Requesting an Accommodation

The Procedure for Requesting Academic Accommodations

Students can complete steps 2-4 in any order.

1. The student is referred (self, staff, faculty, parent, agency) to the Disability Services Coordinator (DSC).

2. The student schedules an intake interview with the DSC. During the interview, reasonable accommodations are discussed, services are explained, and the student’s rights and responsibilities are reviewed. In addition, the student signs a Release of Information if he or she wants information shared with faculty, staff, parents, and other professionals.

3. The DSC requests appropriate documentation of the disability. Documentation guidelines PDFs for all disability categories are linked below. Printed copies are available in the Student Disability Resources (SDR) office.

4. The student completes a Self-Assessment. The student can also submit information from teachers and parents.

5. Once the documentation and self-assessment are provided, they are reviewed by the DSC to determine appropriateness. With the student’s permission, the DSC consults with the person writing the documentation when necessary.

6. The DSC presents the information at a Documentation Review Board meeting.

7. The Documentation Review Board reviews the information submitted by the student to determine the appropriateness of the request for accommodations.

8. The Documentation Review Board reviews the information submitted by the student and determines the accommodations.

9. The DSC drafts an accommodation letter and reviews it with the student.

10. The student receives an accommodation letter for each of his or her courses.

11. The student presents the accommodation letter to faculty members when requesting needed accommodations. This letter lists the appropriate accommodations, but does not reveal the specific disability. The faculty member reviews the accommodations to ensure that they do not alter essential features of the course he or she teaches. After the faculty member signs off on the accommodations, the faculty member provides the accommodations to the student.

Grievance Process

If you don’t feel you are getting the accommodations you need from ODS, you should first discuss your concerns with ODS. If the matter cannot be resolved, the University's policy for settling grievances will provide a prompt and equitable resolution.

Documentation Guidelines and Verification Forms (PDFs)

General Documentation Guidelines

• Purpose of Documentation
• Acceptable Documentation
• How to Submit Documentation

Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorders

• Documentation Guidelines
• Verification Form for ADHD

Deaf and Hard of Hearing

• Documentation Guidelines
• Verification Form for Hearing Impairments

Learning Disorders

• General Information
• Learning Disorders Verification Form

Mobility Impairments

• Documentation Guidelines
• Verification Form for Mobility Impairments

Neurological Disorders

• Documentation Guidelines
• Verification Form for Neurological Impairments

Physical / Health Related Disorders

• Documentation Guidelines
• Verification Form for Physical Health Disorders

Psychological Disorders

• Documentation Guidelines
• Verification Form for Psychological Disorders

Visual Impairments

• Documentation Guidelines
• Verification Form for Visual Impairment

The Procedure for Requesting Academic Accommodations

Students can complete steps 2-4 in any order.

1. The student is referred (self, staff, faculty, parent, agency) to the Disability Services Coordinator (DSC).

2. The student schedules an intake interview with the DSC. During the interview, reasonable accommodations are discussed, services are explained, and the student’s rights and responsibilities are reviewed. In addition, the student signs a Release of Information if he or she wants information shared with faculty, staff, parents, and other professionals.

3. The DSC requests appropriate documentation of the disability. Documentation guidelines PDFs for all disability categories are linked below. Printed copies are available in the Student Disability Resources (SDR) office.

4. The student completes a Self-Assessment. The student can also submit information from teachers and parents.

5. Once the documentation and self-assessment are provided, they are reviewed by the DSC to determine appropriateness. With the student’s permission, the DSC consults with the person writing the documentation when necessary.

6. The DSC presents the information at a Documentation Review Board meeting.

7. The Documentation Review Board reviews the information submitted by the student to determine the appropriateness of the request for accommodations.

8. The Documentation Review Board reviews the information submitted by the student and determines the accommodations.

9. The DSC drafts an accommodation letter and reviews it with the student.

10. The student receives an accommodation letter for each of his or her courses.

11. The student presents the accommodation letter to faculty members when requesting needed accommodations. This letter lists the appropriate accommodations, but does not reveal the specific disability. The faculty member reviews the accommodations to ensure that they do not alter essential features of the course he or she teaches. After the faculty member signs off on the accommodations, the faculty member provides the accommodations to the student.

The Procedure for Requesting Academic Accommodations

Students can complete steps 2-4 in any order.

1. The student is referred (self, staff, faculty, parent, agency) to the Disability Services Coordinator (DSC).

2. The student schedules an intake interview with the DSC. During the interview, reasonable accommodations are discussed, services are explained, and the student’s rights and responsibilities are reviewed. In addition, the student signs a Release of Information if he or she wants information shared with faculty, staff, parents, and other professionals.

3. The DSC requests appropriate documentation of the disability. Documentation guidelines PDFs for all disability categories are linked below. Printed copies are available in the Student Disability Resources (SDR) office.

4. The student completes a Self-Assessment. The student can also submit information from teachers and parents.

5. Once the documentation and self-assessment are provided, they are reviewed by the DSC to determine appropriateness. With the student’s permission, the DSC consults with the person writing the documentation when necessary.

6. The DSC presents the information at a Documentation Review Board meeting.

7. The Documentation Review Board reviews the information submitted by the student to determine the appropriateness of the request for accommodations.

8. The Documentation Review Board reviews the information submitted by the student and determines the accommodations.

9. The DSC drafts an accommodation letter and reviews it with the student.

10. The student receives an accommodation letter for each of his or her courses.

11. The student presents the accommodation letter to faculty members when requesting needed accommodations. This letter lists the appropriate accommodations, but does not reveal the specific disability. The faculty member reviews the accommodations to ensure that they do not alter essential features of the course he or she teaches. After the faculty member signs off on the accommodations, the faculty member provides the accommodations to the student.