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Disability Accommodation Process

Academic accommodations services for students with documented disabilites

Springfield College is committed to providing an equal educational opportunity and full participation in all college activities, programs, and services for students with documented disabilities. Springfield College fully supports the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and all other pertinent federal, state, and local disability anti-discrimination laws.

Any currently enrolled Springfield College student with a documented disability may request academic accommodations.

Step One: Self-Identify

The process for requesting academic accommodations begins when students voluntarily schedule an appointment, call, e-mail, send a letter, fax, or otherwise contact Learning Support Services and identify that they have a documented disability. 

Step Two: Send Verification of Disability

Next, students seeking accommodations must send evidence of their accommodation needs from the appropriate qualified professional to Deb Dickens, Director of Learning Support Services. Refer to the Disability Verification Guidelines on the next page for specific information regarding your disability. 

Step Three: Complete Authorization Forms

Students must then complete written authorization forms allowing the office to receive information from the appropriate qualified professional and advocate on their behalf regarding accommodation planning. 

Step Four: Schedule an Intake Appointment

Next, students seeking accommodations are required to schedule an appointment with Deb Dickens, Director of Learning Support Services, or Vicki Anderson, Learning Disabilities Specialist, to discuss verified documentation, arrange for authorized accommodations, and review policies and procedures for receiving auxiliary aides and services. 

Step Five: Voluntary Disability Notification to Faculty

Students with documented disabilities who have completed the disability accommodation process and who are actively registered with Learning Support Services may request that their instructors be notified of authorized classroom accommodations. Confidential letters of accommodation are then sent by Deb Dickens or Vicki Anderson to instructors. Students are required to meet with their instructors to make arrangements for the accommodations identified in the letter.  

Step Six: Self-Advocate

Finally, self-advocacy is a crucial step in the entire disability accommodation process. Students are required to assist and remain actively involved in the identification and provision of appropriate and reasonable accommodations and services. Plan ahead and contact us as early as possible.