{"id":957,"date":"2024-12-10T15:25:50","date_gmt":"2024-12-10T15:25:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/office-accessibility-services\/?page_id=957"},"modified":"2026-01-23T17:38:32","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T17:38:32","slug":"procedures-for-requesting-accommodations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/office-accessibility-services\/procedures-for-requesting-accommodations\/","title":{"rendered":"Procedures for Requesting Accommodations"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) helps students to navigate everything related to academic, residential, and dining accommodations. Registered students can reach out to OAS to request or modify accommodations, discuss concerns, or ask for strategies and resources. The accommodations process can take up to four weeks, so don\u2019t hesitate to submit your request and contact the office if you have any questions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>

Step 1: Disclose Disability<\/h3><\/i><\/div>

Self-identify as a student with a disability by filling out an Accommodation Request Form<\/a>.\u00a0 You will need your SMCM student ID and email address to make the request. Once your request is made, you will be able to manage your request through our accommodation management platform, Accommodate.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Step 2: Submit Supporting Documentation<\/h3><\/i><\/div>

You can upload documentation from your provider in the Accommodation Request Form<\/a>, if you have it available. Otherwise, you can upload it to your account later, email, fax or bring it to our office to upload.<\/p>\n

While various forms of disability-related documentation are acceptable, you can have your provider complete our documentation forms.<\/p>\n

Documentation Form \u2013 ADHD<\/a>
\nDocumentation Form \u2013 Mental Health Disabilities<\/a>
\nDocumentation Form \u2013 Health-Related Disabilities<\/a>
\nDocumentation Form \u2013 Emotional Support Animal (ESA)<\/a>
\nYou can find out more about what types of documentation can be accepted in our Documentation Guidelines for Accessibility<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Important:<\/strong> If you are waiting for documentation, do not stop the accommodations process. Our office will still contact you to schedule a meeting to discuss your request.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Step 3: Meet with a staff member from the Office of Accessibility Services<\/h3><\/i><\/div>

Once we receive your request, we will reach out with a link to schedule a meeting with us. Once you book, you will be sent a list of questions we will go over in the meeting. In this meeting, you can share any additional documentation related to your request. Please be prepared to discuss your experiences - we are interested in learning about the strategies and supports that have been helpful in your learning, how you have navigated challenges, and which accommodations have or have not been supportive for you in the past.<\/p>\n

The information shared in this interactive meeting and your provider documentation will be used to determine eligibility for accommodations. These documents remain confidential in OAS and are not part of your academic record.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Step 4: Receive Accommodation Updates<\/h3><\/i><\/div>

We will notify you of our decision via your SMCM email as soon as our review is complete. Please note that this process could take up to four weeks.<\/p>\n

If you have a concern about an accommodation, accommodation denial, or the implementation of an accommodation, you have the right to appeal the decision, and if you wish, file a complaint. More information about the Accessibility Complaint Process<\/a> can be found on our website.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Step 5: Activate your Accommodations<\/h3><\/i><\/div>

To activate your accommodations, you must share your official accommodations letter with the instructor of each course you\u2019d like to use your accommodations in. Accommodations are not retroactive, so it is important to share your letter as soon as possible. We encourage you to have a conversation with each of your instructors about how your accommodations will be implemented, as this can look different for each course. For residential accommodations, our office shares the official letter directly with the Office of Residence Life.<\/p>\n

If you have questions about this process, or believe this process presents a barrier, please contact the Office of Accessibility Services as soon as possible.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Step 6: Renew your Accommodations each Semester<\/h3><\/i><\/div>

Accommodations need to be renewed each semester. If you choose to renew your accommodations, you will need to complete a Semester Request in the Accommodate portal. Once this has been completed, a new accommodation letter will be sent to you through Accommodate and you can share this with your instructors.<\/p>\n

If you have questions about this process, or believe this process presents a barrier, please contact the Office of Accessibility Services as soon as possible.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tRequest Accommodations\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tLog in to Accommodate\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) helps students to navigate everything related to academic, residential, and dining accommodations. Registered students can reach out to OAS to request or modify accommodations, discuss concerns, or ask for strategies and resources. The accommodations process can take up to four weeks, so don\u2019t hesitate to submit your request and Find out more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"full-width-content","footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-957","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","5":"entry"},"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/office-accessibility-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/957","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/office-accessibility-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/office-accessibility-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/office-accessibility-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/91"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/office-accessibility-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=957"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/office-accessibility-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/957\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1249,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/office-accessibility-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/957\/revisions\/1249"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/office-accessibility-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=957"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}