Applying for Accommodations

If you have a disability and need academic support, Student Disability Services at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith is here to help. SDS works with you to identify reasonable accommodations that remove barriers and give you equal access to your courses, campus programs, and university activities. Requesting accommodations is a separate process from applying for admission, and this page walks you through every step.

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How to Request Accommodations

To request accommodations through Student Disability Services, follow these steps:

1. Step 1 - Schedule an Intake Appointment
   Your first step is scheduling an intake appointment with Student Disability Services. This one-on-one meeting is a conversation, not an evaluation. You'll learn how the accommodations process works, discuss your individual needs, and find out what documentation may be required.
   
   Schedule your appointment by:
   - Calling 479-788-7577.
   - Emailing ADAFREEuafs from your UAFS email account.
   - Visiting Student Disability Services in Flanders, Room 114.
   
   Not sure whether you qualify? SDS can help you explore your options during the appointment. There's no obligation, and no harm in asking.
   
   
2. Step 2 - Submit Your Documentation
   After your intake appointment, gather and submit the documentation you and your SDS advisor discussed. Documentation requirements vary based on your disability and the accommodations you're requesting, so your advisor will guide you on exactly what to provide. Documentation should come from a qualified professional and describe how your disability affects your academic experience.
   
   Examples of acceptable documentation include:
   - a psychological evaluation.
   - a psychoeducational testing report.
   - an IEP three-year re-evaluation.
   - a letter from a qualified medical or mental health professional.
   
   SDS will review your documentation and determine if you qualify for accommodations. If SDS needs additional information, they'll reach out to you directly.
   
   
3. Step 3 – Finalize Your Accommodations
   You will meet with SDS to discuss approved accommodations and finalize paperwork. This will be an interactive process between you and SDS. This conversation considers your documentation, your individual needs, and any accommodations you've received in the past.
   
   
4. Step 4 - Receive Your Approved Accommodations Summary
   SDS will email your Approved Accommodations Summary to you and your instructors. This document lists the accommodations you're approved to use and does not include your diagnosis or disability-specific information.
   
   
5. Step 5 - Meet With Your Instructors
   You are responsible for meeting with each of your instructors to discuss how your accommodations will work in their course. Both you and your instructor will sign the Approved Accommodations Summary before accommodations can begin.
   
   
6. Step 6 - Renew Your Accommodations Each Semester
   Accommodations don't carry over automatically. You must meet with SDS each semester to have your accommodations reviewed and approved for the upcoming term. SDS will email you six to eight weeks before the end of the current semester with information on scheduling your accommodation review appointment. If you miss this step, your accommodations will not be active for the next semester.

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What You Need to Know

Registering with SDS is the first step, but accommodations don't start automatically. They take effect only after you've met with each instructor and both parties have signed the Approved Accommodations Summary.

Some students choose to register with SDS but wait before using accommodations in certain classes. That's your call. When you're ready to use them, connect with your instructor, walk through how the accommodations apply to the course, and sign the summary together.

Because accommodations aren't retroactive, completing this step early in the semester is important. Instructors aren't required to adjust previous exams, assignments, attendance records, or other coursework that occurred before accommodations were approved and discussed. If you run into any problems receiving your approved accommodations, contact SDS as soon as possible.

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Frequently Asked Questions