{"id":3520,"date":"2024-02-15T17:39:10","date_gmt":"2024-02-15T22:39:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/housing\/?page_id=3520"},"modified":"2024-02-15T17:42:14","modified_gmt":"2024-02-15T22:42:14","slug":"ada-housing-faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/housing\/accommodations\/ada-housing-faq\/","title":{"rendered":"ADA Housing Frequently Asked Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the most requested accommodations is a single room. A single room is a disability accommodation only when clinical history and professional documentation clearly demonstrate a history of substantial limitations and provide a rationale that supports the student’s need for a separate living\/sleeping space to be able to access and utilize housing. For example, a student who needs extra space to utilize specialized medical equipment may need extra space or a certain size bathroom that is only available in a single room. This is an access need because, without extra space to utilize medical equipment, the student would not be able to participate equitably in the housing program. Legal precedence shows when a single room is assigned as a disability accommodation to create access, colleges should bill the student at the standard room double rate and not at the private rate.<\/p>\n

ADD, Generalized Anxiety, and Depression are diagnoses commonly presented as reasons a student believes they need a single room. However, these diagnoses rarely present as true barriers to access. Here is some of the reasoning for when a single room may not be determined to be a necessary and reasonable disability accommodation required for access.<\/p>\n

What if my diagnosis means I need a quiet space to study?<\/h3>\n

Residence halls and student housing are designed as living areas. Thus, they do not fall into the category of needing to be quiet study spaces for disabilities that affect focus, concentration, or distractibility. Because of the number of people who live in close proximity, it is not logical to assume that having a private room would provide a quiet, distraction-free space to any appreciable degree beyond living in a standard double room. The campus residential experience extends beyond the sleeping space so there are multiple settings on campus (study rooms in residence halls, computer labs, private library study rooms, outdoor areas, our Rest and Relaxation Room in the Reynolds Center, etc.) that provide quiet and private places where students can study, relax, or be alone. Tools like noise-canceling headphones, white noise devices, or phone apps also can help block distracting sounds.<\/p>\n

What if I need to be alone or have a single room to decompress?<\/h3>\n

Having a diagnosis of anxiety or depression and wanting a private space to be alone or to decompress generally does not rise to the level of having a disability that requires a single room to remove barriers related to access. Students have access to many places on campus and in the community to decompress, unwind, or process their emotions other than the room where they sleep. Here are several ideas:<\/p>\n