Accessibility Resource CenterWaseda University

Information by Visitor

For Students with Disabilities
-Students with disabilities applying for academic accommodation

We provide students with necessary and reasonable accommodation for learning in accordance with the “Basic principles of Waseda University in relation to the support of students with disabilities.”

If you need “Reasonable Accommodation”(accommodations for learning due to a disability), please apply following the guide below.

Application procedures for "Reasonable Accommodation"

Eligible students

Eligible students fall under both of the following (1) and (2). 

(1) They have physical, developmental, mental or any other physical or mental functional disabilities which substantially limit their daily and/or social life. 

(2) They would like reasonable accommodation for learning. 

*If pursuit of your studies in itself is making you unwell, or you are unable to continue attending school simultaneously with medical treatment, etc., you should consult your doctor and prioritize medical treatment and rest. 
If the university does not think that you are in a condition to pursue your studies, we will hold an interview and postpone the arrangement for reasonable accommodation. 

Application documents

(1) Medical certificate (*) or copy of disability certificate 

(2) Document demonstrating the circumstances of your disability () (If available at the time of application) 

 

*If a diagnosis has not been confirmed (even if there is a medical certificate, it mentions a “tendency,” “appearance” or “suspected” condition), or if it is difficult to obtain a medical certificate, the university will begin by confirming your circumstances. Please do not fill out the application form, but contact the ARC External Reception Desk. 

*If the medical certificate provided cannot be used to confirm current circumstances at the time of application, you may be asked to obtain a medical certificate again. 

What is a document showing the circumstances of disability? 

It is a document in which your doctor writes the details of the circumstances of your disability, such as test findings, medical findings, or the doctor’s written opinion  (in the format prescribed by the university, provided to you after you apply), which are not written in the medical certificate or the disability certificate. 

*Please attach this document if it is available at the time of application. If you need to submit your application but this document is not available, we will contact you after you apply. Please follow the guide provided and prepare the necessary documents. 

*Since mental disabilities tend to change their pattern of symptoms, you will need to submit a written opinion from your doctor every semester. 

Application method

Application Form for Reasonable Accommodation

If you meet (1) and (2), please apply using the “Application Form for Reasonable Accommodation”.

(1)A copy of the medical certificate or disability certificate can be submitted.
(2)If the name of the disability is confirmed (the description on the medical certificate is other than “tendency,” “appearance” or “suspected” condition)

[For new students]

New students will not be able to complete the application form until they have obtained a WASEDA email address. The contents of the application form will be sent to you separately by e-mail, etc. Please contact the ARC first after you have been admitted.

ARC External Reception Desk

[In case the name of the disability is not yet determined or it is difficult to obtain a medical certificate]

If a diagnosis has not been confirmed (even if there is a medical certificate, it mentions a “tendency,” “appearance” or “suspected” condition), or if it is difficult to obtain a medical certificate, the university will begin by confirming your circumstances. Please do not fill out the application form, but contact the ARC External Reception Desk.

ARC External Reception Desk Contact Info

TEL:03-4560-6730

Online Reception Form

Application deadline

If you would like reasonable accommodation, you need to apply every semester. 

The application deadline for each semester is March 10 for the spring semester and September 10 for the fall semester. 

 

*Applications will also be accepted if accommodation is required after the deadline, but it will take one to two months for accommodations to begin (i.e., for each teacher to receive a written request for academic accommodations). You cannot receive the accommodation retroactively, so please apply with ample time. Arrangement for applications submitted after June 1 for the spring semester or December 1 for the fall semester will be made for the next semester. 

*If you have difficulty in learning due to a temporary injury, please discuss this with the ARC separately. 

*The same deadline applies to new students. Please note that if your acceptance is announced after the application deadline, please apply and inquire promptly after completing the enrollment procedures.

Steps for provision of reasonable accommodation

(1) Application (filling out the application form) 

(2) Interview

A draft of accommodations will be created based on the content discussed at the interview. ARC will contact you about the date and time of the interview after you apply. 

(3) Review of draft of accommodations

The content of the draft of accommodations will be reviewed at your home department or graduate school. 

(4) Determination of accommodations (approval of accommodations and subjects eligible for accommodation) 

Applicants will receive a notice requesting their consent and should consent to this. 

