Accommodations and Campus Access Student Resources

If you’re a student with a disability and need accommodations, follow the steps below. For more detailed information, review our documentation guidelines for students with disabilities.

1. Gather Your Documentation
Review our Documentation Guidelines to see what’s required. You may already have suitable records, or you can share the guidelines with your provider to get documentation that meets the criteria. If you're unsure what to submit, contact us—we're happy to help you explore your options.

2. Become Affiliated
Complete the Online Affiliation Form and submit your documentation. The form allows you to upload files and provide contact info. You can also send documentation via:

• Email: drc@uky.edu
• Fax: 859-257-2754
• In-person: Multidisciplinary Science Bldg., Suite 443

3. Schedule Your Affiliation Meeting
An accommodation consultant will reach out to schedule your initial meeting to discuss accommodation options. Before the meeting, your consultant will review your documentation and let you know if anything else is needed.

4. Attend Your Affiliation Meeting
Come prepared to:

• Talk about how your disability affects you and your learning.
• Learn how accommodations work and the steps you'll need to follow.
• Explore campus resources available to support you.
• Review your class schedule and classroom location.

The University of Kentucky is committed to providing equal access and opportunity for all students. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the university ensures that reasonable accommodations are available for students with documented disabilities.

The Disability Resource Center (DRC) is responsible for coordinating academic accommodations and support services. Eligibility and appropriate accommodations are determined through a review of documentation and, when needed, collaboration between DRC staff, the student, faculty, and others to develop effective, individualized plans that support student success.

Students are encouraged to review their rights and responsibilities related to disability accommodations to ensure they fully understand the process and their role in accessing support through the DRC.

Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (as amended), students must self-identify as having a disability and request accommodations through the DRC. This differs from K–12 settings, where schools are responsible for identifying students with disabilities.

Step 1: Student Applies for Accommodations

Students begin by submitting the New Student Affiliation Form through the DRC Application Portal. This brief questionnaire invites students to share details about their disability experience, including:

• Contact information (UKY email address)
• A description and history of the disability or temporary health condition
• How the condition impacts their experience as a UK student
• Accommodations they wish to request 

Students are encouraged to upload documentation if available. More information about documentation guidelines is available on the DRC website.

After submitting the application, students will not be able to upload documentation through the portal. Additional documentation can be submitted via email, in-person at the DRC office, or by fax.

Step 2: DRC Reviews Students' Affiliation Form & Documentation

The DRC reviews students' affiliation form and any submitted documentation. To evaluate accommodation requests, the DRC considers whether:

• The student has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, and
• The condition impacts the student’s ability to access common aspects of campus life (e.g., attending class, using technology, navigating the environment, participating in housing/dining, etc.)

Step 3: Affiliation Meeting

After the affiliation form is submitted, a DRC team member will contact the student to schedule an affiliation meeting. This collaborative conversation allows the DRC to hear directly from the student about:

• Functional limitations they experience
• Specific barriers they encounter
• Accommodations that may help provide access

This interactive process is required under disability law. It may take place in a single meeting or involve multiple conversations and exchanges of information. Each request is evaluated individually and holistically.

Step 4: Determination of Accommodations

The DRC determines which accommodations can be approved based on a professional review of the information gathered. Considerations include:

• Whether the accommodation is necessary to ensure academic/program access
• Whether it provides equal opportunity or meaningful access
• Whether there’s a logical connection between the accommodation and the student’s disability-related barriers
• Whether the accommodation would effectively reduce or remove those barriers

The DRC must also consider whether the proposed accommodation:

• Lowers essential academic or program standards
• Fundamentally alters a program element or requirement
• Poses an undue administrative or financial burden

Step 5: Implementation

Each semester, students request accommodations for the courses in which they need to use them. This releases the Instructor Notification Letter (INL) to the DRC Instructor Portal. Please review the guide for how to request accommodations under the DRC Portal tab.

Implementation of accommodations is a collaborative process between the student, instructor, and, if needed, the DRC. Some accommodations may require further coordination or conversation to finalize. 

Students can provide their Instructor Notification Letter (INL) at any time during the semester, but accommodations are not retroactive and will only apply to course activities after the INL is presented. If testing accommodations are required, students and instructors should agree on whether tests will be administered by the department or through the DRC Testing Center. Please note, testing accommodations listed in the INL do not automatically grant access to the DRC Testing Center, as instructors are encouraged to find suitable testing space within their department.

Students must provide instructors with at least 7 business days’ notice when requesting a testing accommodation to ensure proper arrangements can be made. For any questions or issues regarding accommodations, students and instructors can contact the DRC consultant for clarification or assistance.

 We encourage students to start early by completing the New Student Affiliation Form and scheduling their Affiliation Meeting as soon as possible. After accommodations are approved, students are expected to meet with their instructors to discuss how accommodations will be implemented in each course.

First, students must be affiliated with the DRC and approved for alternative format services. Before requesting an alternative format through the DRC Portal, check to see if the required book is already available in a digital or accessible format. Many eBooks can be purchased or accessed for free from these sites:

Bookshare: an accessible online library for people with print disabilities. Free memberships for qualified U.S. students and schools.

Anna’s Archive: a free, open-source search engine and digital preservation project that aggregates content from various shadow libraries and open-access sources. 

Learning Ally: a non-profit volunteer organization that produces a library of accessible educational materials.

National Library Service: a network of libraries that provides free library service to persons who are unable to use standard printed material.

Project Gutenberg: offers over 40,000 free eBooks.

Read How You Want: an accessibility site from which you can obtain a title in whatever font size or accessibility format you desire.

