Mission

To provide equal access to university programs and activities for student of determination with documented disabilities.

Vision

Support the academic environment to ensure that student of determination receives reasonable accommodation that is consistent with the university’s academic standards and does not require substantial course or program alteration.

To follow on-going governmental decisions and guidelines, gather and evaluate information, and recommend courses of action to the higher management.

Standards

AUD strongly recognizes and encourages students to submit their requests well in advance of the start of any coursework for which the accommodation is requested.
Our university inspires consideration, respect and acceptance by providing facilities and accommodations, that integrate students with special needs, treated with the highest confidentiality.

Committee Members

• Dr. Nadera Alborno: Dean of the School of Education and Professor of Education: Consultant to the Committee
• Professor Dina Faour: Professor of Advertising and Outreach Coordinator – Visual Communication: Academic Consultant to the Committee
• Ms. Nelly El Halabi: Health Center Director: Chair of the Committee
• Ms. Sara Sleem: Associate Director of Admissions, Admissions Consultant
• Ms. Nehad Metawie: AUD Personal Counselor, Assistant to the Chair
• Ms. Randa Al Chidiac: Director of Library Services
• Ms. Nadine Ghalayini: Academic Advisor and Support Coordinator, SOD

Responsibilities

• Students

  The American University in Dubai SOD Committee with its members will work to:
  
  

  • develop and deliver social and academic support services related to people of determination,
  • assist students with special conditions physically and mentally, if needed, by providing the necessarily support,
  • offer the chance for students problem-solving and create the opportunities for different ideas and points of view: meeting with Personal Counselor, coaching, workshops, activities, etc.

• Faculty

  AUD Committee will:
  
  

  • assist Faculty in providing the necessary accommodations to SOD as needed,
  • offer awareness programs related to SOD

Guidelines for admission and education of student of determination in higher education

• Admissions

  The Office of Student Recruitment and Admissions at The American University in Dubai is committed to assisting all prospective students to gain access to opportunities in higher education. As part of this commitment, the team facilitates an inclusive admission process for all students with capacity and potential to complete the educational programs provided by AUD. Hence, students of determination are welcome to submit their applications and are encouraged to declare their case at the time of application. This declaration ensures arrangement of reasonable support in a timely manner. All students seeking admission to the university, including candidates declaring a learning difference, must satisfy the minimum requirements for admission to the university. Selection of students is based on an individual assessment of each applicant, and admission decisions will be made based upon the candidates’ academic credentials and potential.
  
  Admissions Support Arrangements:
  Through the Admission Application, Students of Determination are encouraged to identify their needs. Students will then be requested to disclose detailed information using the AUD Health History, and communicate with Health Center Director to submit the official medical documents required, as part of the AUD admission requirements. Once the candidate is interested to satisfy the AUD admission requirements he/she will be referred to the AUD Health Center for further assessment.
  
  The Admissions Office will follow the recommendations suggested by the Health Center, which could include test arrangements, extra time, special accommodation, recommended class registration, etc.

• Students of Determination Team

  HEALTH CENTER DIRECTOR
  AUD welcomes students of determination and strives to provide an inclusive learning environment.
  
  The Health Center Director (HCD) welcomes and encourages students with disabilities to identify their needs and to seek access to accommodations, if needed, within a confidential setting. It is the responsibility of the Health Center staff and of the Personal Counselor to ensure that Students of Determination receive the adequate teaching and learning support throughout their years of study at AUD.
  
  HCD assists Student of Determination with physical-health matters; she evaluates student’s needs, identifies level of support required, and finalizes the Special Accommodations Request Form (SARF), which will be communicated to the concerned faculty.
  
  In order to ensure that accommodations are provided in a timely fashion, the HCD strongly advises Students of Determination to submit their request for accommodations one week in advance of the start of any coursework.
  
  The Health Center maintains a database of student of Determination with details including student's accommodations and adaptations requirements. Every semester, the student’s file is reviewed and updated based on follow-ups and interactions with the students throughout their academic journey.
  
  The Health Center works in coordination with Personal Counselor (PC) when addressing mental health issues, and together they communicate with professors and POD Academic Advisors to support Students to develop self-efficacy for life-long success.
  
  PERSONAL COUNSELOR
  The Personal Counselor assist student of determination, with mental- health issues, and/or learning disorders; she evaluates students’ needs, notes level of support required, and in association with the Health Center Director, finalizes the Special Accommodations Request Form (SARF) in order to communicate to faculty. The Personal Counselor will follow up on the student on a regular basis.
  
  ACADEMIC ADVISOR & SUPPORT COORDINATOR
  The Academic Support member encourages students throughout their journey at AUD to ensure that they reach their full academic potential and develop autonomy. During the accommodations request process, or if the student is facing academic issues, the student is encouraged to identify the need to the academic advisor. In this way, our member can effectively personalize the advising process to consider students’ strengths and needs.
  
  The team uses their expertise in academic success to:
  
  

  • Provide guidance on course choices and load, degree progress, and university academic policies;
  • Follow up on academic alerts;
  • Refer students to proper university resources and services.
  • Kindly complying with recommendations provided by the committee’s Chair and Assistant Chair, regarding students’ course load. This will be based on the assessment made by the Chair (Mrs. Nelly El Halabi) and Assistant Chair (Mrs. Layal Tayim) respectively.
  • In the case of any emergency/urgent occurrence prior to the 2-week meeting, the chair and Assistant Chair must kindly be informed.
  • Any communication related to SOD from faculty/staff outside of the SOD committee must be communicated to the Chair and Assistant Chair.
  • Point of referral to the Personal Counselor: Any SOD student must kindly be referred to the Personal Counselor, once anything unrelated to academic concerns are disclosed.

Implementation Procedures

Student of Determination requiring Special and Immediate Intervention need to meet with Health Center Director, HCD, and Personal Counselor, PC.

The Health Center Director welcomes and encourages students with disabilities to identify themselves by:

• Providing official medical documentations
• Meeting with HCD for intake interview before admission
• Discussing different needs with HCD, and/or the PC, to evaluate level of support needed and the special accommodations requested for an equitable journey at AUD.
• What to bring:
  • Medical and assessment’s documents with an official medical report, or health specialist’s assessment, recommendations, and any physical or psychological tests endorsed by specialists.
  • Additional copy of any mental health reports to be shared with the Personal Counselor, which will remain confidential.
  • List of questions related to Student of Determination support in AUD.

Accommodation Request Process for People of Determination

This is referenced in the following AUD Publications:
Undergraduate Catalogue, Graduate Catalogue, Student Handbook, and Faculty Handbook.

Confidentiality

The student is not obligated to disclose their condition or present any medical documentation or absence note to the instructor as these are considered confidential information privy to the Heath Director and Personal Counselor.

All medical files remain confidential with the exception of relevant faculty and staff being informed if they are expected to provide accommodations or if emergency treatment may be required.

All communications between Health Center staff / Personal Counselor and patient is confidential, however, the Health Center Director/ Personal Counselor is obliged to break confidentiality in some situations: if student is at risk of self-harm, at risk of harming someone else, or court order to release information.

All communications within SOD committee should be treated with highest confidentiality.

SOD Meetings:

All Committee members will meet on a monthly basis or in case of an emergency.
Active members, Chair, Ass Chair, and Academic Coordinator will meet every two weeks, to discuss red alert, and student’s follow up.

Accessibility of American University in Dubai

Inclusion & Accessibility Manual

Health Center