How to Request Accommodations
If you have a qualifying disability and are interested in obtaining an accommodation from the University, please begin the process by registering with the Disability Resource Office (DRO). Individuals with disabilities are not required to register or to self-disclose unless they wish to receive services.
Eligibility for accommodations from the DRO is separate from university admission/enrollment and has no impact on admission decisions or financial aid. The DRO registration process cannot take place until after a student has been admitted to AU.
We recommend that you begin your DRO registration process immediately after you are admitted to the University.
Reasonable accommodations can be approved at any point, but accommodations are not retroactive. This means that accommodations are only effective moving forward from the point of their approval and activation, and instances before the activation of accommodations cannot be redone or changed.
3-Step Registration Process
To request academic or housing accommodations, students must self-disclose their disability by submitting a Request to Determine Accommodations form. Students should submit this form as soon as possible as it can take multiple weeks to complete the process and begin receiving services. Students requesting housing accommodations are encouraged to review relevant dates that may impact the availability of accommodated spaces.
Documentation discussed in Step 2 can be submitted within this form.
The DRO requests reasonable documentation to verify the disability and help determine eligibility for accommodations in the higher education setting. Documentation can be uploaded with the Request to Determine Accommodations form, faxed, emailed, or mailed to the DRO.
Confidential fax: 630-844-3688
Email: disabilityresources@aurora.edu
Mailing address:
Aurora University - Disability Resource Office
347 S. Gladstone, Aurora, IL 60506
For details, please review the DRO Documentation Guidelines.
After the Request to Determine Accommodations form has been reviewed and processed, students will be invited via AU email to schedule an Access Meeting to discuss their accommodation requests. The Access Meeting is an interactive process to discuss the student's experience with disability and determine reasonable accommodations.
Please visit our FAQ page or email disabilityresources@aurora.edu with questions.
Accommodation Renewal
Students are responsible for renewing their approved academic accommodations before the start of each academic year of intended use. Approved accommodations can be renewed at any point throughout a semester, but accommodations are not retroactive, meaning they cannot affect instances before the accommodations being activated. To renew accommodations, students must complete the Academic Accommodations Renewal Form. New documentation is not required unless students are requesting new accommodations that are not supported by current documentation on file.
Modifying Accommodations
Students already registered with the DRO who wish to modify their accommodations should reach out to schedule an Access Meeting to discuss their requests.
Confidentiality
In accordance with the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA), the DRO is committed to ensuring that all information regarding a student is maintained as confidential as required or permitted by law. In addition to fulfilling legal obligations, maintaining a high standard of confidentiality also serves to maintain an environment in which students with disabilities feel respected, safe, supported, and protected. Any information collected is used for the benefit of the student, and will only be shared on a limited need-to-know basis. In certain situations, disclosure of specific information about your condition(s) and how they affect you in a course or program may be required to fulfill accommodation requests or help an instructor understand the connection between the disability and accommodation.