Disability Accommodations for Current Students

Because of the intense pace of the block plan, we recommend that academic accommodation requests be made well in advance of the beginning of a term so Disability Services staff have sufficient time to evaluate the request and implement necessary accommodations.

If class is already in session, you can still request academic accommodations. We will meet with you and accept documentation at any time! However, you should be aware that accommodations cannot be retroactively applied, so any approved academic accommodations will not apply until the date of approval from the Disability Services Office at Cornell.

A student qualifies for accommodations at Cornell College when:
The student provides up-to-date documentation of the disability from a medical doctor, educational or school psychologist, or other individual licensed by the state of origin to diagnose learning or physical disabilities.

Documentation guidelines

If you are not sure whether or not you qualify for accommodations, contact the Coordinator of Disability Services.

Generally, a student requesting acccommodations is responsible for:

• Identifying themselves to the Coordinator of Disability Services as a student with a disability
• Providing appropriate documentation of the disability
• Identifying themselves to each instructor within the first three days of the block if requesting academic accommodation
• Initiating contact to all academic support services

You are welcome to contact the Coordinator of Disability Services, the Registrar's Office, the Division for Student Life, or the Ebersole Health and Wellbeing Center at any time for information or assistance.

The first step in requesting academic accommodations is telling the Disability Services Office about yourself and your experiences. Current students will fill out the Academic Accommodations Request form.

Accommodations Request Form

After submitting your request form, the next in establishing academic accommodations is attending a Welcome Meeting with the Coordinator of Disability Services. This can be conducted in person, via video call, or over the phone.

In this meeting, we will discuss your past experience with accommodations in the classroom, possible academic accommodations at Cornell, logistics for using accommodations, and any other questions or concerns that you may have.

After you have met with the Coordinator of Disability Services, there are two steps you must follow to get accommodations each block.

Your professor gets your letter of accommodations

The Disability Services email sends your letter to your professor and you. In the Welcome Meeting, you have the opportunity to choose if you want your letter to be sent automatically each block or to let us know each block whether you want your letter to be sent.

You have an implementation conversation with your professor

• This should be a private meeting with the faculty member to discuss your accommodations and how they will be implemented based on the design of the class. For example, if you have extended time for testing and you are in a class that has no tests, you will not need the extended time.
• This conversation should happen within the first three days of the block, and you (the student) should initiate the conversation.
• You are under no obligation to share your diagnoses with your professor. This conversation is purely regarding logistics involved in implementing the accommodations listed on your letter.

Keep in mind that accommodations cannot be retroactively applied, so it is important to follow these steps early in the block to ensure you know how each accommodation will be implemented.