate.
The Coordinator will consider any past accommodations that have been effective for the student, and will give primary consideration to the type of accommodation requested. Alternate accommodations may be provided if equally effective. ADC is not obligated to provide accommodations that would result in a fundamental alteration of its program or an undue financial or administrative burden. If a requested accommodation might impose such a burden, the Coordinator will discuss the issue with ADC's Administration, who — taking into account ADC's overall financial resources — will make the final decision in accordance with Section 504 and the ADA. If the accommodation is determined to be an undue burden, the Coordinator will promptly search for an equally effective alternate accommodation and offer it to the student.
The Coordinator will list the approved accommodations in writing and provide them to the student, and will inform the appropriate staff of the accommodations they are responsible for providing — how and when to provide them. The Coordinator keeps a written record of these contacts and verifies that accommodations are being implemented through direct observation, student report, and/or staff documentation. If an accommodation is not being fully implemented, the Coordinator will immediately intervene with relevant staff to ensure it is provided.
A student may appeal any accommodation decision made by the ADA Compliance Coordinator. To file an appeal, the student must notify the Director, explain the reasons for disagreeing with the Coordinator's decision (or explain how an accommodation is not being implemented), and submit any relevant documentation.
The Director will meet with the student and the ADA Compliance Coordinator to discuss the issues presented, and, if appropriate, discuss the issues with other ADC staff. The Director will determine whether the Coordinator's decision should be revised or remain the same; if revised, the Director will ensure the revised decision is implemented. Where a student appeals on the basis that an approved accommodation is not being implemented, the Director will determine whether it is being fully implemented and, if not, ensure that it is. The Director will inform the student of the decision in writing after receiving the appeal.
ADC provides a grievance procedure to students who feel they have been discriminated against on the basis of disability. This gives students the opportunity to file a complaint, which ADC will objectively investigate to determine whether discrimination occurred. If ADC determines that discrimination occurred, it will take appropriate steps to correct it and prevent it from reoccurring.
A student may file a grievance if they feel they have been discriminated against because they are disabled, are regarded as disabled, or have a record of being disabled — or if they feel they have been retaliated against for advocacy based on disability.
Filing deadline & format. A student must file a grievance within 90 days of the date the discriminatory act occurred, or within 90 days of the end of an informal attempt to resolve the complaint, whichever is later. The complaint must be written, describing what happened, the dates the acts took place, who was involved, and why the student believes the acts were based on disability, along with copies of any relevant documents or emails if available.
A student may ask the ADA Compliance Coordinator to try to informally resolve the complaint before filing a written complaint, but is not required to attempt informal resolution first. Written complaints must be sent to Michelle Kelley, Director — (203) 294-9496, michelle@academydicapelli.com.
When the Director receives a written complaint, the Director will immediately begin an objective investigation — discussing the allegations with the student, obtaining additional information and the names of persons with relevant information, interviewing staff or students who engaged in or witnessed the actions, and gathering relevant documents such as emails, student work, or instructor's records. During the investigation, the Director discloses the complaint and confidential information only to the extent necessary to investigate.
After reviewing all evidence, the Director will determine whether the student was treated differently based on disability; harassed based on disability; retaliated against for disability-based advocacy; or denied an accommodation ADC should have provided. The Director will provide the student with a written decision stating the determination and the reasons for it. If the Director concludes discrimination occurred, the decision will state the remedial action ADC has taken or will take to correct it, and how ADC will prevent it from occurring again.
Academy Di Capelli — NACCAS accredited · Title IV eligible
East Hartford: 1010 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06108 · (860) 461-0697
Wallingford: 950 Yale Avenue, Unit 20, Wallingford, CT 06492 · (203) 294-9496
admissions@academydicapelli.com