§ 1-110 Policy for the Provision of Academic Accommodations, Auxiliary Aids & Services for Students with Disabilities
It is the policy of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to provide admitted and current students with disabilities reasonable academic accommodations, auxiliary aids and services (hereinafter referred to as academic accommodations). The Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) is the unit tasked with providing these academic accommodations to accepted and current students.
DRES provides services for degree-seeking and non-degree seeking, undergraduate, graduate, and professional students at the university. Admitted and currently enrolled students are required to self-identify as an individual with a disability through a process outlined in this policy and discussed in detail the DRES Procedures for the Provision of Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities. Students should use the Application for DRES Services form to self-identify and to complete their request for services. Students who need assistance or are unable to complete the Application for Services using this form, should contact DRES to submit their request for academic accommodations by emailing disability@illinois.edu or by calling DRES at (217) 333-1970.
When a disability is non-obvious, students will be required to provide documentation to support their need for academic accommodations due to an underlying disability. Documentation requirements are available in the DRES Procedures for the Provision of Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities.
Upon review of any applicable medical documentation, DRES will make a determination of disability. When a determination of disability is found, students are required to engage in the interactive process with DRES to discuss the student’s individual needs and discuss ways that an academic accommodation may assist them. Meetings may be in-person or remote.
After completion of the interactive process, DRES will document the reasonable accommodations selected and provide the student with a Letter of Academic Accommodations outlining the available academic accommodations to present as necessary to their course instructors or other academic advisors as needed.
To receive the academic accommodations outlined in the Letter of Academic Accommodations, students are required to provide their Letter to each instructor either in person or by email.
Academic accommodations are not retroactive. If a student does not provide a Letter of Accommodation at the beginning of a semester, the student’s Academic Accommodation will only be in effect prospectively from the time the instructor receives the Letter.
Students may appeal a decision of DRES to the ADA Coordinator in the following situations by email at adacoordinator@illinois.edu or calling 217-333-0885:
Where a student believes a determination of disability was made in error.
When a student does not agree with the provision of academic accommodation provided by DRES and as outlined in their Letter of Academic Accommodation.
Where a student believes an instructor or faculty member has failed to implement or incorrectly implemented a current Letter of Academic Accommodation. In this case, a student may seek an informal or formal review through the Academic Accommodation Implementation Review (AAIR) procedures as documented in the DRES Procedures for the Provision of Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities.
The appeals process in Section (h) above is distinct from the university’s procedures for investigating and adjudicating behavior pursuant to the university’s Nondiscrimination Policy as codified in Section 1-108 of the Student Code. Students may submit complaints based on discrimination by faculty or staff on the basis of disability to the EEO Division of the Office for Access & Equity, and by emailing the Office for Student Conflict Resolution if the alleged discriminatory conduct involves behavior by students.
Students with disabilities who are involved in university processes including hearings for violations of the Student Code may request accommodations related to the investigation and hearing process. Students should request accommodations as soon as possible to ensure the university has adequate time to review any required documentation of the disability and to issue the accommodation letter. Students should submit such requests directly to their DRES Access Specialist or register for services with DRES using the DRES Application for Services. Students should notify their OSCR contact of their request for services related to a hearing or investigation to ensure the appropriate personnel are able to implement any approved accommodation related to their proceedings. Students submitting requests within five business days of a deadline or hearing may not receive requested accommodations on the basis of insufficient notice.