How to Apply for Accommodations

 Students who wish to apply for accommodations at Skidmore are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible following acceptance to the College.  The Coordinator will evaluate application materials as they are received and early eligibility review will enable both students and the College to plan appropriately.  This is especially important for students planning to request accommodations that require coordination, including interpreting services, text books in alternative format, and specialized assistive technology.  To apply for accommodations students should complete the following steps:

1. Submit an Application for Accommodation to the Coordinator for Students with Disabilities.  Applications can be obtained by calling the office of Student Academic Services office or on our web site at: http://cms.skidmore.edu/academic_services/accessibility/index.cfm

2. Request specific accommodations.  There is space for requests on the application, so this step does not require an additional form.  Students who have been recently diagnosed or may otherwise be unsure about what accommodation/s to request are welcome to consult with the Coordinator for Students with Disabilities prior to submitting an application;

3. Submit supporting documentation.  Specific documentation guidelines are outlined below, but in general documentation should verify a disability and validate the need for accommodations.

The Purpose of Documentation & Principles of Review

 Under the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, students with disabilities are sheltered from discrimination and afforded the availability of reasonable accommodations necessary to realize full and equal access to Skidmore's campus and academic programs.  Based on these stipulations, the purpose of Skidmore's documentation requirements is to collect the evidence necessary to determine a student's entitlement to the protections and provisions of the ADA and Section 504.    

 As endorsed by the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), the Coordinator for Students with Disabilities applies the following principles to the process of reviewing documentation, determining eligibility, and identifying potential accommodation(s).

1. All documentation will be reviewed on an individual case-by-case basis.
2. Determination of a disability does not require the use of any specific language.
3. Presented documentation may be augmented through an interview.
4. Determination of accommodation will be an interactive process.
5. Documentation of a specific disability does not translate directly into specific accommodations.
6. Disability documentation will be treated in a confidential manner and shared only on a need-to-know basis.
7. Information on an individual's disability is only one component of providing access.