legal question about housing accommodations

[momsa]

Does anyone out there know what the laws are in the United States regarding charging students extra money in order for their housing to meet their needs? Specifically, if a student's doctor says they need more than average access to a bathroom, can the University legally charge extra for that accommodation?

 

[my little penguin]

Your student doesn’t just use the floor bathroom ?
My kiddo was in the dorm last year
There was the floor bathroom with 4 stalls
And then the gender neutral bathroom on the floor
He had no issues
He has accomodations for various things including a single dorm room
We had to pay the rate of the single dorm room which was more than a double dorm room
But students could pick the type of room they preferred

so if your kiddo is staying in a single with a private bath then you would be expected to pay the rate for that type of room since he will be living there

the school only has to make the accommodations that are reasonable
It doesn’t say they will only charge you for a standard double room if he is living in a single with a private bath

 

[momsa]

Thanks. This is for graduate school. I was trying to figure out whether this applies:

"Housing providers may not require persons with disabilities to pay extra fees or deposits or place any other special conditions or requirements as a condition of receiving a reasonable accommodation."

https://www.hud.gov/program_offices...p/reasonable_accommodations_and_modifications

The school has a lottery system for housing and students pay different rates accordingly. You can rank your choices, and then the lottery assigns you accordingly.

I was frustrated that we already had to pay more because they couldn't rank places with just one bathroom, and then they were assigned by the lottery to a place even more expensive than they need.

 

[my little penguin]

If the school has a lottery system that assigns you housing not sure how the law comes into play since everyone takes that risk of having a more expensive place by participating.
Granted they couldn’t pick a place with just one bathroom but ….
They aren’t singling your child out stating he has to pay more due to disability
He participated in the lottery

my child’s school for housing accommodations if you chose to use them flat out picks whatever housing they want regardless of what the student wants as long as it meets as many accommodations as they can.

so unless the office of disabilities assigned your child the room
Even then
It sounds like the student ranked choices based on number of bathrooms and just like anyone. Else happened to be assigned a more expensive room randomly by lottery .

my kiddo decided not to use the office of disabilities for housing this year for the fall since he wanted more of a say .
They are assigned lottery numbers and pick what’s left when their number is valid

 

[momsa]

Students at this school don't have any choice except to participate in the lottery.

If another student ranks 2 bedroom 2 bathroom as their top choice just because their family has the money for that and we do the same because it's necessary, we're going to be more likely to have to pay for an even more expensive room (a fancier 2 bedroom 2 bath) than they are (because accommodations won't allow anything less than that), even though they are the ones who can afford it more.

Certainly feels unfair, but maybe it's legal.

 

[my little penguin]

Have you spoken with the office of disabilities ?

 

[momsa]

maybe I'll try that once more

thanks for caring

 

[my little penguin]

Since it’s grad school why not off campus housing (an apartment) ?

 

[momsa]

even more expensive, but thanks