Temporary Medical Conditions and Injuries
Temporary medical conditions such as injuries, surgeries, or acute illnesses are generally not regarded as disabilities. This is because the degree of functional limitation and the duration (generally shorter than 6 months) of such impairments are usually not substantial enough to cause a temporary condition to be considered a disability. Even though professors or TAs may address injury-related arrangements directly, professors may ask you to register with AccessibleNU-Q to verify your condition and allow us to make recommendations for reasonable adjustments.
Northwestern recognizes that temporary medical conditions during the school year may adversely affect a student's ability to fully participate in the academic environment. Below are strategies and resources that may be beneficial for someone with one of several common temporary conditions.
| Potential Concerns Due To Temporary Conditions | AccessibleNU-Q Recommendations |
|---|---|
| Missed Class, Deadlines, or Exams | Many of the academic concerns that arise related to short-term conditions, such as additional absences, missed deadlines, or missed exams, should be addressed with your professor. |
| Taking exams |
If your temporary condition affects your ability to complete an exam in the allotted time, discuss the possibility of extra time or technology usage with your professor. |
| Note Taking | ANU recommends either asking a friend for copies of their notes or downloading the 30-day trial of Glean. Glean allows the user to record and code audio and link it to PowerPoint slides reducing the amount of writing and/or typing necessary in note taking. |
| Typing | Windows Speech Recognition, Mac Dictation, and Google Voice Typing in Google Docs are built in speech recognition options that offer sufficient alternatives to writing or typing on a temporary basis. |
| Reading | Download Read&Write Gold to have your electronic text read aloud. Northwestern offers this text-to-speech software free to all students. |
| Res Hall Room Access | QF Housing and Residential Life may be able to assist in having your on-campus room relocated to the first floor or to a building with elevator access (subject to availability). |
| Classroom Access | AccessibleNU-Q can typically assist in relocating classrooms if necessary. |
| Mobility Aids | We recommend students rent wheelchairs or other mobility-assistance devices from an outside company. |
| Transportation | Northwestern does not have a system to provide short-term, point-to-point transportation to and from classes or medical appointments. Students have found success relying on public transportation, Uber, or Careem. |
| Parking | If you have a Qatar-issued disability parking license/placard, you need to register with ANU-Q to obtain approval to utliize the on-campus parking garage. |
| Course Load | Work with your academic advisor on modifying your course load. Students with temporary conditions also sometimes need to apply for a medical leave of absence until their condition has improved. |