Requesting Academic & Housing Accommodations

The purpose of registering with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) is to ensure equal access to opportunities for success in your college experience at SU by making sure that reasonable accommodations are determined and implemented appropriately.

Incoming first-year and transfer students

While students can request accommodations through the DRC at any time, incoming first-year and transfer students are encouraged to register/request accommodations the semester before their first semester at SU.Once you have been admitted and commit to Salisbury University ( by submitting your deposit), you can initiate the process for requesting accommodations/services through the DRC. Please be aware that accommodations are not retroactive. Students scheduling appointments at the beginning of the Fall or Spring semesters(s) can anticipate increased wait times for initial intake appointments.

How to Register/Request Accommodations

NOTE: Students who are already registered with the DRC can contact the office to schedule an appointment to request additional accommodations/services when needed.

Complete and submit the online Disability Resource Center Application to Request Accommodations/Services
Submit documentation of a disability. Documentation must meet the DRC Documentation Criteria (PDF). Students are strongly encouraged to upload their disability documentation while completing their DRC Student Application. Providers may also complete the appropriate DRC Documentation Form below (in lieu of a letter):
A DRC staff member will contact you via email to schedule your Initial Intake Appointment. Please be aware that this is a REQUIRED appointment, as the information obtained is an essential component in the determination of reasonable accommodations and services.

Initial Intake Appointment

To receive accommodations and services, you must meet with the DRC for an initial intake appointment. The initial intake is a 60-minute interactive dialogue with DRC staff to discuss your request for accommodations/services, and to provide an overview of the services available to you through the DRC and other campus partners. The goal of the initial intake is to gather the information necessary to ensure equal access through the determination of reasonable accommodations and services.

Preparing for Intake
Please come to the initial intake appointment prepared to discuss your disability. The more you can tell us about your disability, the better we will understand your specific needs. Please be prepared to answer the following questions:
- How does your disability impact you in the learning environment? Think of the following situations:
  - Classroom (lecture, note taking, group work, lab work, physical activity, sitting)
  - Tests and exams (multiple choice, timed tests)
  - Communication (listening, speaking, writing, using email)
  - Assignments (presentations, reading, writing)
  - Campus (mobility, orientation/navigation)
- What accommodations have you used in the past? How have they helped you?
- What accommodations do you think you will need in college?
Tips:
Take notes: write down (or type) your responses and bring them with you to the intake appointment, or audio record your responses and share them with staff during the appointment.
Approved Academic Accommodations

Reasonable accommodations are individualized and based on need(s) related to a student’s disability. Once accommodations are approved, the student is responsible for informing their professors of their need for accommodations through the Accommodation Information Manager (AIM) online portal. For information on how to access the AIM portal.

For Students Requesting Housing/Dining/Assistance Animal Accommodations

Please be aware of the following deadlines for requests for housing/dining/assistance animal accommodations: March 1st for Returning Students (Fall Contracts), June 1st for Incoming Students (Fall admits), and December 1st for Incoming and Returning Students (Spring contracts/admits).

While students can submit a completed housing/dining application after the deadline, there is no guarantee that, if approved, the requested accommodation will be provided during the upcoming/current academic year.

Assistance Animals (AA)

According to the Fair Housing Act (FHA), Assistance animals “provide support to individuals with disabilities who have a disability-related need for such support. In order to qualify for an ESA as an accommodation, the animal "must be necessary to afford the individual an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling and/or to participate in the housing service or program.
Service Animals

Are trained to perform a specific task to assist a person with a disability are not required to be registered with the University, and do not require accommodation approval through the DRC. Some students voluntarily choose to register their service animal through the DRC or Campus Housing & Residence Life, so that Facilities is aware of the presence of an animal if routine or emergency entry is needed. Students with questions about services animals should contact the DRC as soon as possible.

Who do we serve?

The DRC provides accommodations, modifications, and services to students with documented disabilities enrolled in Salisbury University’s undergraduate, graduate, or regional programs. Such disabilities include but are not limited to, learning, physical/mobility, vision, hearing, chronic health, and mental health diagnoses. The DRC also works with students with some temporary impairments, as appropriate.

DRC Disability Documentation Criteria

We will collaboratively review and consider all documentation submitted on a case-by-case basis. Documentation of disability will assist the Disability Resource Center (DRC) in understanding the impact of the student’s disability and/or temporary condition in the collegiate academic setting. Documentation submitted should be prepared by a qualified professional. A qualified professional is defined as an individual who is licensed or is a formally recognized expert in the medical, psychological, and/or educational field with the authority to make diagnoses and/or recommendations in their specific field of practice.

There are multiple ways to provide documentation of your disability. Documentation should provide proof of diagnosis and/or prior accommodations. The DRC follows the guidance from the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) on documentation review and accommodation approval. Some examples of documentation of disability include:

IEP/504 plan
Medical records/patient portal diagnostic summary
Letter from a healthcare professional, on letterhead, which confirms a diagnosis.
DRC Medical Documentation Form (PDF) (Must be completed by a qualified professional.)
Accommodation letter from previous postsecondary institution(s)
Full evaluation/diagnostic report (e.g. Achievement Testing: Psychoeducational, Assessment of Information Processing: (Bender-Gestalt Perceptual-Motor Test)

If you have any questions about your documentation, please contact the DRC as soon as possible.

Differences between high school (IEP/504) accommodations and higher education accommodations (PDF)

FAQs

I don’t need to register, the accommodations in my IEP/504 from high school will automatically transfer

Accommodations and services provided under an IEP and 504 do NOT automatically transfer to college. In high school, accommodations and services for students with disabilities are regulated by IDEA ( Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). This law places the majority of the responsibility on the school district to identify students with disabilities and to make sure that services which lead to student success are in place.

However, in college and the workforce, accommodations and services for individuals with disabilities are regulated by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). In college, these two laws place the responsibility on the student to disclose a disability and ask for accommodations.
I don't want my professors to know I have a disability

The Disability Resource Center can't tell professors about your diagnosis or disability without your permission, and even though you may decide to share information with them, professors should never see disability documentation from your doctor or start requesting details about your disability (unless you started the conversation).