Disability Services
for Students
Getting Started
THE FOLLOWING IS A CHECKLIST OF ACTIVITIES FOR YOU TO COMPLETE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE SERVICES THROUGH OUR OFFICE:
- New Students: Upon admission to SOU, call the ACCESS Center (541-552-6213) and ask to make an appointment with Disability Services. Identify yourself as a new student to SOU. Ideally, this should take place well before the beginning of your first term at SOU.
- Current Students: If you have a disability and would like to begin receiving services through DSS, even if you have not used DSS services in the past, please call the ACCESS Center (541-552-6213) to make an appointment with Disability Services.
- Attend your Disability Services intake appointment. If possible, plan to provide appropriate documentation of your disability during this appointment. If you do not yet have documentation, expect to receive referral information for testing or other clinician resources. Plan to discuss your eligibility for services, and learn how to request services each term.
REPEAT THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES IN ORDER TO RECEIVE ACCOMMODATIONS EACH TERM:
- Plan your schedule for the term and register for classes. Make use of Priority Registration if you are eligible. If you need advising assistance, call the ACCESS Center at 552-6213 to schedule a general education advising appointment. For advising within your major (or minor), contact your major (or minor) advisor.
- If appropriate, submit a Request for Alternative Format for Textbooks or a Request for Note-taker to DSS as soon as you have registered, and no later than 4 weeks before classes begin.
- Visit the "What We Provide" section of our web site before the first week of school to find more information on the various accommodations we offer.
- Make copies and deliver your Letters to each instructor during the first week of classes. You must deliver a letter to your instructor in order to receive accommodations for that class. DSS services are only effective once the letter has been delivered. Accommodations cannot be arranged retroactively.
- Meet with your instructors during their office hours early in the term, preferably in the first week of classes. Remind them of your Letter and discuss with them how you can work together to ensure that you receive the appropriate accommodations. This is also an excellent time to discuss testing accommodations, if you are eligible and using them, and fill out the Accommodated Test Request Form with your instructor.
- Contact DSS if you need assistance in obtaining appropriate accommodations, or if you would like to discuss changes to your Letters.
