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> Office of Disability, Re-Entry and Veteran Services > Disabled Student Services
Certification of Eligibility for Accommodations
Once disability status has been established, a student will be asked to complete a "Declaration
of Disability and Request for Accommodations and Adjustments" form. The student will meet with
a DSS staff member to review accommodation requests and to explore other disability-related
needs. Each accommodation request will be given serious consideration, and reasonable
accommodation requests, or appropriate alternative accommodations, that are supported by
documentation will be approved and listed on an accommodations approval form. The student
is then issued a DSS certification card, which is presented to instructors when accommodations
(e.g., note taking assistance or extended time on exams) are requested.
The listed accommodations are intended to eliminate, as far as possible, the effect of the
disability on academic performance. The card is usually valid for one year only; however,
there are some exceptions, so instructors are encouraged to check the expiration date on
the card.
Students who require classroom or exam accommodations must inform instructors of their needs.
When an accommodation is requested, the instructor should ask to see the student's validated
DSS Certification Card. Accommodations for which the student has been certified are listed
inside the card. Though an instructor may grant academic accommodations to a student whose
accommodation needs have not been certified by DSS, there is no obligation to do so. Any
student who requests accommodations but has no card should be referred to DSS for assistance.
As long as accommodations have been requested in a timely fashion and need has been verified
by DSS, accommodations may not be denied. To do so would be a probable violation of the
student's rights under both section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans
With Disabilities Act.
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