Student Process
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Connect with DRC - Students at UArizona main campus, distance locations, and Arizona Online can connect with the DRC via our student affiliation form via the link below at any point in the semester or during their college career. Unlike elementary or high school, as a college student, you decide if and/or when to request accommodations by connecting with DRC.
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Meet with an Access Consultant - Once you complete the online form, DRC will send next steps to you via your university email including information on scheduling a meeting with an Access Consultant to discuss access and accommodations as an Arizona student. This meeting is confidential, and your disability information will never be disclosed to your faculty or other campus personnel.
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Determine Access and Accommodations - After your initial conversation, an Access Consultant will determine if accommodations are appropriate. They may consult your course syllabi and talk with your faculty to determine the most effective and equitable accommodation to the academic barrier. Additional information from you or additional documentation to help inform their determination may be requested. Your description of any barriers you have experienced or anticipate related to your disability in the academic and campus environment are an important part of our process.
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Stay Connected - If accommodations are established, it is important for you to communicate with us if an accommodation is not working or if anything changes that would necessitate another conversation or to explore alternative accommodations.
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Students can request and explore disability-related accommodations even without medical or disability documentation.
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Many students choose to upload any documentation they have when they complete the student affiliation form as it provides supporting information regarding requests.
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Conversations with Access Consultants about your experiences and expectations will help determine if additional information is necessary to support your requests.
Under Arizona law, the following types of records which identify a disability are sufficient to establish that you are an individual with a disability:
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past accommodations and services from a public or private school
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past accommodations and services from another college
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past accommodations and services from a state or high stakes testing organization
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formal psychological or medical evaluations from a relevant licensed professional
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letters from past health, education, or service providers
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documentation from the uniformed services
DRC facilitates an interactive process to understand your request(s) and determine effective accommodations. We talk with you to understand the barrier you are encountering or anticipating. Your description of your disability and any academic or campus barriers is a very important part of this process. We may also consult with faculty or other campus partners to understand the context for the request.
While documentation may be sufficient to establish that you have a disability, documentation alone does not inform whether we put accommodations in place or the specifics of those accommodations.
Every request for accommodations is unique and is explored on an individual, case-by-case basis. At Arizona, we prioritize equity and do our best to put accommodations in place that provide you the most equitable experience on campus, without fundamentally altering an essential outcome or aspect of a course or campus experience.
DRC’s determination process considers the following to discover if accommodations are appropriate and how to ensure access:
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How the requested accommodation is necessary to ensure that academic requirements or technical standards do not discriminate against you on the basis of disability.
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That the requested accommodation would be necessary to provide you with meaningful access or an equal opportunity to gain the same benefits as your non-disabled peers.
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That the requested accommodation is logically connected to the impacts of your disability and any barriers to access you experience in the academic and/or campus environment.
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Whether the requested accommodation is logically designed to address and remove the identified barrier to access.
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If implemented, the requested accommodation would be effective in removing the identified barrier to access
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The requested accommodation does not:
- Lower an essential program standard
- Fundamentally alter an essential program element or requirement
- Pose an undue administrative or financial burden
At Arizona, you are in control of your academic information and disability-related requests, per the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Parents can only be involved, and receive information, with your written consent. Complete the University’s authorization for release of information form and return to the Office of the Registrar if you would like to provide access to non-university related individuals.
In addition to connecting with DRC as a graduate student, you may also connect with us as a disabled employee.
If you have a temporary medical condition that affects your access on campus, DRC staff can assist with problem solving situations and make recommendations.
We encourage all new undergraduate students to watch our orientation video to learn more about our resources.
Role of the Disability Resource Center (DRC)
The DRC is the campus office designated by the University to ensure access for disabled students to classes, programs and activities on main campus, distance locations, and Arizona Online. DRC determines access and accommodations in consultation with faculty, students, and campus partners. Accommodations and services ensure access to University programs and activities for disabled individuals and have no cost to the student. In addition to working on specific requests, we collaborate with campus partners to influence a more accessible and inclusive campus.
In addition to in-class experiences, we consider accessibility for:
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Exams/learning assessments
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Field trips
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Labs
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Internships
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Study abroad
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All class related-activities
DRC is a separate unit from the SALT Center, a fee-based academic support program, that provides services for students with learning and attention challenges.
Role of Faculty and Instructors
As DRC determines reasonable accommodations, faculty may serve as subject matter experts to ensure an accommodation does not fundamentally alter or compromise academic integrity. After consultation, the DRC will communicate with the student and faculty regarding reasonable accommodations.