Disability Services - Frequently Asked Questions

A disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of the individual.

• Major life activities: normal functions, such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working.
• Physical impairment: any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following bodily systems: neurological, musculoskeletal, special sense organs, respiratory and speech organs, cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, genitourinary, hemic and lymphatic, skin and endocrine.
• Mental impairment: any mental or psychological disorder such as mental retardation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities.
• Learning disabilities: a generic term that refers to a heterogeneous group of disorders manifested by significant difficulties in the acquisition and use of listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning, or mathematical abilities. These disorders occur in persons of average to very superior intelligence.

To receive accommodations, students will need to apply with Student Accessibility. Begin the application process

Mobility Escort Service with Campus Operations:

Campus Operations is committed to supporting students with chronic medical conditions, mobility constraints, and temporary or permanent disabilities by offering mobility rides to classes on the Malibu campus. All enrolled students can schedule rides.

To request mobility rides, students must first complete the Mobility Transport Request Enrollment Form. Please note that it may take up to 72 hours to establish and confirm your scheduled mobility rides after submitting the form. For any questions or additional information, please contact Miguel Mundo at 310.506.6531.

Students who require the use of a wheelchair or need assistance getting in and out of cars, should contact Transit Services at 310.506.4802 for transportation services.

Accessible Parking:

Those who qualify for a DMV placard and have currently have the placard can complete this form for access to parking lots. To review eligibility requirements, please see the State of California DMV: Disabled Person Parking Placard and License Plates webpage.

Placard abuse can result in the cancellation and revocation of the placard and loss of the privileges it provides, and is punishable by an applicable penalty. California Vehicle Code (VC) §§1825, 4461, 4463, 21458, 22511.5, 22511.6, 22511.7, 22511.55, 22511.59, and Business and Professions Code §13660.

For additional information regarding student mobility on campus, contact the Office of Student Accessibility at 310.506.6500.

If you have a disability that affects your housing needs, apply with this office so we can review other options.

You can find more about Housing Accommodations on our website.

Because it can take time to find appropriate accommodations for housing needs, carefully review deadlines posted by Housing & Residence Life.

Once you have applied with approved accommodations, the student will complete a Semester Request each term. This form is how the student will indicate to our office which accommodations the student chooses to use for the term. Students will receive an updated accommodation letter as confirmation of a completed Semester Request. Students can also indicate which professors should receive their accommodation letters as well.

Service animals are voluntarily applied and emotional support animals must apply with Student Accessibility. See the How to Apply page for further details and review Section 37 of University Policy for complete information on the university policy regarding animals on campus.

Seaver students in need of tutoring support can contact the Seaver Student Success Center. Visit the center's website for a full tutoring schedule.

Students requiring assistance in transporting personal items may hire a personal assistant. They may also find a classmate with similar schedule who is available to assist. Some students hire a friend to help.

Information shared during application with the Office of Student Accessibility will be kept confidential—consistent with state and federal law and applicable ethical standards. Additionally, student association and paperwork with the OSA is maintained separate from student academic profiles. Association with this office will not be reflected on any transcripts or University records.

Faculty and staff members may be informed of a student's application with this office, but no details of a disability will be released without expressed, written consent. Information regarding accommodations is only shared as an incidence of necessity (e.g. disclosure to professors that a student has accommodations in order to acquire exams for proctoring).

State and federal law and professional ethics do allow for a few exceptions in which some information may be shared with others.

Examples of the types of circumstances that may warrant the discussion of confidential information with others include:

• A written request that information about be shared with someone outside of this office
• If information shared gives this office reason to suspect that a child or elderly person may be a victim of abuse or neglect
• If there is reason to suspect that a student is a danger to themselves or others

OSA works closely with the Student Health Center and Cafe Bon Appetit, the Pepperdine Malibu food services vendor, to create access for students with food allergies. We encourage you to contact the following offices at the same time you are registering your allergies with OSA:

1. The Student Health Center dietician can help you meet your nutritional needs on campus. For a consultation, please call 310.506.4316, option 3, to schedule an appointment.
2. To explore how Cafe Bon Appetit supports students with food allergies, please contact John Leone, Resident District Manager for Cafe Bon Appetit at john.leone@cafebonappetit.com.

Note that not all residences on the Malibu campus are equipped with kitchens. OSA and Housing and Residence Life may provide access to a kitchen for students to support personal food preparation as necessary.

• Important Deadlines for Fall and Spring Terms: Accommodation must be in place to be implemented by the end of the second week of the term.  If the accommodation is approved after the second week of the term it will be implemented in the following terms.

Academic accommodations are available abroad. The process is the same in both domestic and international campuses, with students completing a Semester Request each term.

Seaver Students:

• General Health and Safety information and frequently asked questions in International Programs
• Seaver students with academic, housing, and dining accommodations: Accommodation and Accessibility Information By Campus
  • The Seaver International Programs accommodation and accessibility document provides details across all IP campus locations.
  • Students interested in faculty led program accommodations and accessibility should speak with their faculty director.

Graduate students:

• In addition to connecting with OSA regarding your questions, please also reach out to your program advisor.

You may access Pepperdine University's library's accessibility information guide. This includes information about their elevator and special delivery of books. Find this on Pepperdine University Library's community webpage.