Process for Making Accommodation Requests

Emerson’s Disability Services Office (DSO) offers services to qualified students with documented physical, medical visual, hearing, learning or psychiatric disabilities. The Disability Service Coordinator is the College’s primary contact person for all students with disabilities. All student requests for accommodations must be directed to and evaluated by the Disability Services Coordinator.

Although the College does not require Emerson students with disabilities to register with the DSO, students must contact the DSO if they choose to request an accommodation or would like to take advantage of the DSO’s services. When making requests for accommodations, students should remember that it takes time for the College to arrange accommodations. Therefore, if a student’s requests are not made in a timely manner, the College cannot guarantee that accommodations will be provided when needed. For example, the College requires sufficient time to arrange for accommodations such as sign interpreters, texts in alternative formats, or possibly altering room assignments. Students who wish to request test accommodations should also note that professors often want to know about a student’s need for test accommodations early in the semester so alternative arrangements can be made in advance of any exams.

Students who request accommodations will be asked to provide the DSO with recent and appropriate documentation of their disability, and why their requested accommodation is necessary. A qualified professional must prepare the documentation. After submitting this documentation to the DSO, a student must make an appointment to meet with the Disability Service Coordinator where they will review together the documentation and the student’s requests for accommodations. After reviewing a student’s request for accommodation(s) and the supporting documentation, the Coordinator will decide whether or not the student is eligible to receive the requested, or some alternative accommodation(s), and will inform the student in writing of this decision. The DSO also will inform the student in writing of his or her right to appeal the DSO’s decision.