Temporary Illness and Injuries

Sometimes when a temporary illness or injury is sufficiently severe, it may be considered a temporary disability. During these situations, the Center for Student Success can work with a student to identify reasonable accommodations.

What qualifies as a temporary disability:

• The temporary impairment caused by an injury or illness is sufficiently severe to substantially limit a major life activity.
• The temporary illness has or will have continued lasting effects beyond two weeks (e.g. post-concussive syndrome or complications due to surgery that cause permanent injury).

Please note that accommodations are not retroactive.

General Process:

1. Reach out directly to professors: Students who have a temporary injury or illness that may impact their academics are encouraged to talk to their instructors prior to contacting the Center for Student Success to identify if the adjustments they need can be coordinated directly with them. Oftentimes, instructors have flexibility embedded in their courses. 
2. Contact the Center for Student Success: If a temporary injury or illness will have significant impacts on functioning they can schedule an appointment (virtual or in person)to discuss eligibility. See below for documentation information.

Concussions

Athletes: Follow the recommendations of your athletic trainer. You may ask for the trainer to directly contact the ADA coordinator regarding next steps. 

Non Athletes: Follow the recommendations of the staff at Priesthill Health Services. You may request that Priesthill Health Services contact the ADA Coordinator if you would like further support from our office. 

The Center for Student Success or the professional on campus who has diagnosed you may then give you a notification letter to give to your Professors upon request. This letter notifies your professor of your injury and makes suggestions of different academic strategies and adjustments they can apply to your courses as needed as you heal. 

If you were diagnosed with a concussion from an outside provider please send documentation to the ADA Coordinator at disabilityservices@covenant.edu if you would need to receive a notification letter from our office. 

Student Responsibilities

1. The student should work with their professor to discuss a plan to complete their required coursework and how they would like to implement the temporary accommodations.
2. The student may schedule their make-up quizzes or exams through the Testing Center and should fill out a Testing Center Request Form as soon as you are aware of when you might take the test and have cleared it with your professor. 

Updated documentation will be required if the student needs an extension beyond the approved time frame for their accommodations which are typically two weeks for concussions.