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 for 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.
While completing this application, you will be asked to attach documentation which verifies your need for our services through a diagnosis. If you are not able to submit the documentation at the time of filling out your application, please send a follow up email with your documentation attached to ds@seattlecolleges.edu.
Step 2: 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/treatment professionals
- A letter from a qualified medical professional
- Psychological evaluation(s)
- Psychoeducational evaluation(s)
- IEP or 504 Plan
- A physician's medical record
Step 3: Schedule an Access Planning Meeting (APM)
Once your Application for Accommodations has been submitted, DS will contact you 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.
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.