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Frequently Asked Questions

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Documentation and Accommodations

Do I need to tell anyone else about my diagnosis?

It is your choice whether or not to disclose your diagnosis, even to your instructors. You are never at any time obligated to disclose this information to faculty for the purposes of achieving an accommodation. This is achieved by providing documentation to ACCESS for review and approval.

How do I know if I’m eligible for accommodations?

In order to receive accommodations, you must establish that you have a diagnosis covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended (ADAAA) and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The ADAAA defines a disability as a “permanent impairment that significantly limits a major life activity.” These activities can include listening, walking, reading, writing and learning. Documentation of your disability must come from a professional in the field of your diagnosis. Additionally, your documentation must specify a diagnosis and provide copies of any scored testing done to establish the diagnosis and functional impacts on higher education.

Do you have a list of accommodations?

No, our accommodation process is individualized and is based on an interactive discussion with the student and a review of relevant documentation. For information on what types of documentation is needed in the evaluation process, please review our documentation guidelines.

Who has access to my documentation once it’s provided?

All information presented to ACCESS will be kept in a confidential file. Access to this information is restricted to office personnel only. ACCESS will not release any information without a completed Consent for Release of Confidential Information Form, identifying the person(s) with whom to share information. The Consent for Release of Confidential Information Form must be completed for each instance where you request access.

When do my accommodations officially start?

Your accommodations are active from the moment they have been approved by our office. Please be aware, accommodations approved through our office are not retroactive. Therefore, it is to your advantage to register and/or make your request for accommodations before the start of the semester. Additionally, depending on the accommodation, some may take longer to produce due to the nature of the resource (i.e. tests must be scheduled in accordance with the 48 hour policy, alternative textbooks can take up to two weeks, etc.). Please take this into consideration and plan accordingly to request accommodations as early as possible.

Do you provide housing accommodations?

Yes, if you require accommodations in University Housing, please let us know during your one-on-one meeting or by indicating so on your intake application. We will use the same documentation review process to validate the request and communicate the need for accommodation to housing.

Do you provide accommodations for English Language Learners?

International students with disabilities are provided equal educational opportunities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which is the law that defines disabilities and the general principles that guide accommodations. Under the ADA, international students who have disabilities are entitled to general accommodations in school, such as wheelchair access to school facilities, service and support animals and personal devices (e.g., hearing aids) to help overcome a disability.

For testing accommodations, this is also true. There are many diagnoses for which extended time may be approved or assistance such as a reader or scribe may be warranted. However, language proficiency is not sufficient rationale for accommodations to be extended through ACCESS. ADA Accommodations are not to lower expectations but to level the playing field for students with disabilities. If you are an international student and have appropriate documentation justifying the need for accommodation under the ADA, please proceed through the intake and accommodation process.

International students who have questions or concerns about academic issues may review resources on the Office of International Affairs website. International students may also request an appointment with the International Student Program Advisor for additional academic and campus resources by contacting: isss@siue.edu.

What if I add or drop a class?

If you add or drop a class, you must update ACCESS as soon as possible. Please keep in mind that notifying ACCESS is not the same as changing your schedule with the registrar’s office. It is your responsibility to report any changes to your schedule to both offices. This enables our office to ensure you are receiving accommodations only in the classes for which you are enrolled. To change your schedule, please use the add/drop form. For more information, inquire at the service center.

How do I apply for accommodations?

You will need to register with our office by clicking “Apply/Register”. Once you have filled out our intake form you will be contacted to set up an intake meeting with one of our staff members. At that time, you will discuss the accommodations that you are requesting for your time at SIUE.

Emotional Support Animals (ESA)

What is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA)?

According to the ADA, Emotional Support Animals are often used as part of a medical treatment plan as therapy animals, but they are not considered service animals. ESAs provide companionship, relieve loneliness, and sometimes help with depression, anxiety, and certain phobias, but do not have special training to perform tasks that assist people with disabilities. Emotional support animals are usually dogs and cats, but they can be any animal that provides comfort during times of sadness, anxiety, or emotional stress.

What are ESA Registration Letter Scams?

Under the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Fair Housing Act, a housing provider may request reliable documentation when an individual requesting a reasonable accommodation has a disability and disability-related need for an accommodation that are not obvious or otherwise known. Some websites sell certificates, registrations, and licensing documents for assistance animals to one who answers certain questions or participates in a short interview and pays a fee. In accordance with HUD, such documentation from the internet is not, by itself, sufficient to reliably establish that an individual has a non-observable disability or disability-related need for an assistance animal.

By contrast, many legitimate, licensed health care professionals deliver services remotely, including over the internet. One reliable form of documentation is a note from a person’s health care professional that confirms a person’s disability and/or need for an animal when the provider has personal knowledge of the individual. If you already have a professional looking after your mental health, that is the best person to talk to regarding your interest in an emotional support animal. Our Emotional Support Animal (ESA) form will allow your physician to answer all necessary questions regarding your accommodation request. If you have additional questions regarding this form, please arrange to speak to an ACCESS staff member.

How do I Know if an ESA Letter Provider is Legitimate?

A legitimate ESA letter can only come from a licensed healthcare professional, such as a therapist, counselor, social worker, psychiatrist, psychologist, nurse, physician’s assistant, or doctor. If you didn’t talk to a board-certified doctor or licensed mental health professional, you are being sold an unenforceable document.

