Types of Accommodations

Student Disability Services is committed to providing the accommodations necessary for any student to equitably participate in and benefit from all the DU community has to offer, regardless of disabilities. Be sure to request any needed accommodation as early as possible via the Accommodate Portal. It is also a good idea to inform instructors of your accommodation requirements in order to kickstart the process and optimize implementation.

Below, we have highlighted many of the most commonly requested accommodations available, though this list is by no means exhaustive.

Academic Accommodations

  • Testing Accommodations

    Testing Accommodations are designed to provide students with disabilities an equal opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned when taking exams and quizzes. The Testing Center also supports testing-related accommodations.

    Examples (non-exhaustive list)

    • Additional Time to Complete Tests
    • Distraction-Reduced Setting
    • Text-to-Speech on Exams
    • Dictation on Exams
       
  • Notetaking Accommodations

    Some disabilities impact students' notetaking. Notetaking accommodations are designed to support students in taking and creating meaningful notes.  Examples of note-taking accommodations include: the ability to use technology (e.g., computer) to take notes in class, access to Jamworks notetaking support software, and additional options that can be discussed with your Accommodation Specialist.

  • Alternate Format Text

    Alternate Format Text is the conversion of printed materials (textbooks, articles provided by instructors, etc.) to accessible formats. Students with a wide variety of disabilities may use Alternate Format Text. Most students with Alternate Format accommodations use pdfs that can be read via text-to-speech software; however, this accommodation also covers braille and tactile graphic materials.

  • Communications Access

    Communications access supports students who utilize interpreting, Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART), and captioning.

  • Foreign Language Substitution

    Students may have a disability that creates a substantial barrier to becoming proficient in a second language. The Foreign Language Substitution accommodation is designed to enhance cultural competence crucial in our globalized world in lieu of a foreign language. Students in certain programs may have to complete additional coursework associated with the FOLA substitution.

  • Assistants and Attendants
    Classroom Assistants

    The University provides academic assistants for classroom and lab work to students whose documented disabilities demonstrate an appropriate need. Classroom assistants are not tutors and will not be available outside of the classroom or lab unless prior arrangements with SDS are made. 

    Personal Attendants

    Students with disabilities requiring a personal attendant should notify SDS, who will then notify instructors. The University may require medical documentation of the need for an attendant. Personal attendants are not employees of the University but are employed by the student. The attendant must go through the SDS process to register as a Special Community Member at DU before they start providing direct personal support to the student.

  • Service Animals

    A service animal refers to any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.

Housing Accommodations

Some students with disabilities may require reasonable housing accommodations. Student examples include: accessible bedroom and bathroom; first floor room; emotional support animal, single room, kitchen access, meal plan modification. To request housing accommodations, you will need to do the following:

Student Action Items 
  • If you've not yet been approved for housing accommodations through SDS, you must first submit a request for accommodations. We recommend doing this as far in advance of the housing application deadline as possible to allow for the full accommodations review process.
    • You must complete the accommodations request process as detailed in the link listed above, including scheduling and attending a meeting with an Accommodations Specialist.
  • EACH YEAR: Apply for housing from HRE and indicate that you would like to utilize your housing accommodations approved by SDS.

Please pay attention to important deadlines from both housing and SDS! You must renew your housing accommodations annually. 

  • Emotional Support Animals (ESA) Requests

    The ESA request process has three steps:

    ESA documentation must recommend or prescribe a specific animal to serve as your ESA, as well as explain how the animal provides necessary therapeutic emotional support to manage the documented disability. Documentation must also include information about how your disability impacts you/functional limitations. Please submit documentation of your disability that meets SDS’s requirements.

    After SDS receives documentation, we will invite you to schedule an intake/registration meeting to discuss your request. This meeting is scheduled for an hour and will include a discussion about how your disability impacts you academically, both in the classroom and outside of the classroom, as well as general functioning on campus.

    For the safety and well-being of the campus community and your animal, DU requires a letter from your veterinarian about your animal. The veterinarian letter must contain the veterinarian’s license number, signature, date and written on official letterhead. The letter must be dated within the last twelve months. The letter must contain the following elements:

    • Age of animal
    • Species of animal
    • Certification that the animal is housebroken
    • Certification that the animal is in good health
    • Proof that the animal is vaccinated and registered in accordance with county and state laws.
  • Important Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Policies

    Additional Requirements 

    Once SDS has granted an ESA accommodation, the student must meet with (HRE) prior to bringing the animal to campus. 

    Student and ESA Conduct 

    Approved ESAs are not permitted in any University facilities other than the student’s assigned individual living quarters including, but are not limited to, kitchens and food service preparation areas. The animal must be under the student’s direct control at all times. The student is responsible for caring for the ESA, including but not limited to immediately cleaning up after and properly disposing of the animal’s waste in a safe and sanitary manner. If a student is personally unable to care for the ESA, the student is responsible for arranging and paying for this service. The University of Denver has a right to remove a disruptive ESA (barking, urinating on carpet or floors, aggressive) or if the student is not taking proper care of the animal.