FAQs about Access Services

Access Services accommodates over 300 students per year. For the last academic year, the top 3 disabilities on campus were:

• ADD/ADHD
• psychiatric disabilities such as depression or anxiety
• learning disabilities

Students with disabilities are admitted to WSU through regular admission procedures. Access Services is not involved in the admissions decision.

Results of non-standard test administrations and documentation of a disability may be submitted in support of any application. But these are not essential for full consideration.

Once admitted, students with disabilities are expected to maintain the same academic standards as all other students attending WSU.

No, your disclosure of a disability is always voluntary.

However, if you want WSU to provide accommodations based on your disability, you must identify yourself to Access Services as having a disability and have an established plan with us prior to receiving any accommodations.

Likewise, you should let WSU know about your disability if you want to ensure that you are assigned to accessible facilities.

If a student is expecting a classroom accommodation, then they are responsible for telling their instructors they have a disability and are registered with Access Services.

You do not have to tell your professor any specific details about your disability.

Your instructor will receive a notification from the Access Services Office that you are eligible to receive accommodations.

This grievance process shall apply to situations where a student has followed the established procedures to request accommodations on the basis of disability and the request has been denied or otherwise not provided.

Written or emailed complaints should be filed within 30 days of the date the incident occurred with the Coordinator of Access Services.

If an informal resolution is not reached, the student should file a complaint through the WSU Affirmative Action Office.

Students also may file a complaint directly with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights or with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. The Statue of Limitations for filing a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights is 180 days from the date the incident occurred.

Students with disabilities are welcome and encouraged to participate in study abroad programs. However, other countries may have different cultural norms, attitudes toward disabilities, and infrastructure development.

For example, it could be the cultural norm in other countries that teachers use the Socratic method of teaching—requiring listening and speaking, instead of lecturing from a PowerPoint— which involves more reading. In some less developed countries, wheelchair access may not be as developed as it is in the United States.

Accommodation requirements and regulations may be different in other countries than they are in the U.S. because the ADA law carries no authority in foreign countries.

While students with disabilities need to consider many factors before studying abroad, most students can find a situation that will work for them.

If you’re considering studying abroad, it’s important to begin your research early and you should work closely with Access Services.

International students with disabilities will be accommodated the same as domestic students in accordance with requirements under the ADA.

Documentation criteria are the same and must be met.

Students who are 18 years old or older are legally recognized as adults. In this case, the student is responsible for their own accommodation requests and disability-related decisions.

However, students are encouraged to have an open dialogue with their parents as we know they can be a great source of support for you. Students who take an active role in setting up their accommodations are more likely to use the services than those whose parents did all the work.