Close menu Resources for... William & Mary
W&M menu close William & Mary

Accommodation Process

This site outlines the process for request and provision of ADA accommodations. This process is governed by the university's ADA Policy and Procedure.

Procedure for Requesting Accommodations
1. The student completes the online self-registration form

New Students who have not registered before: Register Online with Student Accessibility Services

Returning Students who have received accommodations before: Activate (Renew) Your Accommodations (each semester)

2. The student provides documentation verifying a disability

Please refer to our Guidelines for Documentation. In all cases, documentation that supports reasonable accommodation must clearly indicate:

A. The existence of a disability (as defined by state and federal regulations);

B. The disability substantially limits a major life activity including a statement of the nature and extent of the limitations; and

C. A statement of what accommodations the Provider recommends

(If this step has already been completed, move to step 3)

3.  Student Accessibility Services (SAS) staff will make an appointment with the student

Our staff will make an appointment with the student to review documentation provided and assist in determining appropriate accommodations. Reasonable and appropriate accommodations are determined through a flexible, interactive process involving the student, our staff, and other faculty and staff, as appropriate. Final responsibility for selection of the most appropriate accommodation rests with the university. Early consultation regarding accommodation is essential whenever questions of compliance and/or funding for accommodation are involved. Late requests will be honored to the best of our ability, but could result in delay, substitution, or inability to complete.

4. We prepare an Accommodation Letter for the student

We prepare an Accommodation Letter outlining the accommodations for which the student has been approved. Letters regarding student-specific accommodations are prepared for relevant faculty members/instructors or, if the student is a graduate student, for the student’s designated contact at the in their program. Our staff are available to explain the procedures and assist students as needed. If difficulties arise in obtaining accommodations or there are concerns related to this process, it is the student's responsibility to contact us immediately.

For academic accommodations, and/or if the student is requesting a change to any non-academic accommodations, the student must complete Step 4 each semester.

Note: Students engaged in academic work off site (such as internships for course credit and study away) are not generally eligible for accommodation by William & Mary. The ability to accommodate a student with a disability should be a precondition to any business, agency, or organization that wants to participate in an internship or externship agreement with the university. In the case of academic course work taken at another institution of higher learning, our staff will consult and provide information as needed for students arranging accommodations at these locations.