Truman recognizes the importance of providing reasonable accommodations in its housing policies and practices where necessary for individuals with disabilities to use and enjoy University housing.
Please be advised that requests for particular housing assignments/living environments based on a student’s preference, rather than need, will not be honored. (For example: A student with ADHD or anxiety seeking a single room to serve as a quiet, undisturbed place to study represents a preference, but not a necessity.) Accordingly, single/private room accommodations are reserved for individuals with documented and substantiated needs, and for whom a standard housing assignment with a roommate is not viable.
Please note that by virtue of the shared facilities, resources, and number of people living under one roof in the residence halls, a single room will not necessarily provide a quieter, more distraction-free space than a standard shared room.
In order to request housing accommodations for the residence halls on-campus, a student will need to submit official documentation from his/her appropriately qualified healthcare professional to the Student Access and Disability Services Office. For psychological diagnoses, the documentation should include an evaluation by an appropriately licensed professional (psychiatrist, licensed psychologist, neurologist) with expertise and training in psychiatric diagnosis. Recommended healthcare professionals for medical diagnoses include physicians, nurse practitioners, surgeons, orthopedic or other specialists as appropriate for the specific condition. Decisions will be made and the student notified prior to the upcoming August of each school year.
The documentation will need to be on the healthcare professional’s letterhead and should provide specifics about the student’s health/situation including his/her diagnosis, a description of the symptoms that interfere with his/her daily living/educational experience, accommodations that the healthcare professional is recommending, and a rationale for each of the recommended accommodations. This information is required in order for the Disability Services Office to make a determination regarding appropriate accommodations, if applicable. The healthcare professional must sign this documentation. The documentation can be submitted to the OSA via regular mail, email or fax. Students will receive a confirmation email once the OSA has received their documentation.
For more details regarding the information that is required in the healthcare professional’s documentation, please see the “Applying for Services” section of this website.
Housing accommodations are only valid for one academic year (expiring each July) – students must apply each year to have their accommodations approved for an another academic year. Previously approved students will need to submit all new documentation with their renewal request.
If you have questions not answer by the website, please email the OSA Director.
Air Conditioning
When submitting your air conditioning request, please ensure your documentation to upload is complete:
- Documentation is on physician letterhead signed by the physician
- Includes your NAME, DOB, and states that the student has a DISABILITY (the diagnosis included also) that require the necessity of air conditioning
Air Conditioning Request Form >
Emotional Assistance/Support Animals
The University’s Emotional Assistance/Support Animal policy applies only to housing accommodations and is not applicable to University buildings beyond the University owned and operated apartments and residence halls. Emotional assistance/support animals are not generally allowed in classrooms or other university buildings (non-residence buildings) under housing accommodations.
Emotional Support Animal Procedure >
Other Housing Accommodation Requests
For more details on types of disabilities and documentation required, see “Applying for Services/Accommodations.”