At Reed, students engage in an individualized and interactive process with Disability & Accessibility Resources and with relevant faculty and staff to determine and arrange reasonable and appropriate accommodations. Current and incoming students are encouraged to begin the accommodations process as soon as possible once a potential accommodation need has been identified.
Students who do not have documentation of a disability, or are not sure whether DAR is an appropriate resource for them, are welcome to email DAR or schedule an appointment to learn more about: the accommodations process, disability documentation guidelines and how to obtain documentation, and College resources that may be available with or without disability accommodations.
How to request accommodations at Reed
1. Student completes accommodation request form(s) and submits disability documentation to DAR
Student provides relevant disability documentation to DAR. Documentation may be uploded along with the accommodation request form, or sent to us via email or fax.
Students who do not yet have disability documentation are welcome to schedule an appointment, though DAR may not be able to fully assess their eligibility for accommodations until documentation is received.
2. Student schedules and attends an intake meeting with a DAR staff member
The intake meeting is an opportunity for the student and DAR staff to discuss the nature and impact of the student's disability(ies), review the student's disability documentation together, and explore possible accommodations and resources.
In keeping with the individualized and interactive nature of the accommodation process, DAR may ask the student to provide additional information or disability documentation in order to better understand the nature and impact of their condition and their specific accessibility needs.
3. DAR reviews accommodation requests and notifies student of their eligibility
Once the intake meeting is complete and DAR has received appropriate documentation, DAR reviews the student's accommodation requests. If needed, DAR staff may consult with relevant faculty or staff members to discuss program requirements and/or to identify reasonable accommodations or viable alternatives.
Once the student's accommodation eligibility has been determined, DAR notifies the student of their eligibility via email. Students are encouraged to contact DAR if they have questions about their accommodation eligibility, or if they would like to request changes to their approved accommodations. Students are always welcome to provide additional information or documentation to DAR for further consideration of their accommodation needs.
4. Student uses the DAR online portal to manage their ongoing accommodation needs
For academic and PE accommodations, students log in to the DAR student portal at the start of each semester to select specific accommodations for their current courses. DAR reviews the student's selections and notifies faculty of the approved accommodations via email.
For housing accommodations, students use the portal to submit a new accommodation request prior to each annual housing cycle. DAR reviews the student's selections and notifies Residence Life of approved accommodations via email.
5. Student follows through with any next steps needed for the successful implementation of accommodations
Certain accommodations may require additional steps or follow-up from the student, such as notifying DAR of the textbooks they require in an alternative format, registering for housing through Residence Life, or communicating with faculty around alternative testing arrangements. Students will be notified of any actions that are necessary for the implementation of their accommodations.
6. Student proactively communicates with DAR and relevant faculty/staff around their accommodation needs
Once accommodations are in place, it is essential that students remain in communication with DAR and relevant faculty/staff around their ongoing accessibility needs.
We strongly encourage students using academic or PE accommodations to speak with their instructors as early in the semester as possible about their individual accommodation arrangements. We find that collaboration between students and instructors results in a smoother process.
Students are encouraged to notify DAR as soon as possible if:
their accommodations are not meeting their needs, or their needs have changed;
they would like to request new or different accommodations;
they encounter any barriers in using their accommodations;
they would like assistance communicating with faculty or staff around their accommodation needs.