Applying for Accommodations in College
Applying for Accommodations in College
While high schools provide a structured environment where the school is responsible for ensuring accommodations, colleges are only required to provide appropriate academic adjustments as necessary to ensure no discrimination on the basis of disability. In college, self-advocacy is the key, as colleges expect students to manage accommodations independently without parent involvement.
Students are required to self-disclose their learning disability to receive accommodations once enrolled in college. Just because you received an accommodation in K-12 does not mean you will automatically receive these accommodations at college. Accommodations are determined based on your learning disability and individual needs and may include modifications to academic requirements, auxiliary aids and/or assistive technology. Examples of accommodations may include priority registration, reduced course load, course waiver or substitution, note takers, recording devices, extended time or distraction-reduced spaces for exams, screen-readers, voice recognition, or other adaptive software or hardware. The logistics of how accommodations are provided can also vary widely among colleges. For example, at some colleges, students can take exams in a testing center with oversight by a proctor, but at other colleges it is the professor’s responsibility to oversee testing accommodations.
It is important to know that colleges are not required to lower or substantially modify essential requirements or to make accommodations that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or result in an undue financial or administrative burden. In addition, colleges do not have to provide a personal service or device, such as specialized tutoring or devices or readers for personal use or study.
Each college has procedures to request accommodations, and contact and general information on the process are often available on the college’s website. Most colleges have a support services office, which may be called the Disability Services Office, Student Accessibility Services, or Accessibility Resource Center.
Although you may request accommodations at any time, you should request them as early as possible before the semester begins and according to any deadlines set forth in the college’s procedures. Some accommodations may take more time than others, and you want to make sure that the college has enough time to review your request. Remember, if a college denies a request for accommodations, you have a right to appeal within the college’s grievance procedures. Students approved for accommodations generally do not have to reapply if you stay at the same college but may need to renew their accommodations each semester.
Make sure you are following a college’s documentation requirements. Some colleges require more documentation than others and may require you to provide documentation prepared by an appropriate professional, such as a medical doctor, psychologist, or other qualified diagnostician. The required documentation may include a diagnosis of your current disability with supporting information, such as the date of the diagnosis, how it was reached, and credentials of the diagnosing professional, and/or information on how the disability affects your academic performance or a major life activity. It will be helpful to supply documents, including your IEP or 504 Plan, your most recent evaluations (psychological, educational, or medical), and documentation of standardized test (College Board or ACT) accommodations. It is important to note that your IEP or 504 plan is generally not sufficient documentation given the different legal standards applicable to high schools and colleges, but it does support the need for ongoing accommodations. A college may require a new evaluation as part of the required documentation, and there are no uniform requirements as to the recency of the documentation required, but it could range from the last 3-5 years. A college is not required to conduct or pay for a new evaluation. Your state’s vocational rehabilitation services may offer evaluations or other support at low or no cost.
While a college’s support services office is there to assist you in communicating with faculty about your accommodations, it is ultimately your responsibility to timely remind faculty of academic accommodations required for exams and assignments. You may need to provide any documentation from the support services office (generally a letter validating the specified accommodations), but you do not have to disclose your learning disability to a professor, only the need for accommodations. After your requested accommodations have been approved, you should speak with each of your professors about your accommodations. Some pointers for those discussions include:
Schedule an appointment (through email or text or, if needed, call their office) at least one week before you need any accommodations.
Do not try to catch a professor before or after class and instead visit during office hours.
It may be helpful to rehearse with a friend or representative in the support services office.
In addition, you should provide timely details to the college’s support services office to allow for logistics. For example, the dates of final exams if a room or proctor is needed. Finally, let the support services office know if there are any issues with your approved accommodations, such as a professor refusing extended testing time, or if current accommodations are not effective.
Sources
Kravets, Marybeth, and Imy F. Wax. The K & W Guide to Colleges for Students with Learning Differences. 16th ed., The Princeton Review, 2023.
Hamblet, Elizabeth C. Transitioning to College: A Guide for Students with Disabilities. 3rd ed., National Professional Resources, 2024.
"Transitioning from High School to College: Help for Students with Learning Disabilities." International Dyslexia Association, 2020.
