Frequently Asked Questions
As soon as possible after being accepted to the University. Students must self-identify a disability to the DRO to request accommodations and the process may take several weeks to complete. Accommodations are NOT retroactive and can only be applied moving forward from approval, so students are encouraged to apply early.
Higher education institutions can request reasonable documentation to determine eligibility for disability-related accommodations. Current documentation allows us to better understand the barriers that may exist in a collegiate setting.
Proper documentation is determined on a case-by-case basis in alignment with the DRO Documentation Guidelines.
Maybe, but not necessarily. High school special education services work to ensure success. Higher education accommodations address barriers to access through reasonable accommodations. Because of this, accommodations and support may look different in the college setting.
No. The IEP or 504 Plan developed by your high school is not an active document in the college setting and will not transfer directly to AU. Students must complete the DRO’s process to request accommodations to determine their eligibility for accommodations at AU.
No. Eligibility for, and determination of, accommodations are made independently at each institution. Students transferring to AU from other colleges or universities will need to complete the 3-step registration process to request accommodations at AU
Students may request accommodations at any time. However, there are various situations where accommodations may not be applicable based on the time of the request. Housing accommodations may be restricted based on space available, and academic accommodations may take time to implement. No accommodations are retroactive meaning they cannot be applied to instances that have already occurred. Students are encouraged to apply for accommodations as soon as possible. Students requesting housing accommodations are encouraged to review the important dates that may impact availability.
All accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis relative to the needs of the individual. The DRO will work with the student in the Access Meeting to determine eligibility for accommodations, even if the student is unsure of what they would qualify.
No. The DRO is the only office mandated by the University to review, approve, and coordinate all disability-related accommodations.
Once approved for accommodations, the DRO will email a Letter of Accommodations to your course instructors with the approved accommodations. Each letter is valid for its current semester.
Documentation submitted to the DRO is confidential information protected by FERPA and does not become part of a student’s permanent record.