VitalSource: an e-textbook platform that uses VitalSource Bookshelf, which can be accessed online or via download.

If you are unable to locate your textbook(s) with the sites listed above, you have the option to submit an alternative format request through the DRC Portal using the Alternative Formats module. Please review the alternative formats tutorial for instructions on how to request alternative formats in the DRC Portal.

Upload a copy of your book purchase receipt. Proof of purchase is required by publishers to ensure that students are purchasing a copy of the textbooks. Alternate-format textbooks are provided at no cost. Once we receive your book request and purchase receipt, we can begin processing your request.

Students can request alternate course materials (e.g., journal articles, individual chapters, etc.) through the DRC Portal in the Alternative Formats module and provide the required materials for conversion.

Students are required to purchase all course material and provide proof of purchase to the DRC. If the DRC can acquire the course material through the publisher, the DRC will contact you once it’s received. All requests will be handled in a timely manner but may vary depending on the availability, size, and complexity of the material. If we are unable to obtain a digital version of a book due to its copyright status or the absence of a digital file, we kindly ask students to provide a physical copy of the textbook. We will then scan the book and create a digital file. In the event that the book needs to be disassembled for scanning, we will ensure it is rebound using our in-house spiral binding process.

The DRC provides American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting, Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART), and tactile interpreter services to ensure equal access for students who are Deaf, hard of hearing, or DeafBlind.

How to Request:
To arrange ASL interpreting, CART, or tactile interpreter services, please meet with your DRC consultant. Your consultant will work with you to identify your specific access needs and coordinate services for your classes and other university-related activities.

Important to Know:

• Meet with your consultant as early as possible to allow time to secure qualified service providers.
• Interpreter and captioner availability may be limited for last-minute requests.
• If your schedule or plans change, please notify your consultant promptly to adjust or cancel services.

First, complete the standard process for requesting accommodations for each course through the DRC Student Portal. For additional details, refer to the Instructor Notification Letter procedure.

Please review the updated flexibility accommodation process:

Course Flexibility Plan (pdf 227.46 KB)

This accommodation provides a student with flexibility regarding the course attendance policy when disability-related symptoms interfere with attendance. The specific number of allowable absences and the communication plan are determined by the instructor through the Course Flexibility Plan (CFP). The student is primarily responsible for notifying the instructor of any disability-related absences. In extenuating circumstances, a DRC consultant may communicate with the instructor on the student’s behalf. Exceptions are considered on a case-by-case basis if the CFP does not adequately meet the student’s needs.

• Flexibility accommodations begin after you request accommodations for courses and the instructor completes the Course Flexibility Plan.
• Your Faculty Notification Letter confirms that you are eligible for these accommodations. Instructors do not need any additional information concerning your diagnosis or medical information.
• Any revisions to your accommodations must be discussed with your consultant in the Disability Resource Center.
• Students have a responsibility to use this accommodation when necessary and only for disability-related reasons and not abuse it. In some cases, further documentation of the student’s condition may be required by the DRC.

While students are expected to follow established classroom policies, there are disabilities with unpredictable or cyclical acute episodes that support flexibility with attendance policy as an appropriate accommodation.

Attendance policies still apply. This accommodation requires the instructor to consider the function of attendance for a particular class and make a reasonable decision for the requirement. For some classes (ex., primarily lecture-based classes), attendance may not be as essential, and more leniency can be made. However, in a seminar class, lab, field trip, or class where group projects are completed or active participation is required, attendance becomes an essential function of the class, and absences will interfere with the student’s (and their classmates’) educational experience.

If Flexibility Isn’t Provided or You Disagree with the Plan
Discuss this with your DRC consultant; this accommodation is unique for each individual student, and determinations will be made on a case-by-case basis. The DRC consultant will collaborate with the student and instructor in making a decision.

This accommodation is designed to provide a student with the ability to submit assignments past the scheduled submission date due to their disability without academic penalty. The amount of additional time offered is based on assignment type and the reasonableness of the accommodation.

Flexibility with due dates is detailed in the Course Flexibility Plan. Each instructor completes this plan for their specific course, and it is then made available in the student portal for students to review and adhere to.

What do I do if the faculty member does not provide me with flexibility with due dates?

Discuss this with your DRC consultant. Some assignments may not be appropriate for this accommodation. 

• When this accommodation is needed, the student should notify the instructor of their intent to use the accommodation in accordance with the Course Flexibility Plan.
• The instructor reserves the right to request the student submit their work-to-date when utilizing their Flexibility with Due Date accommodation.
• This accommodation cannot be applied retroactively to assignments missed before it was requested through the DRC Portal.
• This accommodation will not take effect until a Course Flexibility Plan has been completed by the instructor.
• Students have a responsibility to use this accommodation for disability-related reasons when necessary and not abuse it.

The DRC provides accommodated testing services to ensure students receive the testing adjustments they are eligible for, such as extended time, a distraction-reduced environment, or use of assistive technology.

How It Works:

• To use accommodated testing, you must be affiliated with the DRC and approved for testing accommodations.
• Work closely with your instructors to schedule exams and discuss your testing arrangements.
• The DRC Testing Center can provide proctoring if your instructor is unable to accommodate your needs within the department.

Schedule a Test:
Visit our Accommodated Testing page for step-by-step instructions, scheduling deadlines, and important policies.

• Meet with your instructors to determine where you will take exams for their courses.
• To ensure your accommodations are properly implemented, submit your accommodation requests at least 7 business days before the scheduled exam or quiz.
• Keep open communication with your instructors about your accommodations well in advance of exam dates.
• If you have any questions, please contact the DRC Testing Center for assistance.