(5) Distribution of written requests for reasonable accommodation

These are distributed to instructors in charge of classes from their home departments and graduate school offices. 

(6) Consultation on implementation

*Please consult with the instructors in charge on how to implement the accommodations described in (5).

*(5) does not mean that accommodations are automatically implemented. Applicants themselves should consult with instructors.

Other points to consider

ARC will interview you after you apply. After that, the content of accommodations will be determined after review at the place of implementation of reasonable accommodations (the home department or graduate school). Desired accommodations cannot be implemented in some cases. 

Accommodations that are equivalent to a change in the essence of learning, have a low degree of feasibility, are not the primary business of the university, or have a significant impact on other students fall outside the scope of reasonable accommodations. 

[Specific examples likely not to fall under reasonable accommodations] 

In the assessment of grades, changing assessment criteria or lowering the criteria for passing 

Passing a class even though the educational goal originally required in the class has not been achieved 

Treating absences from class as attendance 

Requesting retroactive response and accommodations for a time prior to the distribution of written requests for academic accommodation 

Arrangement and implementation of reasonable accommodations without a period for preparation, or in a short time 

Implementation of renovation work in a short period of time, disregarding financial affairs and financial planning 

Changing the way classes are conducted so as to significantly impair learning opportunities for other students 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Applications will also be accepted if accommodation is required after the deadline, but it will take one to two months for accommodations to begin (i.e., for each teacher to receive a reasonable accommodation request document), so please apply with ample time.
*Reasonable accommodations cannot be provided retroactively prior to the distribution of the reasonable accommodation request document.

After applying for reasonable accommodation, an assessment (interview and review of documents) is first conducted. At that time, you will be asked to submit any required documents that are incomplete.
*The assessment checks the following points, not from the viewpoint of whether the desired accommodation can be given, but from the viewpoint of the root cause of the difficulty and what is needed to resolve it.
・Are the academic difficulties caused by the disability?
・Are there issues that can be solved by self-coping or devising solutions?
・Is it likely that requesting reasonable accommodation from each teacher in charge of the class will improve the difficulty?
・Are the details of the reasonable accommodations considered to be a change in the essence of learning (achievement objectives and assessment criteria) or to be an excessive burden?

If the results of the assessment indicate that reasonable accommodation is appropriate, the proposal for reasonable accommodation prepared by the ARC will be shared with student’s home department or graduate school, which will make the final decision.
After that, a reasonable accommodation request document will be distributed to teachers in charge of classes, but this does not mean that reasonable accommodation will automatically be implemented after the document is distributed. The applicant must consult with the teachers in charge about the specific method of implementation.

Since reasonable accommodation is implemented through this process, it takes time from application to implementation, even if the university was able to respond as quickly as possible.

The details of reasonable accommodation will be considered to the extent that it does not change the essence of learning (achievement objectives and assessment criteria). Therefore, it is not possible to change the assessment criteria, for example, substituting a report for a missed exam. In addition, it does not give you credit for doing something that you did not do, so missed classes cannot be treated as attendance.
If pursuit of your studies in itself is making you unwell, or you are unable to continue attending school simultaneously with medical treatment, etc., you should consult your doctor and prioritize medical treatment and rest.
If the university does not think that you are in a condition to pursue your studies, we will hold an interview and may postpone the arrangement for reasonable accommodation.

The assessment criteria cannot be changed, such as considering alternative measures for an examination under reasonable accommodation. In addition, it is not possible to request for accommodation after the fact, as it is not possible to provide retroactive responses.
Please note that depending on the decision of your department or graduate school, you may be allowed to take a make-up exam depending on the reason for your absence. For details on make-up exams, please check the website of your home department or graduate school.
I couldn’t take the exam for proper reason. – Support Anywhere

Reasonable accommodation is provided to students with disabilities, etc.; therefore, students are not eligible to receive it at the stage where the cause is unknown.
You may consult with the Student Counseling Room if you would like to discuss or deepen your own understanding about the cause of your difficulties.
[Student Counseling Room website]
Student Counseling Room – Health Support Center, Waseda University

Also, please consider consulting a medical institution if you would like to discuss the cause of your academic difficulties from a medical standpoint.

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