New to DS
Getting Started
To register with Disability Services for accommodations, students need to follow the steps below. Students should first initiate this process by submitting our Application for Accommodations packet.
Step 1: Application of Accommodations
Complete and submit our Application for Accommodations Online Form. Please be advised that inadequate and/or incomplete answers may delay the eligibility review process. Please contact Disability Services if you are having any trouble accessing the forms.
Please note: Accommodations are not retroactive for pasts assignments or tests.
Step 2: Schedule an Access Planning Meeting (APM)
Once your Application for Accommodations has been submitted, please contact DS to schedule an Access Planning Meeting (APM) with the DS director. Appointments can be made by either calling the DS office at 206.934.3697 or emailing the DS office at ds@seattlecolleges.edu. Remote and in-person meetings are available
Accommodations for placement testing will also be arranged if needed and appropriate.
Students who work with Disability Services may be unsure of what to expect when they meet with the Director.
Here are a few things to know before you attend your meeting:
- Your Access Planning Meeting (APM) is your chance to share your experience with your disability. This is your opportunity to share the impact your disability has had on your educational experiences.
- You will have a chance to share how your disability impacts all aspects of your academics and what barriers you may face in class, during exams and quizzes, and how it may affect the out-of-classroom activities required of your program.
- During the APM, you may be asked what you think would be most helpful to address the barriers you have described. It is okay to say you are not sure. We can brainstorm what might be helpful and what resources may be available to you on campus.
- If you have received accommodations in the past (at another college or in high school), share what has or has not worked in the past.
- In your APM we will determine accommodations and explore different support options that are available to you at North.
What is a Letter of Accommodation (LOA)?
Once accommodations are identified and approved, a Letter of Accommodation (LOA) will be sent to the eligible student and their faculty members via email. This email explains the accommodations the student will need and any other pertinent information the faculty may need to be aware of to ensure the accommodations are met. The student is encouraged to meet with their faculty as soon as possible to plan how accommodations will “work” in their class.
Students getting ready to enter college need to plan for the ways that higher education will be different from high school. These differences include higher academic expectations, increasing independence, and new social environments. A key difference is that students must advocate for themselves in postsecondary education. In high school, students often rely on parents, family members, and teachers to get the services they need. It is important for students to prepare for the changes that will occur within the college classroom and with receiving accommodations and services.
| Area of Difference | High School | College |
| Structure | More structure; school sets schedule | Less structure; student sets schedule |
| Teacher contact | Frequent: may see teachers every day | Less frequent: may only see professors one to three times a week |
| Legal protection | IDEA: students are entitled to a free appropriate public education | ADA & 504: students must be found eligible for services and reasonable accommodations |
| Special education classes | Specialized instruction, classes, and resource room services for students with disabilities | Special education classes do not exist at the postsecondary level, but supports do exist |
| Documentation | The school district evaluates the student and develops the individualized education program (IEP) | Student must provide disability documentation to receive accommodations Student’s IEP or Summary of Performance (SOP) may not be considered sufficient documentation |
| Accommodations | Determined as part of the IEP process | Student must contact Disability Services for providing accommodations |
| Advocating | Teachers and parents advocate for services | Student must advocate for accommodations and services |
| Communication | Parents notify school when student is going to be late or absent from school | Student must notify professor if they are going to be late or absent from class |
| Parents’ role | Parents can see student records and are notified and must sign permission for any changes or decisions for the student | Students are protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Parents do not communicate with professors or have access to grades and student information |
Step 3: Documentation
Students requesting academic accommodations and/or services must submit documentation of a disabling condition to verify eligibility. Students are required to submit documentation regarding the diagnosis/diagnoses that demonstrates a disability covered under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 as amended (2008).
Please review our Documentation Guidelines for additional information. All documentation is kept confidential.
Additional forms of documentation may include:
- Disability Verification Form —filled out by health providers/treat professionals
- A letter from a qualified medical professional
- Psychological evaluation(s)
- Psychoeducational evaluation(s)
- IEP or 504 Plan
- A physician's medical record
Step 4: Letter of Accommodation
Once accommodations are identified and approved, a Letter of Accommodation (LOA) will be sent to the eligible student and their faculty members via email. This email explains the accommodations the student will need and any other pertinent information the faculty may need to be aware of to ensure the accommodations are met. The student is encouraged to meet with their faculty as soon as possible to discuss their disability-related needs relative to the design, nature, and intended learning objectives of the individual course in which they are enrolled.
Some accommodations, such as the placement of adjustable furniture or arranging Sign Language interpreters, are arranged directly by the DS office.
Instructors are not required to provide accommodations until they receive the letter of accommodation. Accommodations are not retroactive.
You are encouraged to review the DS Student Handbook prior to your appointment.