Requesting Accommodations

Students seeking accommodations must self-identify by completing an online accommodation application and submitting appropriate documentation to the Office of Accessibility Services. After the documentation is received and reviewed, the Director of Accessibility Services will review the request and meet with the student to determine eligibility for accommodations.  Additional details can be found below.

For incoming students: We kindly ask that new students do not submit accommodation requests until information has been shared by the Director of Accessibility Services that we are ready to begin reviewing accommodations.  Information about the application process will be sent to your Alvernia email in mid-June.  If you are enrolling any semester prior to the fall semester/Mod 3, please contact our office before submitting your intake form. 

Thank you for your patience while we make sure students are fully loaded into our computer systems to avoid a delay in processing the request.

Steps for Students to Request Accommodations for a Disability – First Time Applicants

1. Complete the initial intake form, including your official documentation
   • Fill out the initial intake form with as much detail as possible.
   • Pay close attention to how you enter your ID number, as incorrect entry can cause delay in processing.
   • Be sure to include your official documentation.  More information about what is needed to meet the documentation guidelines can be found on the Required Documentation page.
   • If you are unsure if your documentation meets the requirements, do not let this stop you from applying, but please be aware that we may ask for additional documentation upon submission to fully process your request.
   • Please allow up to 2 weeks for reviewing your request.
2. Schedule and attend an intake meeting
   • After your documentation is received and reviewed, you will receive an email to your Alvernia email from the Director of Accessibility Services to schedule your intake meeting to discuss possible accommodations.
   • The ADA mandates that colleges provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities, as long as the accommodations do not fundamentally alter the nature of the academic program.
   • Accommodations are determined individually, based on your specific needs, not your diagnosis.  The intake meeting is an interactive process that helps determine what the specific needs are.
3. Receive and Share Your Accommodation Letter
   • Once your accommodations are agreed upon, you’ll receive an electronic copy of your accommodation letter.
   • Accommodations are not retroactive, and can only be implemented once you letter is signed.
   • At the start of each semester, you’ll receive an email with instructions for next steps, including how to request digital delivery of your course accommodation letters to faculty.
   • It is the student’s responsibility to sign and send accommodation letters to faculty each semester.

Applying for New Accommodations 

If you currently have accommodations through Alvernia, but believe a change is needed or that you would benefit from additional accommodations, you will need to submit a supplemental application. You can take the following steps to do so: 

1. Log into Accommodate or via the Logins page
2. Click on "Accommodation" then "Supplemental"
3. Click on "Add New" and complete the form with documentation. 

Depending on the nature of the request, you may be required to meet with a member of the Office of Accessibility Services.  Next steps will be communicated with you via your Alvernia email.