How to Request Disability Accommodations (New Students)

1. Enroll in/register for your classes. While it is not always necessary to do this before meeting with the Director of Disability Services and Diversity, it is often helpful since the accommodations needed may differ based on what classes you are enrolled in.

   • Register for classes as early as possible. This is especially helpful if you need accommodations that may take time to fulfill, such as alternative format textbooks or sign language interpreters. Registering for your classes in a timely manner may also help you obtain a class schedule that fits any transportation or disability management-related needs you might have.
   • Provide yourself with enough time to get from class to class throughout the day.
   • Plan for breaks if there are disability management-related issues that will need to be addressed during your day.
   • Consider other relevant issues when selecting your classes, such as: classroom and building locations; class sizes (large vs. small); length of class time; meeting times of the class; and the total number of credit hours enrolled (full-time vs. part-time).
      

2. Schedule a time to meet with the Director of Disability Services and Diversity.

   • The Director of Disability Services and Diversity will talk with you to help decide what accommodations are reasonable and appropriate based on your individual needs and the requirements of your selected course or degree program.
   • You can contact the Director of Disability Services and Diversity to schedule an appointment at 405-945-3385 or emily.cheng@osuokc.edu. Walk-ins are also welcome, appointments are encouraged so we can take the best possible care of you!
   • If possible, please fill out the Disability Services New Student Information Form and sign/date the Rights and Responsibilities of Students Receiving Disability Accommodations document and bring it with you when you meet with the Director of Disability Services and Diversity. (If you have received disability accommodations before at OSU-OKC and previously submitted these documents you will NOT need to turn them in again.)
      

3. Provide documentation of your disability.

   • You will be asked to provide appropriate documentation of your disability as part of the accommodation process. There is no specific age limit for the documentation, however it should reflect your current level of functioning and contain as much of the following information as possible:
     • Your Name
     • Your primary disability or primary diagnosis (if you have multiple disabilities, it should identify the disability that affects you the most in your daily life)
     • A brief description of the major symptoms of your disability or how your primary disability affects your daily functioning
     • The expected progression or stability of your disability
     • Name and signature of the person who is providing this information
   • You can either have your certifying professional or health care provider prepare a letter for you with the above information, or you can give them the Disability Documentation Form for them to fill out.
   • If you are unsure whether or not you have appropriate documentation of your disability or if you are having trouble obtaining documentation of your disability, please consult with the Director of Disability Services and Diversity.
      

4. Provide each of your course instructors with a Notification of Student Disability Accommodations Letter (Disability Accommodation Letter), which has been prepared for you by the Director of Disability Services and Diversity.

   • Once the student and the Director of Disability Services and Diversity have agreed upon reasonable accommodations for a class, the Director of Disability Services and Diversity will prepare a Notification of Student Disability Accommodations Letter (Disability Accommodation Letter) which the student must present to each course instructor if they are receiving accommodations in that class. This is an official document listing the accommodations to be provided for a specific course.
   • The student and the instructor should establish good communication to ensure optimal provision of accommodations, especially when scheduling special testing arrangements such as taking a test with an extended time limit in the Testing Center.
   • It is the student’s responsibility to work with course instructors, the Director of Disability Services and Diversity, and other relevant departments on campus (such as the Testing Center) as needed to facilitate the accommodations being provided.
   • Students must obtain new disability accommodation letters from the Director of Disability Services and Diversity for each semester that they are requesting accommodations. In most cases students will NOT be asked to provide documentation of their disability again if they have previously provided it.
   • Students can request new disability accommodation letters each semester through any of the methods below. The accommodation letters will then be emailed to the student at their institutional (okstate) email address.
     • In-person during regular office hours (appointments encouraged but not required), please sign in at the front Admissions Office window when you arrive.
       • Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM-6:00 PM
       • Friday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
       • Walk-ins are also welcome, appointments are encouraged so we can take the best possible care of you!
     • Email: emily.cheng@osuokc.edu
     • Phone: 405-945-3385

Helpful Tips

• If you receive extended testing time as an accommodation, remind your instructors of this and confirm your testing arrangements a few days in advance of when the test is scheduled.
• Maintain good communication with your instructors regarding your accommodation needs.
• Get the most out of your college experience by utilizing as many campus support services as possible, such as tutoring through the Student Success and Opportunity Center (SSOC), Project Students Overcoming Academic Roadblocks (SOAR), and using campus computer labs and libraries.
• If you are having problems receiving your accommodations, contact the Disability Services and Diversity Office as soon as possible.