Disability Services

FAQ Category: Student Academic

What is the difference between high school accommodations and college/university accommodations?

At the college level disability accommodations are working to ensure access. Accommodations will not alter workload or contradict course objectives. 

High School

College/University

Laws:
  • IDEA
  • Sections 504
  • ADA (1990)
  • ADA Amendment Act (2008)
  • Sections 504
  • Fair Housing Act

Documentation:
  • School provided evaluation(s)
  • IEP (Individualized Education Program)/504 Plan
  • Student provides evaluation(s)
  • IEP/504 Plan may not be only documentation needed

Parents/Guardians:
  • Receive updates on performance
  • Have access to grades and other reports
  • Advocate on behalf of child/student
  • Updates on performance provided by the student
  • Access to grades or other reports provided by the student
  • Student/child should be self-advocating and parent/guardian can provide support

Students:
  • The school identifies students with disabilities
  • Parents identify their child/student with a disability
  • Students will need to self-identify with Disability Services and take responsibility for their accommodations
  • Self-advocate and communicate their needs

School Support Services:
  • School is responsible for identifying students
  • Supplies services and arranges accommodations
  • School provides services to students who self-identify after a review of documentation and an initial meeting through an interactive process with a Disability Services specialist

Teachers/Professors:
  • The teacher ensures that students have the correct accommodations
  • Students must provide Faculty Contact Sheet (accommodation letter) to professors each semester. Letters can be obtained after accommodations are established
  • Students must inform professors when/how they will use their approved accommodations

Do IEP/504 plans directly transfer to the university setting? What about accommodations from my previous higher education institution?

No. When students move to higher education or to a different institution, they will need to go through the interactive process with Disability Services to establish accommodations at George Mason University.

Would an IEP or 504 plan be sufficient as medical documentation?

While these forms of documentation are useful as supplemental documents, students may also be asked to submit documentation from health care providers that support reasonable accommodations based on functional limitations. IEP and 504 plans may still be submitted along with appropriate documentation. ‘Process and Documentation Guidelines‘ can offer further details on the appropriateness of the documentation

How do I schedule an appointment with my Specialist?

Students may call the main office at 703.993.2474 or email ods@gmu.edu to schedule an appointment with their Specialist.  Students may also email their Specialist directly to contact them as quickly as possible for brief questions or concerns.

What does ‘accommodations are not retroactive’ mean?

Once a student meets and establishes accommodations with a Specialist, accommodations will be applicable moving forward from the time Faculty Contact Sheets are provided to professors. Accommodations are unable to be applied to issues prior to the initial meeting. Note that accommodations for students in the Law School are distributed differently – contact your Specialist with questions or concerns.

How will my professor know what accommodations I have? (Not applicable to Law School students)

If accommodations are established, students will be provided with Academic Accommodation Letters to provide to professors in order to ‘activate’ accommodations. It is the student’s responsibility to distribute Academic Accommodation Letters to professors. Each semester, students who are already registered with Disability Services should request their Academic Accommodation Letters using the Academic Accommodation Letters Request link.

 

How long does the registration process take?

After all forms and documentation are submitted, the documentation must be reviewed by a Specialist.  Once reviewed, a Specialist will be in contact with the student to schedule an initial meeting.

How do I register for accommodations?

The Process walks students through the process of registration with Disability Services.

I have not enrolled as a Mason student yet, but would like to meet with a Specialist to determine what accommodations I would receive if I decided to attend Mason. Can I meet with a specialist?

Disability Services Specialists offer 30-minute informational meetings with students to meet and discuss typical accommodations and supports that are offered at Mason. Students interested in a meeting may call 703.993.2474. General questions can be emailed to ods@gmu.edu.

Do students have to re-register with Disability Services after each semester?

If disability-related limitations have not changed, once a student is fully registered with our office and has established accommodations, the student will remain registered as long as they are at Mason. To make any changes to accommodations, students may schedule an appointment with a Disability Services specialist.