FAQ

In order for a student to be eligible for accommodation on the basis of disability status, they must be a person with a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), its Amendment Act of 2008, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and its revision of 1974.

Under those laws, a person has a disability if they have “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities (e.g., walking, standing, seeing, speaking, hearing, breathing, learning, working, or taking care of oneself), has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment.” Please contact the ODA if you are unsure about your eligibility.

Students must submit documentation of disability from a qualified professional that outlines the functional limitations of the disability. This may include ODA-provided forms, IEP/504 plans, or neuropsychological exams. 

More information can be found on our Documentation Guidelines webpage. Please contact the ODA if you are unsure if your documentation is sufficient.

One of the biggest changes when seeking disability accommodations (compared to High School) is that the student needs to drive the process. This means that students will need to take the lead with all communication and the application process. We understand this can be a challenging transition for students, parents, and support people, so ODA is here to help support students through the process. We encourage families to take a moment to discuss these changes, and we are always happy to meet with caregivers and their students to discuss building self-advocacy as students transition to college. 

A student’s 504 or IEP used in school does not automatically transfer to college. However, these forms of documentation can be submitted to support a student’s application request. 

The ODA reviews applications in the order they are received and experiences an influx of applications at different points throughout the year. Once an application and documentation are received, students can be expected to be contacted within two weeks. 

Accommodations are valid once ODA registration is complete and an accommodation letter is sent to the faculty member. Accommodations cannot be applied retroactively. We encourage students to complete the ODA registration process prior to the start of the semester when possible.