Starting at the University of Washington (UW) is an exciting time. UW is a great school, and the social and academic opportunities available there can significantly impact the course of your life. But if you’re a student with a disability, thriving on campus takes a little extra effort and can involve some modifications.
Obtaining the necessary disability accommodations can make the difference between achieving emotional and academic success and having a negative experience at UW. If you’re a UW student struggling to get the accommodations you need, the LLF National Law Firm can help. We are here to support students when issues arise; we advocate for you to quickly obtain the accommodations you need to get back on track. Let’s discuss your situation at UW; call us at 888-535-3686 or contact us online.
University of Washington Disability Services Office
At UW, the office that deals with everything related to disability accommodations is called Disability Resources for Students (DRS). They are the people you will be working with to apply for and establish your accommodations. UW, like every other college and university in the country, is required to provide students with disabilities equal access to education under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
The Process of Accessing Disability Accommodations at the University of Washington
While your process of getting accommodations in K-12 involved a lot of help from your parents, in fact, they were spearheading that effort; that isn’t how it will work at UW. DRS recognizes that the adjustment can be challenging for some students with disabilities and offers a range of resources to support students with disabilities as they transition to college. At UW, you, as the student, will be expected to take the reins. It’s you who will be filling out the forms, collecting and submitting documentation, coordinating with DRS, and meeting with your professors to arrange your accommodations.
Starting the Process
Requesting disability accommodations starts way before your first semester begins. As soon as you accept your spot at UW, please contact DRS to initiate the request process, which can take several weeks to over a month. If you’re an existing student, as soon as you are diagnosed or realize you are in need of accommodations, contact DRS to get the ball rolling.
To request accommodations, you will need to register on the UW myDRS website. This is where you will make your accommodation request. The application won’t take you five minutes; a lot of documentation will need to be submitted along with your request.
Necessary Documentation
According to DRS, the documentation you are required to submit serves three purposes:
- It shows DRS that you fall within the category of a person with a disability under the relevant laws, making you eligible for accommodations at UW
- It provides supplemental information regarding your disability disclosure and the impact your disability will have on your life at UW
- It assists DRS in developing accommodations that meet your specific needs
There are many different documents you may be required to submit based on the nature of your disability. If you have any questions or concerns about which documents you need to submit, please contact DRS. Confirming what you need with DRS can prevent unnecessary delays in processing your disability accommodations request. Documentation formats DRS may request from you include:
- DRS Healthcare Provider Form
- Official visit summary
- Neuropsychological assessment
- Individual Education Plan (IEP)
- 504 Plan
- K-12 Summaries of Performance
- Psycho-educational evaluation (Learning Disability/ ADHD/ TBI)
- Psychometric test results from general measures of aptitude and academic achievement (Learning Disability/ADHD/TBI)
- Audiogram
- Vision screening results
- Other information from a qualified healthcare provider that can provide insight into the student’s limitations and/or provide support for any requested accommodations
Generally, at least one of your submitted documents, if not all, will need to include:
- A detailed description of your disability diagnosis
- A description of how your disability and its symptoms are barriers to your education
- A statement as to whether this is a temporary or permanent disability, if temporary, providing a timeline for re-evaluation
- The document must come on letterhead from your healthcare provider and include their contact information, licensure number, and signature
If you do not have all your documentation in place immediately, you can still submit your request in myDRS. In that case, you or your healthcare provider can email the documents to [email protected]. DRS can, in some circumstances, make exceptions for students who are unable to get their documents in order within the necessary timeline before the semester starts. They can offer provisional accommodations, but this is on a case-by-case basis and involves a specific meeting with DRS to determine eligibility.
Access Planning Meeting with DRS
Once your request for disability accommodations is submitted, you will have an Access Planning Meeting with DRS staff. At the meeting, you will discuss your request and brainstorm the appropriate accommodations for you, as well as how to proceed with implementing them. For example, if you have specific housing or dietary accommodations, DRS will direct you to the right person in that department to coordinate with.
Finalizing Your Disability Accommodations
After your Access Planning Meeting, DRW will send you a document to your myDRS portal. This document is called the Student Eligibility Letter (SEL). The SEL outlines your accommodations. You will need to approve the accommodations in the portal for them to be finalized.
You will need to request accommodations for each semester, but this process will not require the same documentation submission. It’s essentially just going into your myDRS portal to confirm that you will be getting the same accommodations.
When your accommodations are finalized, if they involve in-classroom accommodations, you will receive a letter to provide to your professors. This letter will be available in your portal five business days prior to the start of the semester.
Your accommodations aren’t completely finalized until after you meet with your professor to discuss the implementation of the accommodations in their classroom. You will not automatically get all of your listed accommodations. You will need to discuss with your professor what this looks like and, if possible, consider the nature of their course. This doesn’t mean professors can outright deny your accommodations. If you encounter any pushback or a professor denies your accommodations, please contact the DRS staff.
How to Handle DRS Denying Your Accommodations
If DRS denies your disability accommodation request, you need to know why, and you have the right to submit an accommodation reconsideration. As soon as you receive this denial, you should contact the LLF National Law Firm and obtain backup. Our Education Law Team has successfully helped countless UW students in the accommodation reconsideration process.
Working with an LLF National Law Firm Education Law Team Attorney
Why shouldn’t you do this on your own? To begin, you have only 10 days to submit your request for reconsideration. The request involved making your argument as to why DRS got it wrong, and honestly, having your LLF National Law Firm attorney remind them of their legal obligation never hurts. Universities, including UW, can act like they are fully in control, but they aren’t above the law. If you’re entitled to accommodations under the law, they need to provide them.
Submitting a Request for Accommodation Reconsideration
You, with the assistance of your attorney, will submit a request for reconsideration to the DRS Tri Campus Team. Your request must include a detailed explanation of your specific grounds for reconsideration, along with supporting documentation that substantiates your argument. The LLF National Law Firm Education Law Team is well-versed in knowing how to produce an effective request and what documentation you should provide to get the best outcome in your case.
The DRS Tri Campus team will have 15 days after you submit your request for reconsideration to make a decision. If you disagree with the outcome, you can appeal your case to your campus-specific DRS Administrator and the University ADA/Section 504 Coordinator. This person will review your complete case file and issue a new decision within 15 days. If you are still unsatisfied with the outcome, you can go through the UW University Complaint Investigation and Resolution Office (UCIRCO) grievance process.
Disability Accommodations in the Disciplinary Action Process
Like all other UW students who are accused of misconduct, if you are a student with a disability accused of academic or other misconduct, you can expect to be subject to the disciplinary action process. UW doesn’t always make it clear that individuals with certain disabilities may qualify for accommodations in the disciplinary action process. This can look like having extended time to respond to allegations and prepare for meetings. It may also look like having meetings in a low-stimulation environment or in alternative formats, among other accommodations.
If You Aren’t Getting Your Accommodations at the University of Washington, the LLF National Law Firm Can Help
Every day you don’t access the disability resources you need at UW is a threat to your future. You don’t have to accept denials of your accommodations or professors failing to implement them. Let the LLF National Law Firm fight for you; call our Education Law Team today at 888-535-3686 or use our online form.