Student Guide to Accommodations
Find answers to common questions about accommodations, documentation, and what to expect when working with the Accessibility Services Center (ASC). If you don’t see your question here, reach out to ASC for assistance.
Contact ASC
Email: unoaccessibility@unomaha.edu
Phone: 402.554.2872
Requesting Accommodations
Students seeking academic accommodations should begin by submitting an accommodation request, providing supporting documentation, and meeting with an Accessibility Services Center (ASC) staff member to discuss their needs and potential accommodations. The process is individualized and designed to ensure students receive reasonable accommodations based on their disability-related barriers and experiences.
After submitting a request and supporting documentation, students will meet with an ASC staff member to discuss how their condition affects them in the academic environment and to explore potential accommodations. The time required to complete the process varies depending on the availability and review of documentation. Students are welcome to bring a support person to the meeting, although the student must participate in and speak for themselves during the interactive process. High school IEPs and 504 Plans do not automatically transfer to UNO but may be helpful as supporting documentation. Students who disagree with an ASC decision may appeal to the ASC Director or file a grievance through the Office of Civil Rights Compliance.
Accommodations and Eligibility
Accommodation decisions are made through an individualized review process that considers a student's documentation, disability-related barriers, and the requirements of the academic environment. ASC evaluates each request in accordance with federal disability laws and university standards to determine eligibility and appropriate accommodations.
Not necessarily. Accommodations do not automatically transfer between institutions, and previous accommodations do not guarantee the same outcome at UNO. However, documentation from a previous college, university, high school IEP, or 504 Plan may be helpful during the review process and should be submitted with your accommodation request whenever available.
Students have control over when and where they use their approved accommodations. You may choose to use accommodations in some courses and not others, and you are not required to use every accommodation that has been approved. Accommodations are implemented only after a notification letter has been sent to the instructor for a specific course, and notification letters must be sent each semester. If your needs change over time, you may contact ASC to review and update your accommodations.
Using Your Accommodations
Once approved, most accommodations remain active throughout your time at the university. However, students are responsible for managing their accommodations each semester by communicating with instructors and sending notification letters for the courses in which they wish to use accommodations.
You do not need to reapply for most accommodations each semester. However, you must send a notification letter to each instructor every semester to activate your accommodations in that course. Notification letters verify that you have approved accommodations and provide instructors with information about the accommodations they are required to implement. Temporary accommodations may require review and reapproval each semester. Accommodations are not retroactive and cannot be applied to coursework or situations that occurred before your notification letter was provided to the instructor.
Start by communicating with your instructor to clarify the accommodations outlined in your notification letter. If the issue is not resolved or if you feel uncomfortable having the conversation on your own, contact ASC for assistance. ASC can help you understand your accommodations, prepare for conversations with instructors, and work with you to address concerns.
Documentation
Documentation is an important part of the accommodation process because it helps ASC understand how a disability or condition affects a student in the academic environment. Documentation is reviewed alongside information provided by the student to determine eligibility for accommodations and identify reasonable supports that provide equal access to university programs and services.
Proper documentation typically originates with an approved treating provider or other qualified professional and should reflect your current level of functioning. It should include information about your condition, how it impacts your academic functioning, and, when available, recommendations for accommodations. Documentation that consists only of a diagnosis, is incomplete or outdated, is written on a prescription pad without supporting information, or comes from someone acting outside their professional scope of practice is generally not sufficient on its own.
Confidentiality and Records
ASC is committed to protecting the privacy of disability-related information. Student records, documentation, and accommodation information are maintained in accordance with applicable privacy laws and university policies, and information is shared only when necessary to facilitate approved accommodations or when authorized by the student.
No. Disability-related information and accommodations are confidential and do not appear on a student's transcript or academic record. When students send notification letters to instructors, the letters list approved accommodations only and do not disclose the nature of the student's disability. Students may choose what information, if any, they wish to share with their instructors.
ASC may communicate with parents, family members, or other support persons only when the student has provided explicit consent. Students must login to submit a Release of Information form before ASC can share information with an authorized individual.
Additional Support and Special Circumstances
Students sometimes encounter circumstances that do not fit neatly within the traditional accommodation process. ASC can help students explore available options, understand disability-related supports, and connect with other campus resources when additional assistance may be needed.
Students who miss class due to illness may be eligible for absence-related support through ASC and should submit documentation from their treating professional directly to ASC rather than to their instructor. For urgent personal, family, or complex situations, the UNO Care Team may be the most appropriate resource. Students experiencing roommate conflicts should contact Housing and Residence Life, as housing accommodations must be related to a documented disability and cannot be approved solely because of interpersonal conflicts.
ASC may not be the best first point of contact. For urgent or complex situations, students are encouraged to contact the UNO Care Team.
Some accommodations may apply outside the classroom, but these are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Contact ASC to discuss your specific situation.
Housing accommodations must be related to a documented disability. Roommate conflicts alone are not sufficient. Students should contact Housing and Residence Life for support.