Accommodations are academic adjustments, modifications and/or auxiliary aids and services made to elements of a student’s postsecondary program that help to compensate for the student’s impairment(s) and provide equal access to students with disabilities. Here are the basics:

Any student with a documented disability may be eligible to receive reasonable and appropriate accommodations;

In order to be granted accommodations, students must contact the CSD and provide documentation which describes the condition or conditions and identifies necessary accommodations;

The purpose of academic adjustments, auxiliary aids and services, and/or modifications, known collectively as accommodations, is to reduce or eliminate any disadvantages that may exist because of an individual’s disability;

Faculty, instructors, lecturers, adjunct faculty, teaching assistants and graduate assistants (Teaching Professionals) may not refuse to provide accommodations approved by the CSD;

Accommodations cannot guarantee success, but rather seek to promote non-discrimination and equal access opportunities;

Accommodations are not merely student preferences; rather they are determined through an established interactive process between the student and the CSD based upon documentation received regarding the functional limitations resulting from a student’s disability;

The law does not require that higher education institutions waive specific courses or other academic requirements considered essential to completion of a particular program or degree. Rather, institutions are required to consider requests to modify program requirements on a case-by-case basis, to provide a student with a disability an equal opportunity to complete that program or degree.

1. Register online with the CSD by logging into CSD MyAccess. A NetID and password are required for registration. If you prefer an alternate method of registering, please complete, and return a Paper Registration Form.
2. Provide evidence regarding your condition(s) to the CSD, which explains the need for accommodations. Evidence includes your self-report, which is provided by you during the registration process.  Evidence may also include documentation from a third party. Documentation should provide information on the current impact and functional limitations of the condition in a postsecondary environment (how does the condition impact you in a learning and/or living environment).  Documentation may include but is not limited to: assessments; reports; letters from qualified evaluators, professionals or institutions; high school documentation (IEP, 504 Plan, Summary of Performance, etc.).Documentation Guidelines are available on the CSD website.  You are encouraged to share the appropriate guidelines with your treatment provider.  You may upload documentation to your CSD MyAccess account.Documentation may also be submitted confidentially by:
   Email:             myaccess-csd@uconn.edu
   Fax:                  (860) 486-4412
   In Person:    Wilbur Cross Building, Room 204
   Mail:
   Center for Students with Disabilities
   ATTN: Tim Smagacz
   University of Connecticut
   233 Glenbrook Rd., Unit 4174
   Storrs, CT  06269-4174
3. After completing the online registration process, you will receive an email with the name of your Disability Service Professional (DSP), who will work with you for the duration of your program. Your DSP will email you with next steps in the accommodations process, which may include meeting (in person or virtually) to discuss your request for accommodations, communicating via email regarding your request, etc.If approved for accommodations, your DSP will communicate your accommodations to the appropriate offices on campus.  If approved for academic accommodations, you will receive information on how to request accommodation letters for your instructors .

Welcome to the University of Connecticut! As a student who is requesting accommodations for the first time, the CSD will engage in an interactive process with you, instructors, and other University professionals to determine appropriate accommodations as well as other University services that may be helpful. The interactive process simply means that the CSD, students with disabilities, and instructors and staff from across the University will work together to determine appropriate accommodations to provide access to your program.

Through the interactive process, the CSD will:

• Request and gather evidence, including your self-report and documentation from third parties, related to your condition to understand how it impacts your functioning, including learning or living at UConn.
• Identify and consider potential accommodations that will provide equal access to your program.
• Notify your instructors and other University departments (e.g., Residential Life, Dining Services, etc.) of your approved accommodations.
• Work with you each semester to coordinate your accommodations.

The interactive process can only continue when you engage in the process with the CSD, your instructors and other University staff as indicated.

How do you start this process? Register with the CSD through MyAccess. If you prefer an alternate method of registering, please complete, and return a Paper Registration Form.

If you have any questions regarding the registration process or technical issues while registering through MyAccess, please contact Tim Smagacz at myaccess-csd@uconn.edu or (860) 486-2020.

As a returning student, the CSD will continue to engage in the interactive process with you each semester to ensure the continued provision of appropriate accommodations as you progress through your program at UConn.

Through this process, the CSD will:

• Engage with you each semester to discuss and review your current accommodations. Accommodations are determined on
  a class-by-class basis and may change based on course structure and the requirements of your program.
• Notify your teaching professionals and other University departments as indicated of your approved accommodations.
• Work with you, your instructors and other University staff to coordinate your accommodations. Some accommodations
  may be appropriate for some courses, but not appropriate for others. The CSD will work together with you and your
  teaching professionals to ensure access while maintaining the academic integrity of the program.
• Maintain open communication with you and your teaching professionals. If an accommodation is no longer effective,
  or if you are requesting a new accommodation, please contact your DSP to discuss alternatives. As a student, you
  are responsible for communicating concerns or difficulties to your DSP.

The interactive process can only continue when you engage in the process with the CSD, your instructors and other University staff as indicated.