ACCESS

ACCESS for Everybody

Accessible Campus Community and Equitable Student Support (ACCESS) believes all students should come to SIUE with the expectation not just to attend, but to graduate! To accomplish that mission, ACCESS works to ensure diverse learners have equitable access to all curricular and co-curricular opportunities offered by the institution. Through an interactive discussion with students, counselors work diligently to remove campus barriers or coordinate reasonable accommodations for eligible students in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended (ADAAA).

The ADA Accommodation Application Process

The process of requesting an accommodation begins with completing an Accommodation Request Form. This form will allow us to determine the nature of your need for an accommodation or academic adjustment as well as obtain any documentation, as needed to confirm the disbaility. Accommodations cannot be determined until the Accommodation Request Form has been submitted. Students seeking accommodation(s) are encouraged to submit their forms prior to the start of the semester to ensure timely delivery, however we have rolling acceptance and can process intakes throughout the course of the academic year.

The process for establishing reasonable accommodations is as follows:

1. Complete the Accommodation Request Form. Students are encouraged to complete the Accommodation Request Form and submit documentation before the semester begins.
2. The submitted form should include a narrative of how you are impacted in an academic or co-curricular (housing) setting including any symptoms you may experience, and if available, the submission of supporting documentation.
3. Upon successful completion of the Accommodation Form, the student will neet to schedule a time to speak with an ACCESS staff member for an intake appointment. The student will receive a link to do so, and is expected to arrange an appointment to meet at their earliest convenience.
4. During the intake appointment, the student and the ACCESS staff member will meet to review the accommodation request and any available documentation to determine reasonable accommodation(s). The ACCESS staff member may request additional information at this time
5. Once reasonable accommodations are determined and accommodations are approved, letters will be released to the student's applicable faculty with a copy to the student as well via email.
6. The student will recieve a welcome email including a "Welcome Packet" explaining any and all ACCESS accommodation expectations and policies in the form of a handbook. Students should read this thoroughly and reach out to the ACCESS office if there are any questions.
7. Please note: Accommodations are not retroactive. Even in circumstances where a student has submitted their form for accommodation and provided documentation, the accommodations become active after the approved accommodation letter is provided to their professors. Students are responsible for submitting a "semester request" each semester to inform the office of which faculty need to be informed of approved accommodations each semester they are enrolled to ensure timely enactment of the accommodations.

Register with ACCESS

Students who wish to receive accommodations at SIUE need to identify themselves by registering with ACCESS through the Accommodate portal and submitting appropriate medical documentation validating the request. Students who believe they have a diagnosis but do not have supporting documentation should still register using the link below, and ACCESS will discuss further assistance and/or appropriate referral at the time of your intake appointment.

Currently enrolled students wishing to schedule appointments, exams or update their documentation, can login to their Accommodate student portal by clicking the button below.

 Student Volunteer Notetakers

Volunteer notetakers provide an important service by ensuring students have full access to information and material(s) presented in class. Being a volunteer notetaker only requires minimal effort on your part, just submit the notes you're already taking in class! If you are consistent in your attendance and willing to share your notes, you can be a major difference maker in the life of a fellow student with a disability. The time spent taking notes is even eligible for service hours to be verified at the end of each semester. Interested?