Office for Disability and Access
Prospective Obies - What Do You Need To Know?
We understand how important it is for students to feel confident and excited about their new campus home, and their social and academic life. The Office for Disability & Access is here to answer questions and address the concerns students with disabilities and their support systems may have about both the academic and residential campus experience. We have provided resources across our webpages to help students navigate the registration process and gather all the information needed to make an informed decision. We encourage students, families, and support systems to reach out to our office for any additional support needed! Welcome!
Introduction to the Office for Disability & Access
The Office for Disability & Access (ODA) is structured to ensure students equitable access without altering the fundamental nature or goals of a program, the pedagogy of a course, or the mission of the institution. Accommodations, whether they are in the form of academic adjustments or housing/dining requests, are determined on a case-by-case basis.
Browse our Documentation Guidelines, Policies & Procedures, and Campus Resources designed to welcome students to and familiarize them with the Oberlin Campus community.
Admission to Oberlin College
By law, a student is not required to disclose their disability either before or after admission to college. Student may choose to disclose a disability during the admissions process or after enrollment.
Students with a disability must meet the same academic standards for admission as any other student. In order to receive accommodations as a student with a disability, the student must contact ODA to self-identify and complete the registration process.
While there are many resources available to all Oberlin College students, the ODA provides accommodations specifically for students with disabilities. Our office does not provide personal services such as transportation or personal aides.
Transitioning to Higher Education
Because different rules govern disability resources in college than in K-12 programs, accommodations at Oberlin College may vary from those previously received in high school. For example, IDEA no longer applies and an IEP is not available to college students. Read more about what to expect on our Resources For Parents page.
We understand that the transition from high school to college can be a difficult and intimidating transition for all involved, so ODA is here to offer guidance and support. We encourage prospective students to take time to brainstorm various coping strategies for these changes with their support people before arriving on campus.
The ODA Staff is always happy to schedule a meeting with prospective students and their support people to discuss the transition to college and to explore steps for building self-advocacy. Please use the Meet With Staff link below to schedule an informational appointment.
As shared above, we know that the transition to college can feel overwhelming, so students are more than welcome to include a parent/guardian(s) on communication(s) and have them attend meetings.
However, it is important to remember that the application process is student driven. This means that STUDENTS, not parents or support people, will need to take the lead with all communication and the request process. Parents/support people cannot act or speak on a student's behalf (i.e., schedule meetings, requesting an accommodation, or requesting an appeal).
It's also important to remember that, once enrolled, students will need to file an Information Release Consent (IRC) form for each college office/department giving staff permission to share information with chosen healthcare providers and parents/legal guardians. This permission can be revoked at any time while enrolled. See below for more information.
Privacy laws restrict the sharing of certain types of information with others (including parents) without the student's expressed, written consent. This means that the ODA is, by law, unable to speak with parents/guardians or providers in more than generalities without an Information Release Consent (IRC) form (sometimes referred to as a Release of Information/ROI form) signed by the requesting student. To sign an IRC form allowing the ODA to speak with parents in more than just generalities, please contact our office for instructions on how to complete the form. Please note that IRC forms filed with other departments do not transfer to the ODA.