Disability Services
Disability Services works to assist all qualified students with disabilities in the pursuit of their educational objectives.
We attempt to coordinate the students’ needs with services and resources available within our college system to ensure accessible educational opportunities for students according to their individual needs.
Technology Resources
Services Available
- Assistance with course selection and registration
- Eligibility determination based on documentation
- Authorization of accommodations based on documentation
- Facilitation and assistance with classroom accommodations such as notetakers, readers, scribes, assistive listening devices and sign language interpreters
- Arrangements for recorded texts through Learning Ally
- FANs (Faculty Accommodations Notices) and liaison with faculty to arrange accommodations
- Alternate testing (extended time, private setting)
- Assistive technology
- Alternative formats for documents
- Liaison with external agencies
Our Philosophy
The individuals we serve are students first, and their disabilities are secondary. The office strives to coordinate services that will enable individuals with disabilities to act as independently as possible in a supportive atmosphere that promotes self-reliance. It is the individual’s choice whether or not they utilize the available services.
Considering UVA Wise?
A pre-admissions visit to the college is highly recommended to all applicants. Persons with special needs are urged to visit early, preferably during their junior year of high school. The Admissions Office and Disability Services should be contacted for an appointment.
Feel free to visit the U.S. Department of Education’s guide to postsecondary transition for students with disabilities and the U.S. Department of Labor’s guide for disclosing disabilities in higher education.
Getting Started
Disability Services facilitates the provision of approved accommodations for individuals with a disability who meet the academic and/or technical standards requisite for admission and continued participation in a College program or activity. Individuals are encouraged to contact DS in a timely manner.
- Step 1: Students should complete a Notification of Need form (available upon request). Individuals interested in services, may complete this this inquiry form.
- Step 2: Submit appropriate documentation. Individuals may request a Verification form. Note: DS reviews all documentation submitted. Students should not postpone meeting with DS because they are worried about not having the necessary paperwork, even though DS uses appropriate documentation to determine services and/or reasonable accommodations.
- Step 3: Meet with staff for an interactive discussion about barriers and/or reasonable accommodations and next steps.
General Documentation Guidelines
Documentation must:
- Establish that the student is a person with a disability and reflect a student’s present level of functioning.
- Provide current evidence that the condition significantly impacts one or more major life functions.
- Demonstrate a direct nexus between the nature of the condition, the requested accommodation, and need for equal access.
- Originate and be signed by a qualified provider/professional
Potential Documentation Types
- Neuropsychological Report
- Psychoeducational Report
- Evaluation Report
- A detailed letter that addresses all necessary components
- Post-operative report
Please Note:
A brief, one-time meeting does not typically provide a sufficient basis for a provider to get to know the student, establish an appropriate diagnosis, and assess the student’s accommodation needs.
A Section 504 Plan generally does not provide enough information to meet these documentation guidelines. It may be accepted as supplemental information.
It is the responsibility of the student seeking services for obtaining, paying for, and submitting documentation for a disability. DS can provide some suggestions about finding appropriate providers.
Although the underlying processes involved in any disability may be lifelong, there may be changes in functioning within an academic setting over time.
Pursuant to Virginia Code Section 23.1-401.3, the College is required to provide guidance on documentation or evidence sufficient to establish that a student is an individual with a disability.
In addition to other documentation guidelines, the following documentation or evidence establishes that a student is an individual with a disability:
Documentation that the individual has had an individualized education program (IEP) in accordance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq. The University may request additional documentation from such an individual if the IEP (i) was not in effect immediately prior to the date on which the individual graduated from or was otherwise no longer enrolled in high school; or (ii) is otherwise not sufficient to establish that such individual is an individual with a disability pursuant to the federal Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended, 42 U.S.C. § 12131 et seq.
Any IEP shall be deemed sufficient to establish that such individual is an individual with a disability under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act that includes (a) information on the nature of the individual's physical or mental impairment; (b) a documented history or record of such physical or mental impairment, including documentation of an evaluation that has been completed or updated no more than three years prior to such individual's application for admission to the institution; and (c) an explanation of substantial limitations experienced by such individual as a result of such disability and the related accommodations needed by such individual.
- Documentation of the individual's disability due to service in the Armed Forces of the United States or the Commonwealth.
- Any other documentation or evidence that the College deems appropriate for such purpose.
In the event that a student's disability or need for accommodations has not been properly documented, and additional time is needed to conduct the process by which the College determines eligibility for accommodations, the College grants such student provisional or temporary accommodations while such determination process continues.
The College disseminates information about such process to students, including all new students; to the parents of students as appropriate; and to faculty in accessible formats and makes such information available in a conspicuous and publicly accessible manner, including on the College’s website.
Please contact us at any point with questions or concerns.
Grievance Procedures
Students are encouraged to discuss their concerns with Disability Services, who will attempt to resolve the issues by assisting the student, e.g., by discussing issues or concerns with the instructor, department or program.
Students are not required to report concerns to the individual who is believed to be responsible for the denial of equal opportunity, discrimination, or harassment.
Informal Complaint Procedure with Disability Services
To file an informal complaint related to academic accommodations with Disability Services, students should submit the following information in writing to the Director:
- Name, address, contact information of complainant
- Date(s) of alleged incident
- Parties involved
- Witnesses (if applicable)
- Specific description of allegation(s) of discrimination and impact of alleged incident on the learning environment at the College
Disability Services will review all informal complaints within ten (10) business days.
Students are encouraged to participate in the informal complaint process in order to timely and efficiently resolve their concerns. However, participation in the process is voluntary, and students are not required to submit an informal complaint to the Director. Moreover, students are never required to submit a complaint to any individual who they believe to have engaged in discrimination or harassment based on disability or any other protected characteristic.
Disability Action Committee
If an individual with a disability believes that they have not been provided with the services to which they are entitled, they have been the victim of retaliation or if they believe they are being discriminated against in violation of College policy and/or federal and state statutes and regulations, the student may file a complaint with Disability Services. The DAC will be notified of any complaints and may be convened, if necessary, to resolve the situation. The student shall provide some documentation, if necessary, to review the claim of retaliation, the nature of the discrimination, and any other information deemed relevant.
Students with disabilities who have met with DS and are not satisfied with their approved accommodations are encouraged to appeal the decision made and meet with the Director of Disability Services. This meeting is an opportunity for the student to engage in additional conversation and to provide supplemental documentation to support a request. Should the appeal not be granted within DS, the next step is for the student to appeal the decision to DAC. The DAC will review the student’s requests(s), the documentation submitted to DS in support of their request(s), the student’s DS case notes, if necessary, and any additional documentation the student chooses to submit.
Members of the Committee
- ADA/504 Coordinator or other Disability Services staff
- Representative from the Office of Advocacy and Opportunity
- Faculty Member
- Staff Member
- Administrator
Office for Civil Rights
Any person has the right to file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education. To file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights, please contact:
U.S. Department of Education
Office for Civil Rights (Metro Office)
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20202-1475
Telephone: (202) 453-6020
Email: OCR.DC@ed.gov
