Disability Services
for Students
Accommodation Request Forms
Accommodation Request Forms are the key to accommodations, plain and simple. It serves several purposes:
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Verifies to an instructor that the student is a registered student with a disability
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Serves as a request for specific accommodations needed for equal access to a class; such as special seating or testing accommodations, or interpreter services
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Informs the instructor of other accommodations the student may be using while completing classwork, such as taping lectures or using notetaker or alternate format text services
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Opens an opportunity for student and instructor to discuss ways to succeed in the class
In order to receive any accommodations for a class, the student must deliver a current copy of their Accommodation Request Form to the instructor.
Recommendations for Students
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Deliver forms to instructors during their office hours, rather than in class. This gives you an opportunity to discuss your accommodations in a private setting. It's also a great time to set up testing accommodations, if appropriate.
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Deliver your letter the first week of classes. If you registered for DSS later in the term, give the instructor your letter as soon as you receive it. We cannot make retroactive accommodations, so your accommodations cannot start until the instructor has received your letter.
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During your discussion, give your instructor as much information, as it affects this class, as you feel comfortable sharing. Instructors want to be able to work with their students as effectively as possible; having this information may help them adjust their teaching methods.
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We suggest, though we don't require, that you ask the instructor to sign a copy of the Accommodation Request Form. This helps keep everyone on the same page. The signed copies of the Accommodation Request Form are for your records; DSS does not keep these on file.
Information for Faculty
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Please check that the Accommodation Request Form is current for this academic year. If it is not, ask the student to obtain a current copy from DSS.
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The Accommodation Request Form includes some information about DSS and accommodations in general, then lists the accommodations for which this student is eligible. We recommend you discuss with the student which of those accommodations they would like to use in your particular class.
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Some accommodations are arranged by DSS (alternate format texts, notetaking), some are arranged by the instructor (enlarged font handouts, lists of specialized vocabulary), some are arranged in conjunction (test accommodations). If you are unsure where the responsibility for an accommodation lies, please contact DSS at 552-6213, or email the Director of Disability Services.
