17. Technical Standards

Policy Number: 17
Date Developed: 10/01
Date Revised/Reviewed: 08/02

Doctor of Chiropractic Program:

Palmer Chiropractic defines the purpose and practice of chiropractic through its Tenets. Recognizing that the academic, clinical, social and personal preparation for the practice of chiropractic requires both mental and physical abilities, the Colleges of the Palmer University System require that all qualified students admitted to the Doctor of Chiropractic program must be able to perform the following essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Candidates must have sufficient use of senses of vision, hearing and somatic sensation necessary to perform the chiropractic and general physical examination including the procedures of inspection, palpation, auscultation, and the review of radiographs as taught in the curriculum.
• Candidates must have sufficient physical strength and coordination to stand alone and perform the common chiropractic examination and adjustive procedures as taught in the curriculum.
• Candidates must have sufficient physical strength and coordination of both upper extremities necessary to apply chiropractic adjustments as taught in the curriculum.

The Colleges of the Palmer University System do not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admissions process. After a candidate has been admitted into the chiropractic degree program, the Colleges invite and encourage voluntary self-identification of students with disabilities. The Colleges seek to accommodate students with disabilities on an individual basis if supported by specific information and assessment data documented by appropriate licensed professionals.
The degree of doctor of chiropractic, in and of itself, does not entitle the recipient to practice chiropractic. Those who earn the degree must apply for a license to practice in the jurisdiction of their choice. Each jurisdiction’s licensing board then determines who is to be admitted to practice; the scope; and the extent of that practice under applicable law.

Since the Board of Trustees’ adoption of the above technical standards, further study has been conducted by the administration as to the timing and manner of implementation of those standards. In so doing, it has been recognized that individuals may self identify as having a disability at four different stages in the educational process:

1. prior to applying for admission;
2. during application process;
3. after acceptance as a student but prior to attending classes; or
4. while currently attending classes.

While inviting and encouraging voluntary self-identification by students with disabilities, the Colleges have always related to their students as responsible adults with the independent right to make such life decisions. One of those responsibilities is to work with the Office of Student Learning and Development (OSLD) in requesting reasonable accommodations, academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids and services pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Handbook for Students and Applicants With Disabilities.

Individuals who self-identify their disabilities during any of the four stages referenced above shall be referred to the coordinator of the Office of Student Learning and Development. The coordinator of OSLD will work in concert with the Disability Steering Committee whenever a question arises as to an individual’s ability to meet the requirements of the technical standards. A Disability Steering Committee will be established at each College in order to adjudicate this process in a timely manner. The coordinator of the OSLD will serve in a systems role to ensure compliance with this policy.

In considering a self-identifying prospective or actual applicant with a disability, the coordinator and/or the Committee may require an interview with the candidate to determine if the individual meets the technical standards sufficient to complete the curriculum. The coordinator and the Committee may request supporting documentation to be provided by the self-identifying individual from an appropriate licensed professional. All such professionals will be asked to identify what academic adjustments or reasonable accommodations, if any, would be required. If the coordinator and the Committee assess the individual as meeting the technical standards, the prospective applicant will be encouraged to apply. Similarly, if the coordinator and the Committee determine that an applicant has met the technical standards, the admissions review process will continue. If the coordinator and Committee determine that an individual does not meet the technical standards, that individual will be withdrawn from further consideration.

In considering a matriculated student with a disability, the coordinator shall proceed pursuant to the Policies and Procedures for Enrolled Students under the Handbook for Students and Applicants with Disabilities.