Requests for accommodation should be made as early as possible so preparations can be arranged. While the office addresses requests in a timely manner, availability of specific accommodations can’t be guaranteed without adequate lead time to make preparations and/or investigate resources.

• Specialized services (e.g., sign-language interpreting, captioning): submit requests by phone, email, or in person at least 90 days before the date of service.
• Alternate-format textbooks: allow 4–6 weeks for processing.

Examples of reasonable accommodations may include:

• Class notes or note-taking assistance
• Preferential seating
• Enlarged print or accessible formats
• Removal of physical barriers

To learn more, contact Accessibility Support.

WSC Accessibility Support Services looks to the Association for Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) for direction regarding disability eligibility. This includes who is entitled to accommodations, how those determinations are made, and by whom. The AHEAD guidance interprets the Amendments to the ADA, with the stated purpose “to make it easier for people with disabilities to obtain protection under the ADA.”

Documentation Guidelines are part of an interactive, deliberative process to gather evidence to establish disability and identify barriers to learning with connection to the disability. Documentation to support a request for classroom accommodations may include, but is not limited to:

• Student self-report and history of prior accommodations
• Observation and interaction with Accessibility Support Services professionals
• Records from medical and educational professionals

Federal law allows post-secondary institutions to request a reasonable level of documentation to support specific accommodation requests. The goal is to ensure an appropriate match between the disability-related barrier and the accommodation.