Requesting Student Academic Accommodations

The Disability Services Office (DSO) is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities to ensure equal access to university programs, services, and facilities. The DSO engages in an individualized, interactive process with each student and reviews accommodation requests on a case-by-case basis.

If you have any questions about the accommodation request process, please contact the Disability Services Office at 610-683-4108 or dso@kutztown.edu. 

Before you begin: 

• Be accepted as a student at KU
• Have paid the Advanced Registration Deposit (ARD) to commit to attending KU
• Have set up your KU email account

Please note: All official communication regarding accommodations will be sent to your Kutztown University (KU) email account and/or your secure Accommodate portal. 

Important Information to Keep in Mind:

• Accommodations may be approved for current and future needs, but are not applied retroactively.
• The DSO may need to ask you to provide additional information if the submitted documentation is incomplete or does not sufficiently support the accommodation request.
• Students are encouraged to keep a copy of all documentation submitted to DSO for their personal records.
• Disability documentation and files are retained for seven (7) years after a student leaves the University and are then securely destroyed. 
• Documentation requirements at KU may differ from those of other institutions or external testing agencies (e.g., Pearson VUE, licensure or certification programs). Students should check directly with those organizations regarding their documentation standards. 

To review the KU Accommodations and Services for Students with Disabilities Policy (DIV-004) please visit the KU Register Webpage. 

Process for Requesting Accommodations

1. Disclose your Disability
   Complete and submit the online Accommodations Request Form (see link below). Supporting documentation can be submitted simultaneously as part of the request form or submitted afterward through Accommodate. 
2. Submit Documentation of your Disability
   Submit documentation of your disability to verify your eligibility for accommodations under the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Review the documentation guidelines below. Familiarity and adherence to these guidelines will help to prevent unnecessary delays in the accommodation process. Documentation can be submitted on Accommodate once you have submitted your Request Form; or uploaded via the link below. 
3. Schedule an Accommodation Plan Meeting
   Once your documents are received and accepted by the DSO, you will be notified to schedule an accommodation plan meeting with a DSO staff member. Please follow the instructions in the email to schedule virtually with a staff member via Accommodate, or by calling the office during our business hours. Through this interactive process, an individualized accommodation plan will be developed.

Please Note:  If you are requesting housing and/or dining accommodations only, an accommodation plan meeting with the DSO is not required; however, appropriate documentation must still be submitted.

Documentation Options

To support your accommodation request, please submit one of the following:

• DSO Documentation Form for Academic Accommodations
  A standardized form to be completed by a licensed care provider that clearly outlines diagnosis, functional impact, and accommodation recommendations. This form is designed to make the process easier for both students and care providers by clearly identifying the information needed to evaluate accommodation requests.
• High School Documentation
  Your most recent IEP and Evaluation or Re-Evaluation Report from high school may be submitted as documentation if the evaluation includes:
  • A clear diagnosis using DSM-5 or ICD-10 terminology, when applicable
  • Documentation completed by a licensed or credentialed professional qualified to diagnose the condition
  • A description of current functional limitations that impact learning in a college environment
    • High school documentation that only lists educational classifications (such as Other Health Impairment under IDEA) without an adult diagnosis may be used as supplemental information, but is not sufficient on its own to determine postsecondary accommodations.
  • Provider Letter
    A detailed letter from a licensed care provider that includes the same information outlined in the documentation guidelines below.

The DSO will review all submitted documentation on a case-by-case basis and may request additional information if needed.

Documentation Guidelines

Documentation may be submitted using the DSO Documentation Form for Academic Accommodations, a detailed provider letter, or qualifying high school documentation as outlined above. Regardless of format, documentation must:

• Be typewritten on official letterhead (or completed on the DSO Documentation Form)
• Be dated and signed
• Include the provider’s name, professional title, credentials, and contact information
• Be completed by a licensed or credentialed professional qualified to diagnose and/or treat the condition

Documentation should include:

• A clear statement of diagnosis (using DSM-5 or ICD-10 terminology, when applicable)
• A description of current symptoms and severity
• An explanation of how the condition substantially limits one or more major life activities, particularly in an academic setting
• Current treatment and management information, if applicable
• Specific accommodation recommendations with a brief rationale

Important Note on Diagnoses:

K-12 educational classifications (e.g., Other Health Impairment, Emotional Disturbance under IDEA) are not adult diagnoses and cannot be used alone to determine postsecondary accommodations.

If you are disclosing more than one disability or diagnosis, appropriate documentation must be submitted for each.

Condition-Specific Documentation Guidance

The following guidelines apply if you choose to submit a letter from a licensed care provider rather than using the DSO Documentation Form for Academic Accommodations. These guidelines are intended to assist students, family members, and medical or mental health professionals in understanding the type of information needed to determine reasonable and appropriate accommodations in the college setting.