Disabilities can impact daily activities (e.g., academics, living, and eating on campus). Accommodation eligibility is determined through an interactive process involving a personalized assessment of each student’s needs. Student Disability Services (SDS) collaborates with campus partners to offer a range of accommodations as outlined below. Please note that advance notice is essential to ensure effective planning and implementation.

Students are encouraged to contact SDS for guidance and to discuss their access needs before arriving on campus or prior to the start of a new quarter.

Communication Access

Communication Access refers to a variety of services (e.g., ASL, CART) and assistive technology available for deaf or hard-of-hearing students. Services or technology will be determined after a review of all essential information to ensure students are matched with an effective means of communication access.

Course Flexibility

Some students with disabilities may be approved for deadline extensions, flexible attendance, or flexibility with class participation as accommodations. These accommodations depend on the student’s condition and may be approved individually or together.

Document Conversion and Alternative Texts

Document Conversion services and Alternative Format accommodations support students with print-based disabilities by providing accessible course materials. Alternative Format accommodations can include the provision of E-textbooks and digital formats of course materials that are compatible with assistive technology (e.g., text-to-speech, magnification, or screen-reading software). Alternative formats may be sourced from publishers or converted in-house by SDS Document Conversion Specialists.

Notetaking Assistance

Students registered with Student Disability Services (SDS) who have disabilities that affect their ability to take notes during class may be eligible for notetaking support. SDS will work with each student to find the best notetaking option for their needs. Students should attend the first class session to learn about available notetaking support, the type of notes needed for the course, and their ability to capture important information. After gathering this essential information, a notetaking solution that fits their access needs and supports the course objectives can be selected.

Testing Accommodations

Testing accommodations are to ensure a student’s equitable opportunity to demonstrate knowledge of the course material being assessed. Instructors may be consulted about the application of testing accommodations to their specific course assessment. Testing accommodations do not guarantee improved performance, test completion, or a particular outcome. Rather, it is presumed that the use of accommodations will enable the eligible student with a disability to demonstrate their knowledge or skill on exams and quizzes equally.

Food Allergy Accommodations

SDS recognizes that many students have food allergies and dietary restrictions that will have an impact on their dining options and experience. UChicago Dining has taken measures to assist students with managing their food allergies in the dining hall. Refer to The UChicago Dining Allergy Guide (PDF) for further information.

Housing Accommodations

SDS recognizes that students may have disability-related barriers within housing. SDS approves specific housing features as an accommodation to provide equal access to eligible students with disabilities. Examples of Housing accommodations may include, but are not limited to, a single room or air conditioning.

Requests for a specific room, residence hall, suitemates, and/or roommates are not accommodations provided through the SDS office, as specific placements within a residence hall are outside the purview of SDS

Student Employment Accommodations

If you have a disability and are a student employee of the University, you may be eligible for reasonable accommodations in the workplace. The nature of workplace accommodations may differ from any academic accommodations you may receive and will require a separate application process. If you would like to apply for accommodations specific to your student employee role, please complete the student employment application.

Study Abroad Accommodations

Students with approved accommodations who will be studying abroad and would like to utilize their accommodations are encouraged to contact SDS once they have committed to participate in a study abroad program. . Timely notification is required in order to allow time to determine implementation abroad. Not all SDS approved housing accommodations can be implemented abroad.

The UChicago Study Abroad website includes helpful information regarding accessibility abroad.

Temporary Conditions Accommodations

SDS provides support for students with injuries that impede their functional ability to meet academic obligations. SDS assists students with injuries or temporary medical conditions that affect their ability to meet academic obligations. For example, appropriate classroom accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis.

• For course modifications less than two weeks:
  Students should contact their academic advisor (College) or Dean of Students (Graduate) for short-term adjustments.
• For conditions that will require accommodations longer than two weeks:
  Students should submit an online application with SDS.

Please contact SDS to inquire about available services and resources.