If you have a disability that is impacting your ability to access your CU Denver education, you should connect with Disability Resources & Services (DRS). DRS provides disability accommodations to qualifying students at no cost. Below, you’ll find more information about the process and answers to questions you may have.
How It Works: Registering with Disability Resources & Services or Requesting Disability Services at CU Denver
- To get started, register with CU Denver’s Accommodate platform.
You’ll click “Register for an Accommodation” and fill out the form as best you can. If you’re not sure what accommodations would help you, you can write that. You’ll also need to submit documentation from a licensed professional at this stage (more on that below).
- You must have documentation from a licensed professional who is qualified to make a disability diagnosis.
This person is often referred to as a “provider.” You will be asked to submit documentation of your disability from your provider when you fill out the Accommodate form linked above.
Examples of providers include medical doctors, therapists, or psychologists. If you’re not sure if a professional is a qualifying provider, reach out to DRS and ask. The team is happy to help you navigate this process.
You can either have your provider fill out this form to help make sure they’ve included all of the information that is required and that could be helpful, or they can write a letter that includes the following components: their diagnosis or impression of the diagnosis or disability, the current impacts of the disability, and the resulting functional limitations.
- Once everything is submitted, you will have an intake appointment with a DRS staff member.
To have any accommodations approved, an intake appointment is required.In the appointment, you can expect to be asked about your lived experience with your disability and how your disability impacts your courses and campus life. You can also bring up any questions or concerns you have. Appointments can take place in person or remotely.
In most cases, the process takes one to two weeks after your intake appointment. Be sure to keep track of your email during this time in case DRS reaches out with questions or requests further documentation. The time it takes you to respond to those requests can delay when your accommodations go into effect.
- Not sure if your condition qualifies as a disability, or not sure how to go about getting documentation? Request a consult.
CU Denver follows the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which states that a person with a disability is someone who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity. Both physical and psychological conditions can qualify, including ADHD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorders, and more. Other common conditions include physical disabilities, medical disabilities, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, blindness or low vision, and deafness or being hard of hearing.
If you’re still not sure if your condition qualifies, you can email or call DRS to request a time to meet. “We are always open to meeting with any student or prospective student who is not sure if they qualify,” said Gillian Lazzarini, director of DRS.
- Your accommodations will be tailored to you.
Your accommodations might be different from someone else’s, even if your disability is the same. “Two people with the same disability on paper will not necessarily experience their disability in the same way,” said Lazzarini. “Therefore, accommodations will be individualized to that person.”
- Each semester, your instructors are automatically told what accommodations you have been granted. They are not told what your disability is.
A document called an accommodation letter will state that you have a disability, are registered with DRS, and will list your accommodations. Unless you request otherwise, this will remain in place for the duration of your time at CU Denver.
- You can request additional accommodations later.
If you believe your accommodations are no longer sufficient or your circumstances have changed, you can use the Accommodate platform to request another appointment to discuss this. If your disability has changed, be sure to gather the required documentation of that change.
Common Questions, Answered
- Do accommodations from my previous institution transfer to CU Denver?
Accommodations are not retroactive. Students should start the process of registering with DRS as early as possible. Admitted students may start the process before their first semester has begun.
- What are some typical accommodations?
What’s available to you will depend on how your disability impacts you, but the following examples can give you an idea of some common accommodations: reduced distraction testing space, time-and-a-half for tests, and access to assistive technologies like note-taking software, e-readers, and other tools. DRS also has an Assistive Technologies Lab that students registered with DRS can access.
- What if I am not permanently disabled but a condition is currently impacting me?
Temporary conditions, like an injury or surgery, can qualify for temporary accommodations. Gather documentation from your provider and fill out the Accommodate form as soon as possible to start the process.
- Is DRS the only office that can support me if I have a disability?
If you have a disability, it is highly recommended you get registered with DRS and get accommodations in place. In addition to that, many resources available to all students could be supportive to you, and DRS might encourage you to make use of them. For example, the Learning Resources Center offers academic coaching, peer tutoring, study skills workshops, and more. The Counseling Center provides 10 free therapy sessions to CU Denver students each calendar year. And, the Career Center can help you explore career paths and practice for interviews.
Still have questions?
The DRS webpage explains other scenarios that might apply to you, provides further detail on timelines, offers FAQs, and more. And, you can always reach out to DRS directly. “If you have questions about Disability Resources and Services, please reach out,” Lazzarini said.