Disability FAQs for Students

Accommodations and supports are considered on a case-by-case basis and are tailored to each student’s specific disability-related needs. Common areas of support include, but are not limited to:

• Classroom and testing/exam accommodations
• Alternative formats of texts/course materials
• Assistive and adaptive technologies
• Communication access supports (e.g., ASL Interpreting, CART)
• Clinical/fieldwork accommodations
• Guidance/support for licensure exam accommodation requests

If you have a disability, or have concerns about a possible disability that may require accommodations, please follow these steps:

1. Request for Accommodation: Complete the New Student Application to begin the process of requesting accommodations.
2. Submit Documentation: Attach electronic copies of your diagnostic documentation when submitting your request. Diagnostic information is always kept private.

Note: Accommodations cannot be determined until appropriate supporting documentation has been provided.

3. Meet with Disability Resources: A meeting may be necessary to understand your disability-related experiences and determine the needed educational supports.

After submitting an accommodation request, you will be sent a confirmation email with the subject line, “[DR] Student Application Received.” If this confirmation email is not received, we recommend that you follow-up to ensure information has been submitted correctly.

DR strives to review accommodation requests promptly, typically within 10-15 business days.

For students with an existing Access WashU profile, follow these steps to request an adjustment to your accommodation:

1. Access WashU: Login to your Access WashU profile
2. Modification Request: Select “Accommodation Plan Modification Request” from the “Home” dropdown menu.
3. Additional Documentation: Depending on your request, additional diagnostic information may be necessary. You can upload such documentation when submitting the modification request.

After submitting an accommodation request, you will receive a confirmation email with the subject line, “[DR] Request to Modify Your Accommodation Plan.” If you do not receive this email, please follow up with DR to ensure that your information was submitted correctly.

DR strives to review Accommodation Modification Requests promptly. Depending on the request and the details initially provided by the student, the process can take between 10-15 business days.

Each semester, you should request a faculty accommodation letter through DR, for each course that you anticipate the need for your eligible accommodations. We recommend doing this within the first two weeks of the semester (or as soon as approved) to avoid unnecessary delays in receiving your accommodations. Follow these steps:

1. Access WashU: Login to your Access WashU profile.
2. Select Classes: Within the “Step 1: Select Class(es) section”, choose the courses for which you intend to use accommodations.
3. Rights and Responsibilities: Read the information and reach out to DR with any questions.
4. Customize Accommodations: After completing the previous, you will select, “Step 2 – Continue to Customize Your Accommodations.”
5. Select Accommodations for Classes: For each class, you will need to select the accommodation(s) you would like to utilize/implement.
6. Submit: After selecting accommodations, you will need to finalize the process by selecting, “Submit Your Accommodation Requests.”

After completing the steps listed above, your instructors will be notified of your accommodations. Follow up with them to discuss implementation specifics.

Accommodations are not applied retroactively. It is recommended to initiate requests before or at the beginning of the academic term to avoid delays.

Before requesting an alternative format through Disability Resources, check accessible formats on Bookshare, Red Shelf, Vital Source, Learning Ally, and Amazon. When purchasing books through Amazon or other online platforms, review the product description to ensure the book has text to speech enabled which is necessary for text to speech software such as Kurzweil and Read&Write.

If the textbooks are unavailable, follow these steps:

1. Access WashU: Login to your Access WashU profile.
2. Alternative Formats Request: Select “Alternative Formats” from the “My Accommodations” dropdown menu.
3. Format Preference: Select your preferred/necessary format for textbooks and select, “Update Alternative Formats Preference.”
4. Provide Class/Book Details: Complete the “Reading Materials” section for each textbook. All details within the “Reading Materials” section must be provided for your request to be fulfilled.
5. Upload Receipt: In many circumstances, Disability Resources will require a receipt for proof of purchase before requesting accessible formats from publisher/releasing accessible versions to students. Upload your receipt to the initial Alternative Format Request.
6. Submit Request: Select “Submit Request.”

DR will attempt to identify accessible textbooks as soon as possible; however, depending on the type of format, it may take two or more weeks to fulfil the request.

First, discuss with your instructors whether DR proctoring services are needed. If required, schedule each testing appointment with Disability Resources through the “Access WashU” portal using the steps below:

1. Access WashU: Login to your Access WashU profile.
2. Alternative Testing Request: Select “Alternative Testing” from the “My Accommodations” dropdown menu.
3. Select Class: From the “Select Class” dropdown menu, choose the course for which you need to make an appointment, and then select, “Schedule an Exam.”
4. Complete Exam Details: All information within the “Exam Detail” section must be completed in order for an appointment to be processed.
5. Submit Request: Select “Add Exam Request” to complete the form.

For more details regarding exam requests, Disability Resources’ testing policies/procedures, or for additional common areas of inquiry related to testing accommodations, please contact us.

Permanent disability

DR supports students with diagnosed disabilities facing barriers related to the University’s parking and transportation system. Examples of supports may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Accessible Parking: For students with a parking placard needing accessible parking options.
• Medical Transport: For students needing transportation not met by the standard shuttle system.

Complete a New Student Application to begin the process.

Temporary conditions

Students with a temporary illness/injury that limits physical mobility on campus (e.g., broken leg, surgical recovery) should request medical transport services through the Student Health Center – Danforth Campus.

For more information, please visit the Disability Resources Parking and Transportation website.