How to Access Services

How To Access Services

Responsibilities for Students with Disabilities

Accommodations, academic adjustments and services for students with disabilities involve an interactive process between the student, faculty and Disability Services and are implemented with a collaborative spirit in mind.

Any Student Seeking Services from Disability Services Needs To :

• Contact Disability Services to set up an intake appointment or screening appointment.  Email is the best way to contact our staff!
• Provide documentation of your disability to our staff.   Please see section on documentation requirements or talk with our staff if you need guidance on appropriate documentation and how to obtain this.
• During your intake meeting: discuss with our staff accommodations/academic adjustments you’ve had previously, your current functional limitations due to disability and any issues you currently have. This is in order to develop your accommodation plan (Verification of Individualized Accommodations/Services or VISA) form which will be provided to your instructors.  
• Attend any additional meetings/trainings regarding services you are approved for, such as note taking, alternative testing, etc.    
• Meet with your professors to discuss your VISA form early each semester.  An important note:  Even if Disability Services has sent a VISA or information on approved accommodations on your behalf, instructors and students still need to discuss this for each class to ensure access is provided while essential elements of classes/programs are upheld.  
• Check your CSP account or the Student Services Webpage for important information about deadlines or disability services information!  
• If you have questions, concerns or feel that changes are needed on your accommodation plan, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

Students in Cohort or Distance Education Programs:

• The process for obtaining services is the same; however, we are happy to work with you via phone and/or email to provide services in a timely manner.  

Accommodations and academic adjustments are made on an individual, case-by-case basis and may differ from services provided at the high school level.

Documentation Requirements

Concordia University, in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws, is committed to providing academic adjustments/auxiliary aids and services for students with disabilities.   In keeping with best practices in providing access in the educational environment, the following guidelines have been developed to assist students in providing documentation of their disability.  This information, along with personal interviews, is used to develop accommodation plans that reduce barriers to the academic environment, while still maintaining essential elements to a class/program.   Disability determinations and appropriate academic adjustments are made on a case by case basis and based on the functional limitations of each student.

 Documentation that is most helpful to Disability Services includes the following:

• Documentation should be current.  If possible, within the last 3-5 years.  If there are changes to the student’s disability status, updated information should be provided to Disability Services as soon as possible.  
• A report on letterhead from a verified medical or mental health professional in an area related to the disability.  Examples of this are:
  • A psychologist or psychiatrist to address mental health issues.
  • A psychologist or LD specialist who provides comprehensive evaluation for a learning disability, including testing scores.
  • A medical specialist who can diagnose ADD/ADHD including ruling out other diagnosis.  
  • A medical specialist who can diagnose health impairments and their specific impact on the student.
  • In general, information from chiropractors or general practitioners in a brief office visit may not be enough to determine disability status.  
• Documentation should reflect not only the diagnosis, but how the disability impacts the student in post-secondary environments.  Clear recommendations for the student should be provided by the specialist or practitioner.  
• Students are responsible for providing documentation to Disability Services staff. If the documentation is not complete, however, Disability Services may assist the student by asking them to sign a release to obtain more information from the diagnosing specialist.   
• IEP and 504 plans alone may not be enough to determine disability status unless comprehensive testing scores are also included in these plans. Additional documentation or testing may be required.  
• Forms are available either (online or hard copy) that students can submit to their diagnosing specialist.  Please refer to the “Forms” section of the Disability Services website or contact one of our staff members for more information.  

Please note:  Even if accommodations have been granted at other institutions or are documented by a specialist, the University may deny academic adjustments or other services that pose an undue burden, result in the modification of an essential element of a program or course.