Fast Facts
College Accommodations
Reasonable accommodations are provided to eligible students with a documented disability to ensure equal access and full participation in the educational setting. Common academic accommodations may include the ability to record a class lecture, extended time on tests, testing in the Testing Center, accessible classrooms, and interpreters. Utilizing accommodations can make a big difference in student learning, success, and engagement. In post-secondary college settings, it is the responsibility of the student to register with the Accessibility Office (TAO) and provide current documentation of their disability.
Where do you start?
The student should begin by learning more about the Accessibility Office at Bucks. The Accessibility office works with students to create an accommodation plan based on the student's diagnosed disability. The only way to get accommodations at Bucks is through this office. The student is responsible for making the initial contact with the office, inquiring about what type of documentation is required for their disability, the steps they need to take to receive accommodations, and the forms needed to complete for registration with TAO.
Register with the Accessibility Office (TAO)
Once you are accepted as a student at Bucks, follow the registration process that is outlined on TAO's Registering for Accommodations page.
Start the Accommodation Process Early
Make your appointment well in advance. Your documentation will need to be reviewed by the TAO staff after your intake appointment and approved. You may want accommodations for the placement tests or to request books in alternate formats; this process can take up to six (6) weeks. The TAO Representative will authorize accommodations based on your documentation and intake information.
Give Accommodation Letters to your Instructors
TAO will provide a Faculty Memo for the student to give to their professors. After accommodations are approved by TAO, it is the responsibility of the student to provide the instructor with a copy of their Faculty Memo and to make an appointment with the instructor(s) to discuss their accommodations.
Meet all the course requirements regardless of accommodations
It is important to remember that all curriculum, activities, exams, and assignments are the same for all students in college. Every student, even those with approved accommodations, must complete the same amount of work and produce the same outcomes as their peers in order to receive college credits and satisfactory grades.
Tips for Success
- Keep in mind that policies & procedures may differ from college to college. Review the disability service policies and procedures for each of the colleges you apply.
- IEP forms alone may not be acceptable as documentation of a disability. We will look at a student's whole picture in our intake process and may request additional documentation to substantiate the need for accommodations.
- Your disability information is kept confidential. When you receive your Faculty Memo, it will not specify your disability, only the accommodations you receive. Students can disclose their disability to their instructors at their discretion.
- Although you can request accommodations at any point in the semester, it is advisable to do so at the beginning of each semester. Accommodations are not retroactive and only begin at the time you present your Faculty Memo to your instructor(s).
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Adapted from the Center on Transition Innovations (VCU)