Student Accessibility Services at William & Mary

Are there any special admission requirements for students with disabilities?

No. Students with disabilities are treated exactly like all other applicants during the admission process. Disability is never the basis for admission or denial. Furthermore, there are no disability-related questions on admissions applications.

That said, a student may benefit from disclosing a disability early in the application process. By incorporating information concerning disability into a personal statement or letter of recommendation, for example, an applicant can explain challenges they've faced or overcome and any transcript discrepancies. Results of non-standard test administrations and documentation of disability can be submitted in support of any application, but are not essential for full consideration. Once admitted, students with disabilities are fully mainstreamed into the university community and are expected to maintain the same academic standards as all other students attending William & Mary.

Please refer to the following offices for admissions information

When should I register with SAS for accommodations?

You may submit recent documentation as soon as you learn of your acceptance to William & Mary. You may contact the Director of Student Accessibility Services to establish next steps.

Where is the SAS Office located?

Student Accessibility Services, a division of Student Success, is located in Room 181 of the Sadler Center.

What is the Watson Testing Center?

Find out here.

What documentation will be needed to verify my disability?

We accept documentation according to disability type and severity. Feel free to contact us if you have questions.

How will my accommodation requests be assessed?

The Director of SAS is responsible for deciding whether a disability has been adequately documented. In the first consultation meeting with a new student, reasonable accommodation will be considered in accord with the manifestations of the disability. All approved accommodations will be documented in our database, and the student will be provided access to relevant portions of their database record, including any approval letters. The Director will prepare letters to faculty summarizing the student's officical accommodations in each course at the start of each semester or summer of enrollment. Faculty and university officials will be expected to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with official written accommodation letters issued by SAS.

In addition to academic accommodation, the Director of SAS coordinates the efforts of university departments such as Facilities Management, Parking Services, Residence Life, the Registrar, and Student Leadership Development to address special access and service issues related to a student's educational experience.

Will my disability documentation be treated as confidential?

We consider all information submitted to or developed by the university related to the diagnosis, documentation, or accommodation of a disability confidential, and we maintain the records separate from any other student records at William & Mary. SAS staff and select members of the Dean of Students Office have access to disability records and can provide them to authorized university officials in the event of an emergency. SAS can provide limited information to faculty members or other members of the community who have an educational need to know, but only with the express written consent of the student.

All documents supporting a disability on file in SAS are retained for ten years following graduation and then destroyed in keeping with State of Virginia archiving policies. Diagnostic information obtained during a student's tenure at William & Mary that is inconclusive of disability will be retained for one year from last date of service or contact, and then destroyed.

How accessible is the campus?

Recent renovations have added electric door openers, lowered elevator panels, additional curb cuts, handicapped parking spaces, adapted equipment for swimming and weight-lifting, visual alarm systems, and braille signage. William & Mary continually engages in advocacy efforts to improve disability awareness and sensitivity of the entire community through a faculty/staff liaison network and a general philosophy of maximizing independence and self-determination.

What if I have special housing needs?

Newly-admitted and currently enrolled students seeking housing accommodation on the basis of disability should forward all pertinent documentation to the Director of SAS. Documentation will be reviewed and, if approved, SAS will apprise Residence Life of the appropriate housing accommodation. Specific eligibility guidelines apply.

For housing information please refer to Residence Life.

Where can I find information about the Student Health Center?

The Student Health Center offers a wide variety of services to all full-time students at William & Mary. Provided services include medical care of acute and chronic illness, allergy injections, vaccinations, laboratory services, air conditioner requests for medical necessity, health and wellness services and evaluation and treatment of mental health disorders. The health center also is equipped with a pharmacy to fill prescriptions (except stimulant medications) of students from both William & Mary physicians as well as outside health care providers. Additionally, the Health Center employs a part-time psychiatrist.

All care is confidential. The treatment of any student 18 years or older cannot be discussed with anyone else without the student’s written consent. More information is available at the Health Center website.

The Counseling Center

The university has a staff of professionals to counsel students on a range of issues. Personal concerns addressed at the Counseling Center include psychological problems, relationship and family issues, academic and personal stress and crisis situations. All services at the Counseling Center are free to students and strictly confidential.

For further information on counseling services offered at William & Mary, visit the Counseling Center website.

The Writing Resource Center

William & Mary also offers a Writing Resource Center to all students. All students are welcome to make an appointment with individual consultants to work on improving written and oral communication skills. Students can receive one-on-one coaching at any stage of a written assignment. Additionally, the Writing Resource Center offers handouts on a variety of communication issues such as grammar tips, writing style, and oral communication on their website. William & Mary also provides a History Writing Resource Center for student consultation specific to historical research and writing.

For further information, visit The Writing Resource Center.

Learning Assistance

William & Mary students can receive individual coaching on strategic learning or time management techniques through the Dean of Students Office. Other offerings include small group academic workshops, tutoring, and general study skill sessions.

For further information, visit Academic Wellbeing. Call 757-221-1327 to schedule an appointment.

Tutoring

Free student tutors are available through the TutorZone.

Study Away

Many students choose to spend a semester in another country through study abroad exchanges or in Washington D.C. Students with disabilities are welcomed and encouraged to participate in these programs. Because there may be many factors to consider, begin study away research early and plan to work closely with Student Accessibility Services.

What state and government agencies are available as informational resources?

The following state agencies have proven useful to William & Mary students and their families: