Kenyon is committed to ensuring equal access for students with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students who need accommodations and services to support healthy and safe engagement in learning and campus life are encouraged to request reasonable accommodation.

Student Accessibility and Support Services (SASS) coordinates a range of COVID-19-related accommodations and services including:

  • Accommodations and support during remote instruction for students with underlying conditions requiring an alternate to in-person learning
  • Facial covering exceptions and provision of accessible auxiliary aids (e.g. transparent face shields)
  • Accessible technology and software (e.g. Otter AI, Read&Write, CART)

Housing

Because residential campus life goes beyond housing and includes classrooms, dining halls, and community spaces, being anxious about the risk of COVID-19 is not isolated to a residential room.  Returning to campus, during the pandemic, has inherent risks, and if you are an individual with underlying medical issues you may be at risk for more serious COVID19 infections and related complications that cannot not be solely mitigated by a particular accommodation. Therefore, we recommend you consult with your home health provider to make the personal decision to return to campus in Fall 2020.  If you have a confirmed disability due to a medical or behavioral health condition please submit the required program accommodation forms.  It is important to understand that a diagnosis does not equate to a disability and submitting these forms does not guarantee you will receive the requested accommodation.

Emotional Support Animals

Due to COVID-19 developments, the College reserves the right to change these policies and procedures without notice. Students will be asked to maintain appropriate social distancing for their ESAs, including asking others not to pet or hold the animal, as current evidence suggests that dogs and cats can become positive for COVID-19 or carry droplets in their fur from one person to another. The risk to animals appears to be very low, but we encourage ESA owners to protect themselves, their animals, and their peers. Current advice from the CDC and American Veterinary Medical Association suggests that individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 limit contact with their own pets (cats and dogs) and whenever possible, have others provide their care.. If an ESA owner (especially for dogs and cats) tests positive for COVID-19 and is quarantined (and plans to remain on campus), the College reserves the right to ask that the student make immediate arrangements for the care of the animal off-campus.

First-year Students

Your assigned SASS advisor will meet with each student individually following course registration on Aug. 17 to discuss accommodation plans, including disability-related COVID-19 accommodations.

Returning Students Not Registered with SASS

Register for services by completing the Accommodate intake survey. Submit disability verification that meets documentation guidelines and includes an explicit recommendation for COVID-19 accommodations and why they are medically necessary to facilitate equal access to the classroom and/or campus life. Schedule an intake interview with a SASS advisor to discuss your accommodation request(s).

Frequently Asked Questions

If I am a student with an underlying condition, can I attend a class remotely if it is being offered in person?

Kenyon recognizes that students with underlying conditions may benefit from remote instruction to safely engage in learning. Students may request remote instruction as a reasonable accommodation. Alternate arrangements may need to be made in circumstances where remote instruction would result in a fundamental alteration of the course.

I have COVID-19 symptoms and have tested positive. Should I register with SASS?

COVID-19 is typically a short-term temporary illness. You should immediately follow the Kenyon COVID-19 reporting procedures if you are experiencing symptoms or have tested positive. If you are a person that is experiencing long-term and ongoing COVID-19 complications for which reasonable accommodation is needed you are encouraged to register with SASS for services.

Do I have to wear a face covering?

Facial coverings are required as designated by current college policy. Kenyon recognizes that some students may need exceptions due to medical reasons. SASS coordinates facial covering exception accommodations when reasonable and appropriate.

What is SASS doing to ensure facial covering accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing students?

SASS provides transparent face shields to faculty teaching face-to-face courses for deaf and hard of hearing students who have indicated they need full view of the instructor’s face during classroom instruction. Transparent face shields permit lipreading and view of facial expressions. Shields can also be provided for group interaction. We recommend maintaining physical distance at all times when using shields.