Entering Students

ODS requires documentation of a diagnosed condition, with evidence of how you are substantially limited in an academic setting. In many cases, high school documentation may not be sufficient. While you are welcome to submit a 504 plan or IEP, these documents are generally not sufficient without accompanying information from your evaluator or provider. Additionally, educational evaluations that do not include a clearly stated diagnosis and do not demonstrate evidence of impairment are not sufficient. It is important to share our documentation guidelines with your provider so that they understand what information we require.

The laws that govern accommodations and services in the K – 12 setting differ from the laws that govern the college setting. Additionally, the purpose of accommodation shifts from success to access once a student enters the college setting. For these reasons, documentation that was acceptable for high school may not be appropriate for the college setting.

The ODS registration process is an interactive one using information from students’ documentation and their own self-report to demonstrate a disability-related need. During your intake meeting with an Accommodations Specialist, various academic areas will be reviewed, and you should be prepared to describe any disability-related challenges you experience. This helps the Accommodations Specialist learn more about your history and experiences so that they can recommend campus services, resources, or appropriate accommodations.

Accommodations may not always mirror those received in high school because they may not be necessary or appropriate in the college setting, or the need may be met through other services available on campus. At the end of the intake, you will know what accommodations you are eligible to receive. As an entering student, it can be difficult to know what to expect from college classrooms and academic requirements, but you may request additional accommodations at any point by contacting an Accommodations Specialist.

Placement tests are optional. Please review the math placement test information. Students typically take placement tests prior to Bama Bound, since course registration occurs during Bama Bound. If you make a request for placement test accommodations in advance, we will review your documentation and send an email to your Crimson email and the UA Testing Center to notify that extended time is approved on the placement test. Again, documentation should be sent to ODS well in advance of your Bama Bound dates if extended time is needed.

Students are required to attend Bama Bound before they are allowed to register for classes, so there is no way for ODS to provide priority registration to entering students prior to Bama Bound. However, you will receive priority registration for all future semesters once you have completed the registration with ODS. Accommodations Specialists do not serve as advisors, so you still need to meet with an academic advisor prior to course registration. Each college has a Student Services office that provides advising, and students can also locate this information by logging into DegreeWorks.

ODS facilitates academic accommodations that are specific to the classroom and learning environments. We do not offer personal services such as coaching, tutoring, or personal devices or technology.

We recommend exploring available resources at UA if you have a need that is not addressed through accommodations.