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New Student Request Process Through CSD

1. Contact the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD)
2. Complete Application for Accommodations Services Form and return to CSD
3. Provide disability documentation
4. Schedule a preliminary meeting to discuss your accommodation needs
5. Eligibility for services is determined
6. Schedule an appointment for intake and training on services
7. Accommodation/service plan called is developed
8. Request services
9. Attend service training/orientation for services that require it
10. Follow-up is needed
    
    

Checklist for New Students and Transfers [Word]

1. Contact the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD)

Call our office at 262-472-4711 to provide CSD with your student ID number and other contact information.

If you haven't applied to UW-Whitewater yet, please start with the Admissions Office; once you are accepted to UW-Whitewater, we can begin providing transition services.  We can answer questions and give advice before you are accepted, but we cannot start the accommodation process before you are accepted to the university.

It is the student's responsibility to self-identify to CSD, provide documentation that meets documentation guidelines, and request specific services.

NOTE: Pending the receipt of appropriate documentation, the University reserves the right to deny services of accommodations.

2. Complete Application for Accommodation Services Form and return to CSD

• Download Application for Accommodation Services Form in Microsoft Word Format
• Download Application for Accommodation Services Form in PDF Format

3. Provide disability documentation

• Read Documentation Guidelines that apply to your diagnosis. Forward these guidelines to the clinician providing your documentation
• If current documentation is not available or doesn't meet UWW criteria, have a qualified professional or clinician complete the Disability Assessment Form and return it to CSD. This will help us determine if additional documentation/assessment is needed*
• Send CSD any records of accommodations/services provided to you at any previous academic settings (e.g. IEP, Section 504 plan, college service plan, etc.) and any record of accommodations provided for any national standardized exams (e.g. ACT, SAT, GRE, LSAT, etc.). This documentation is helpful but not necessarily sufficient to determine eligibility for services.

Providing documentation of disability is the responsibility of the student. In general, the less obvious the disability, the more information is required to assess a student's needs and make accommodation recommendations.  Documentation should be recent, relevant and comprehensive and, where appropriate, contain test scores and interpretation (e.g. learning disability reports, audiograms, etc.).  If the original documentation is incomplete or inadequate to determine the extent of the disability or reasonable accommodation, the university has the discretion to require additional documentation.  Any cost incurred in obtaining additional documentation is also borne by the student.  If the documentation is complete but the university desires a second professional opinion, the university bears that cost.

*Note: Students with learning disabilities do not need to provide a Disability Assessment Form.  Please see Learning Disability Documentation Guidelines [Word] for students at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for LD documentation requirements.

4. Schedule a preliminary meeting to discuss your accommodation needs

Current UW-Whitewater students and students admitted to UW-Whitewater:

• Contact our front desk at 262-472-4711 to schedule an appointment with a Key Contact. Make sure your disability documentation arrives at least a week prior to this appointment.

Students not yet admitted:

• Until you are currently enrolled or admitted to UW-Whitewater, you do not need to schedule an appointment.
• Admitted freshman and transfer students: If you need an eligibility determination when you enroll, please send a written request to CSD.

5. Schedule an appointment for intake and training on services

If you are determined eligible for CSD services, you will receive a letter or email from your Disability Service Coordinator inviting you to schedule an intake appointment. During this meeting the prospective student is encouraged to share their accommodation needs. Documentation may be reviewed and discussed during this meeting.

Eligibility for services is based on a combination of the student's description of need, the thoroughness of the disability documentation and documentation policies (see Disability Documentation Guidelines). If all eligibility requirements are met at this time, then accommodations will be determined and discussed. If all requirements are not met, you will be advised on how to proceed.

6. Accommodation/service plan is developed

At your intake appointment you and your Disability Service Coordinator will discuss your documentation and need for accommodations. An accommodation/service plan is discussed and developed, and your accommodations are entered into your Accommodation Request Portal profile. Upon the completion of your accommodation plan, you will be eligible to begin receiving services/accommodations.

Some services require training. Your Disability Service Coordinator will discuss your training needs and schedule your required teachings with you during the intake process.

7. Request services

As a student receiving services through CSD, you will need to stay in contact with your Disability Services Coordinator to discuss needs and stay updated on CSD processes.  It is the student's responsibility to send their Accommodation Notifications to their instructors in a timely manner. Accommodation Notifications communicate and verify to your instructors that you have been approved to receive accommodations for their class.

8. Attend service training/orientation for services that require it

Some services such as alternative media and tutoring require instruction regarding how to access the service/accommodation. Your Disability Service Coordinator will advise you on how to obtain the training you need to make the most of your services.

9. Follow-up is needed

For questions, please contact your Disability Service Coordinator at CSD.