Step by Step Guide to Request Reasonable Accommodations
Register with Disability Services by completing a DSR intake packet including a DSR Intake form and 504/ADA Release Form and submitting appropriate documentation of a disability. Click Here to download the forms in the DSR Intake Packet. Be certain to review the appropriate Documentation Guidelines to ensure that student's eligibility for reasonble accommodations and/or services can be determined. New Students entering the university for the Fall semester should submit an Intake Packet by JUNE 15 to ensure enough time to determine the student's eligibility and appropriate reasonable accommodations. If accepted after June 15, students should submit a DSR Intake packet as soon as possible. Students entering the university for the Spring semester should submit a DSR Intake packet as soon as they are accepted to the university, but not later than JANUARY 10.
Students should meet with a staff member of the Disability Services office. To fulfill this requirement, incoming students are encouraged to attend D.R.E.A.M. Orientation where they will learn the significant differences between being a student with a disability in high school versus college. They will be informed about services and resources available to make their transition from high school to the university community smooth. They will also be provided the opportunity to complete required paperwork and discuss the reasonable accommodations they are eligible to receive at the postsecondary level. Alternatively, students who whose circumstances prevent them from attending the D.R.E.A.M. Orientation may make an appointment and meet with a staff member of the Disability Services & Resources office to complete required paperwork, discuss accommodation eligibility, and the procedures for the provision of reasonable accommodations.
Complete a Service Request Form and any other required forms to receive reasonable accommodations each semester/trimester for which accommodations are being requested. Students whoare eligible for the accommodation of audio or e-text books should complete a Request for Alternative Textbook Format and submit textbooks along with a copy of their receipt to the Disability Services office upon registering for classes.
A Verification of Disability/Request for Course Accommodations letter will be prepared certifying that the student has a disability and stating the appropriate reasonable accommodations. The nature of the disability is generally not disclosed to faculty members unless specifically requested by the student.
The student with a disability will be responsible for delivering the individualized letter to his/her faculty members. This is usually done during a confidential meeting during faculty office hours, preferably in the faculty member's office or before or after class. During this meeting, the faculty member and the student should discuss the implementation of the accommodations. (e.g. if a student is eligible for extended time on examinations in a separate distraction-reduced environment, the faculty member and the student would discuss the arrangements for taking the examinations under these conditions.)
If the faculty member believes that the approved accommodations are inconsistent with the academic standards of the course or would interfere with the faculty member's methods of instruction and evaluation of student performance, the faculty member should raise those concerns with the student in order to come to a satisfactory resolution. (e.g. If the recommended accommodation is flexible absence policy - the faculty member and the student should come to an agreement as to the specific amount of extra time the student will be given, if any.) If an agreement cannot be reached, the Disability Services & Resources office should be consulted immediately for advice and assistance.
Students are expected to present Verification/Accommodation letters to faculty members within the first few weeks of the semester. Letters must be presented in a timely manner. Students should avoid presenting a letter the day of an examination. Absent extraordinary circumstances, faculty members are not required to provide examination accommodations to students who fail to present the Verification/Accommodation letter with less than one week's notice prior to an exam.
Occasionally, a student's documentation may arrive after the semester has begun. In such circumstances, the student must present the Verification/Accommodation letter as soon as possible after the completion of staff review of documentation and determination eligibiity for reasonable accommodations.
