Understanding the Transition from High School to College听
The process for receiving disability accommodations in college is different from what many students experience in K鈥�12 education. At 柚子视频, accommodations are designed to provide access, not to guarantee academic outcomes.
This page is intended to help students and families understand what changes after high school and how to successfully request accommodations at 柚子视频.
Access vs. Success:听What鈥檚听the Difference?听
In High School (K鈥�12)听
- Focus is often on听ensuring student success听
- Curriculum may be modified听
- Supports are proactive and built into the school day听
- Schools typically听initiate听and manage accommodations听
At 柚子视频听
- Focus is on听equal access听to programs and services听
- Reasonable accommodations remove barriers听
- Academic standards and essential course requirements are not modified听
- Students听are responsible for听requesting and managing accommodations听
Laws That Apply听
High School听
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)听
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act听
College (Including 柚子视频)听
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)听
- ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA)听
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act听
Documentation: What Changes?听
In High School听
- Schools typically provide:听
- IEPs or 504 Plans听
- Required evaluations听
- Evaluations are provided at no cost听
At 柚子视频听
Students听are responsible for:听
- Submitting documentation of a disability听
- Ensuring documentation describes:听
- The diagnosed disability听
- Current level of functioning听
- Functional limitations in an academic or campus setting听
- Important Notes听
- IEPs and 504 Plans are helpful听for听additional听background听information and may not be sufficient on their own听
Roles & Responsibilities听
Student Responsibilities at 柚子视频听
- Self-identify听to Student Disability Services听
- Request accommodations听
- Follow SDS policies and procedures听
- Communicate with professors using approved accommodation letters听
- Advocate for themselves, with support from SDS听
Parent / Guardian Role听
- In college, the student is the primary point of contact听
- Students decide whether and how parents are involved听
- SDS supports student self-advocacy and independence听
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Teachers vs. Professors: What to Expect听
High School Teachers听
- May听modify听curriculum or assignment pace听
- Provide frequent assessments听
- Monitor attendance and progress closely听
- Initiate communication with families听
柚子视频 Professors听
- Do not alter fundamental course requirements听
- Teaching formats may vary by instructor听
- Grades are often based on fewer, higher-stakes assessments听
- Students听are responsible for:听
- Monitoring progress听
- Requesting meetings听
- Following attendance and course policies听
Grades & Accommodations听
- Accommodations provide听access, not guaranteed outcomes听
- Grades reflect the quality of work submitted听
- Accommodations may include:听
- Extended testing time听
- Alternative testing environments听
- Note-taking support听
- Course standards and learning outcomes听remain听the same听
How to Request Academic Accommodations听
Step 1:听Submit听an Accommodation Request听
Step 2:听Submit听Documentation听
- Documentation must be from a qualified medical听or mental听health听professional听
- Be on professional letterhead听with qualified听provider’s听signature听
- Describe the disability,听functional limitations, and recommendations听
- Be current (older documentation may be reviewed case-by-case)听
- Not be written by an immediate family member听
- Where to Send Documentation听
Step 3: Meet with Student Disability Services听
- SDS will contact you to schedule an intake meeting听
- Accommodations are not听finalized听until this meeting occurs听
- If you miss your appointment, you will need to reschedule with SDS staff
Documentation Guidelines by Disability Type听
- ADD / ADHD听
- Medical or Physical Disabilities (including allergies/asthma)听
- Neurodevelopmental Disabilities / Autism Spectrum Disorder听
- Psychiatric Disorders听
- Specific Learning Disabilities听
Housing Accommodations听
All Other Housing Accommodations听
- Requests are due听June 1听each academic year听
- Submit the Accommodation Request Form and describe your housing need听
- Have your provider complete the GU Housing Accommodation Form听
- The Special Housing Review Committee reviews requests confidentially听
- SDS听notifies you听of the decision and next steps听
Emotional Support Animals (ESA)听
Important Requirements
- Documentations must be provided by a licensed mental health professional听
- Permitted only in the student鈥檚 assigned living space听
- Not allowed in classrooms, dining areas, or common spaces听
ESA Request Timeline听
- Fall Semester:听Notify SDS by听May 31听
- Spring Semester:听Notify SDS by听November 1听
- Do not bring an animal to campus until approval is granted听
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ESA Approval Process听
Step 1:听Submit听an accommodation request through SDS
Step 2: Submit ESA documentation听
Step 3:听Provide animal-specific documentation to Residence Life
Step 4:听Meet with Residence Life for final approval听
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Service Animals in Campus Housing听
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Students who qualify for accommodations are encouraged to contact the Office of Student Disability Services before classes start or as early as possible. The office will work with the course instructor and the student to arrange for reasonable accommodations. Students are required at their own expense to provide documentation verifying disability. All information for accommodations can be found .
Contact your student disability services coordinator:
Lamoni Campus
Academic Accommodations
Housing Accommodations
ESA, and Dietary Accommodations
Independence Campus & Online Programs
TRIO
