The Accommodations Process

Follow these policies, as they are designed to protect both your rights and the resources of this University. Any breach of SDRC or University policies may result in a suspension of accommodations.

• Register with SDRC: Students requesting accommodations must have completed an intake and have a current Determination of Accommodations form on file.
• Plan ahead: While SDRC responds as quickly as possible, due to the complexity and high volume of requests, we must ask for 10 working days from the date of the request to arrange for the accommodation.
• Be responsible: Ultimately, students are responsible for ensuring that support services and accommodations meet their needs. If an accommodation is not appropriate or is lacking, students must contact SDRC to schedule an appointment with a counselor.
• Adjusting services: Any changes in needs or requests for additional accommodations must be supported by documentation, evaluated by an SDRC counselor and changed on the Determination of Accommodations form before the additional accommodation is provided.

The Accommodations Process

This University wants to assist you with your academic goals by supporting required disability-related accommodations.

Our office follows six steps in the accommodation process. You will be expected to take an active role in all six steps. These steps are designed to render the best possible service to you. Also, they are built upon the various requirements associated with applicable laws. The six steps of the accommodations process are:

1. Declaring — Before anything can be done, you must first declare to SDRC that you either have a disability or suspect that you have a disability that presents a functional limitation to learning. As a person with a disability you have the right to not declare a disability. Therefore, unless you choose to express your needs for disability-related accommodations, none are required to be provided.
2. Documenting — Once you have called or visited our offices to begin the accommodation process, you will be asked to present documentation from a competent authority about your disability. This documentation should indicate the impact your disability has on your learning. If it has no impact, then you don't need any accommodations. Provisional accommodations may be approved and provided for you while we await this required documentation, if the impact of your disability is observable by one of our SDRC counselors.
3. Discussion — Accommodations are individually determined. Factors to be considered include your disability-related documentation, your past educational experiences, your preferences, course or academic requirements, and the cost-effectiveness of a proposed accommodation. As a result, decisions about which accommodations are best for you can only be determined through an "interactive process" of discussion with you, your instructors and our SDRC counselors and staff. Therefore, you must be prepared to participate in this discussion.
4. Deciding — Based on the factors above (see #3 "Discussion"), it is the responsibility of the SDRC Counselor to make a decision about which accommodations are warranted. Accommodations are not required to be the most expensive or even what you may want, but they must be effective. If you disagree with your determination of accommodation you can appeal this decision through our grievance/complaint procedure.
5. Delivering — Once your accommodations are approved, SDRC will assist you in arranging for their implementation. They are provided to you at no cost.
6. Evaluating — Immediately report to SDRC any difficulties that you may be having with your accommodations (e.g. they are not in place; an instructor is not supporting your SDRC-approved accommodation; it is no longer needed, or you need a new accommodation.)