University Accessibility Services FAQ

All new-to-UAS students are strongly encouraged to schedule an access meeting and submit registration materials in advance of each upcoming term so that we have adequate time to provide effective support and timely notification to faculty. Note that accommodations cannot be implemented retroactively and are implemented only after the request process is complete.

Our office will accept and review documentation at any point during the semester. However, we recommend that students begin the process 3-4 weeks before the start of the new term to ensure timely review and delivery.

Written documents do not usually give the entire picture of a student or what their experiences are. First and foremost, an interactive conversation helps our staff assess what the best services or accommodations are for a student. It also provides a time for open discussion and a chance for the student to pose questions that may not arise until speaking one-on-one in a personal setting. 

Students, being the experts on their disabilities, are asked to share their history of accommodation needs, current barriers in their living and learning environments, and discuss the best ways to create equity through the resources that UAS offers. This interactive process is what we call an Access Meeting. Students are not limited to one initial meeting and are encouraged to continue to connect with UAS throughout their time at CU.

University Accessibility Services (UAS) operates under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and all information and medical documentation submitted to the office is protected under the parameters of this law. College officials who have a legitimate educational interest in obtaining information about student accommodations and disability needs may request this from UAS on a need-to-know basis without further authorization from the student. UAS strives to respect student privacy, especially surrounding diagnostic information, and takes care in staying within legal compliance with this information.

Academic Accommodations:

Students registered with UAS are given Faculty Letters to distribute to professors and other teaching staff. These letters document the accommodations the student needs in order to access the course. Faculty Letters do not include a student’s disability.

Housing Accommodations:

Housing accommodations are assessed on a case-by-case basis through UAS. House Administrators are consulted to determine how the reasonable accommodations will be implemented, based on the specific residential environment.

You are under no obligation to share your diagnosis with faculty, you need only give your professor your Faculty Letter from UAS stating what you will need for accommodations for the course. If a professor continues to question you about your diagnosis, please refer them to our office and we will remind them of our privacy policy.

Disclosure is always a personal decision. However, you may want to consider practicing a response to inquiries from others that not only conforms to your individual desire for privacy but also provides clarity surrounding your accommodation needs.

Public schools are mandated under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to provide a free and appropriate education to public school students through the provision of special education, which includes individualized instructional modifications and related services. The laws governing special education do not apply to universities or colleges and are replaced by the Americans with Disabilities Act (as amended in 2008), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Universities and colleges must ensure that an otherwise qualified student does not encounter discrimination due to a disability and must provide reasonable accommodations that allow the student to fully participate in university programs/classes. In order to receive accommodations in higher education, students have to self-disclose their disabilities. Reasonable accommodations must not alter the fundamental requirements of a course or program. Curriculum modifications and individualized instruction in general are not implemented in higher education.

No. UAS reviews all requests for accommodations and accompanying documentation on a case-by-case basis and within the context of academic and community life at CU. Therefore, you may or may not qualify for the same accommodations as you received in secondary school or at other higher education institutions.

UAS determines reasonable accommodations on an individual basis for students with disabilities. UAS offers consultation and accommodation management advising to students as requested. Students receive academic accommodations from faculty members and course staff directly. UAS staff also assist students by working with university faculty and staff if any difficulties arise in the implementation of accommodations. UAS may also refer a student to appropriate on and off-campus resources and services, such as tutoring, counseling, and/or other resources as needed.

No. A student’s academic record is maintained by the Registrar’s Office. UAS independently maintains all disability documentation and other student paperwork shared directly with our office.

No. Students with disabilities must meet the same admissions standards as their peers without disabilities.

UAS does not provide evaluations for learning disabilities or any other disability. Students need to submit current and comprehensive evaluations when requesting accommodations.

Students with disabilities are required to fulfill the same academic requirements as other students. Substitutions for specific course requirements are not permissible as an accommodation.