Beware of sites that:

Approve you for an ESA letter after only asking a few questions online.
Have you message or talk with a mental healthcare professional who is not located in your state (often overseas).
Register your emotional support animal and tell you registration is sufficient for protecting your rights. Registration is NOT the same as getting an ESA letter.

If you have additional questions, comments or concerns about an ESA accommodation, please register with ACCESS and schedule an appointment to speak with an ACCESS staff member to provide more information.

Testing Accommodations

How do I register/signup/submit a request to take a test/quiz/exam in the ACCESS Testing Office?

Students who schedule tests through the Student Accommodate Portal will receive a confirmation of their test being scheduled. Approved test times, dates, class information and accommodations are entered into our system and sent as a notification and reminder to both the student and the professor. To schedule your exam online, visit the accommodate portal.

How do I get my extended time on a test/quiz/exam?

Students approved for extended time accommodations will have those applied in person when scheduled exams are proctored in the Access Testing Office. For online courses, your instructor will apply the extended time upon receiving your accommodations letter for the semester. If you take an online exam and your extended time is not applied, please contact ACCESS.

Where is the ACCESS Testing Office located?

The ACCESS Testing Office is located in the Student Success Center Room 1270.

Who determines how much time I get on a test/quiz/exam?

Application of extended time is based upon a review of submitted documentation. During your intake and accommodation approval process it will be determined the extended time that will be approved. If after your intake you find yourself in need of additional time, you can always contact ACCESS to review your file or submit necessary documentation to support the request.

What do I do if I miss the 48 hour time frame to schedule my test/quiz/exam?

If you miss the 48 hour window for scheduling your exam, please speak with your instructor about rescheduling at an alternative testing time. Depending on the flexibility of the course, the instructor may be able to proctor the exam with accommodations or you’ll need to take the exam with the rest of the class. This is why it is advantageous for you to schedule your exams in advance to ensure your accommodations are in place.

How late is the ACCESS Testing Office open?

Regular business hours are Monday through Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm. We do however remain open to proctor evening exams scheduled in accordance with our 48 hour policy. If you have an evening class, appropriately scheduled tests, quizzes and exams can be taken at the same time as your evening class, with the exception of Friday. Any questions, comments or concerns related to evening test scheduling or conflicts with other courses, contact accesstesting@siue.edu.

Textbook Accommodations

How do I get my textbooks in an alternate format?

Students must be approved for textbooks in alternate format as an accommodation. An Alternative Format Textbook Agreement form will be emailed to students after completing their semester request.

What formats are available to students?

If you are eligible to receive your textbooks in an alternative format as an accommodation, you must complete the Alternative Format Textbook Agreement. Select the appropriate format based on the approved accommodation to access your assigned readings. The following digital formats are available: e-book, PDF, doc, RTF, txt, Daisy and mp3*. These files may be placed on your personal e-reader, tablet, or computer or you may receive a Kindle on loan from ACCESS for the semester.

The form also includes an agreement which must be signed stating that you understand that these are copyrighted works and cannot be shared with other parties under any circumstances.

* File type is determined based upon the device utilized.

How long will it take to convert my textbooks?

Converting textbooks into alternative formats can be a lengthy process, so please allow for two weeks processing time minimally when making a request to ACCESS for alternate format materials. It is to your advantage to make you request at least one month prior to the start of the semester in which you will need the textbooks. ACCESS will then coordinate with Textbook Services or The Cougar Store to ensure all your books are converted.

How will I know when the alternative textbook process is complete?

Students will receive a call or an email letting them know their textbooks have been processed. The Pdf and Mp3 files are sent through OneDrive. eBook’s must be picked up from the ACCESS office.

How often do I need to fill out the Textbook Agreement form?

Students must complete a new form for each semester they are wanting their textbooks in an alternate format.

What is RedShelf?

RedShelf is the Content Delivery System used on campus for all digital course materials. RedShelf grants students access to their digital course materials on the first day of class through the link installed in Blackboard. The program originally started with all publisher courseware and is now moving towards transitioning print adoptions over to eBook adoptions. RedShelf currently partners with over 100 publishers to distribute the content faculty adopt for their courses via Blackboard.

Pregnancy Related Accommodations

If you are pregnant, recovering from childbirth or have a condition related to pregnancy, you have the right to ask for a reasonable accommodation. This includes bathroom breaks, assistance with heavy lifting, a private space for expressing milk or time off to recover from your pregnancy.

Additionally, you can continue working during your pregnancy if a reasonable accommodation is available which would allow you to continue performing your job. More information can be found at Pregnancy and Your Rights in the Workplace. For information concerning pregnancy related accommodations, please contact Jamie Ball in the Equal Opportunity, Access & Title IX (EOA) office at jball@siue.edu or by phone at 618-650-2333.

Graduate Student Accommodations

Your accommodations as a Graduate Student will still be facilitated through the ACCESS office, however they may look very different than at the undergraduate level. Depending on the program, instead of testing or exam accommodations, there may be a need for more discussion around accommodation in a practicum or clinical environment. Please plan to discuss with an ACCESS representative what program you’ll be entering and what sort of support you may need prior to the start of your graduate program to develop effective and reasonable accommodations.

For students with a Graduate Assistantship needing work related accommodations, please contact Jamie Ball in the Equal Opportunity, Access & Title IX (EOA) office at jball@siue.edu or by phone at 618-650-2333.