1. Disability Center New Student Orientation for Professional Students
(Law, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine)

2. Initiating your accommodations

3. First Step: Meet with the Appropriate Department Representative(s)
Professional Program
Department Representative(s)
School of Law
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs –
S. David Mitchell or
Registrar – Denise Boessen
School of Medicine
Associate Dean for Student Programs –Laine Young-Walker
College of Veterinary Medicine
Associate Dean of Student Affairs – Angela Tennison
ADA Coordinator – Stephanie McClaren

4. During your meeting…
Provide department representative with your Accommodation Notification Letter(s)
This informs them that you are eligible for accommodations
Discuss details and make plans for each accommodation you wish to use in your class(es)
A thorough conversation is important!
Review the process to implement classroom and exam accommodations in their program
Each program is unique and handles administration of accommodations differently

5. Discussing Exam Accommodations
While meeting with your department representative…
Inform them if you would like to use this accommodation
Review any policies or procedures the program may have for using their testing facilities
Discuss potential time conflicts due to accommodations
All exams are to be taken at the same date and time as your class, except for a time conflict resulting from an exam accommodation (e.g. extended time, restricted exam times)

6. Discussing Notetaking Assistance accommodations
While meeting with your department representative…
If you have more than one method option for Notetaking Assistance, let your department representative instructor know your preferred method (i.e. peer notetaker or copies of slides/PowerPoints).
You and the department representative will decide together which notetaking method(s) will work best for your classes
If your department utilizes the Disability Center to assist with the peer notetaker accommodation, here’s a few details on that process…

7. Using your Peer Notetaker accommodation
You confirm the need for a Notetaker within the Notetaking Assistance portal in myAccess.
Disability Center will work with the department representative/instructor to recruit a Notetaker
You will receive notifications once a Notetaker has been found and once they begin to upload notes into myAccess. You can then login and download those notes.
You can refer back to the guide for confirming a peer notetaker here;
*Depending on your program, the individual coordinating the accommodation may be either the department representative or your instructor. Before reaching out to your instructor, please verify the process with your department representative.
Note: If a department representative/instructor needs more information about this accommodation, they can find a guide on the Disability Center’s website within the Instructor Page.

8. A few last notes on peer notetaking…
Notetaking is intended as assistance with notes on days you are present in class
It is NOT a substitute for attending class
You will gain much more information from lectures than from notes
If you’re able, take your own notes also and use the classmate’s notes as a supplement

9. How do I get accommodations for next semester/block/IP?
For students in the School of Law:
If you are requesting the same accommodations for next semester, you will simply renew using myAccess.
You will not need to meet with your Access Advisor to renew, unless you are requesting a change to your accommodation plan.
Please wait to request your accommodations until you have received confirmation from your Access Advisor that the system is ready for School of Law students to submit their requests. Submitting your requests before the system is ready may inadvertently disclose your accommodation eligibility to your instructor(s)!
Using “myAccess” you will be able to request Accommodation Notification letters on your own with no waiting and do much more!

10. How do I get accommodations for next semester/block/IP?
For students in the School of Veterinary Medicine:
If you are requesting the same accommodations for next IP/block, you will simply renew using myAccess.
You will not need to meet with your Access Advisor to renew, unless you are requesting a change to your accommodation plan.
Keep in mind, accommodations for labs and clinical rotations may be different than in didactic settings. Being proactive and reviewing your needs before you start your clinical rotations is encouraged!
Using “myAccess” you will be able to request Accommodation
Notification letters on your own with no waiting and do much more!

11. How do I get accommodations for next semester/block/IP?
For students in the School of Medicine:
If you are requesting accommodations that require the use of myAccess (i.e. alternative format, peer notetaking) you will need to request your accommodations each block and follow the procedures as listed.
You will not generate the accommodation letter and take it to Dr. Young-Walker.
You are encouraged to meet with your Access Advisor/Coordinator before the start of M2 to discuss the process for requesting accommodations on Step 1.
You must meet with your Access Advisor/Coordinator the spring semester before M3 to review accommodations before starting clerkships.

12. Questions?
Please feel free to contact the office Monday-Friday between 8am and 5pm. (573) /