Connect with DRC

Student Process 

  1. 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. 

  2. 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. 

  3. 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.   

  4. 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. 

  5. View our Frequently Asked Questions from Students.

 

  • Students can request and explore disability-related accommodations even without medical or disability documentation. 

  • Many students choose to upload any documentation they have when they complete the student affiliation form as it provides supporting information regarding requests.   

  • 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: 

  • past accommodations and services from a public or private school 

  • past accommodations and services from another college  

  • past accommodations and services from a state or high stakes testing organization  

  • formal psychological or medical evaluations from a relevant licensed professional 

  • letters from past health, education, or service providers  

  • 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: 

  • How the requested accommodation is necessary to ensure that academic requirements or technical standards do not discriminate against you on the basis of disability. 

  • 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. 

  • 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. 

  • Whether the requested accommodation is logically designed to address and remove the identified barrier to access. 

  • If implemented, the requested accommodation would be effective in removing the identified barrier to access 

  • 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.

The transition from high school to college is an exciting time, but it can also bring up questions. DRC is here to help! 

At Arizona, the transition presents an opportunity for students to take the lead by deciding if and/or when to connect with DRC. Once you are ready, the first step is to fill out an affiliation form. After completing the online form, DRC will share the next steps with you via your university email with information on how to schedule a meeting with an Access Consultant to explore reasonable accommodations. When you affiliate, you are welcome to share any type of records you have available.   

In college, ensuring access is different than ensuring success. You might have had an IEP or 504 plan that modified curriculum which may not be appropriate at the college level. Our goal is to ensure disabled students have a similar, if not identical, experience, to their non-disabled counterparts. We will work with you to explore and identify reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access. The following chart points out the differences between high school and the University of Arizona. 

High School 

University of Arizona 

Parents, teachers and guidance counselors are responsible to arrange accommodations on your behalf. 

Student is responsible for contacting DRC and meeting with an Access Consultant to explore accommodations. 

Modification of curriculum, tests, and grades to help a student succeed (i.e., reduce course work, lessen the number of questions on an exam, or makeups for a better grade). 

Reasonable accommodations do not fundamentally alter the nature of academic experience or the expected course outcomes. 

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensures public education and services in K12. 

Laws applying to college include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act to promote access. 

High school accommodations promote success. 

College accommodations promote equal access. 

Student has a 504 Plan or an IEP. 

DRC facilitates an interactive process to determine reasonable accommodations. 

Student information is protected under FERPA.* 

*The Family Education and Privacy Act (FERPA) ensures confidentiality for all students. Our policy is to have all conversations directly with students. They may choose to have other individuals present by completing the Family Education and Privacy Act (FERPA) Release Form and submitting it to the Office of the Registrar. 

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: 

  • Exams/learning assessments 

  • Field trips 

  • Labs 

  • Internships 

  • Study abroad 

  • 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.