1. Submit an application through the Application Center and upload documentation completed by a qualified professional.
   • For guidance on the documentation required, review our Documentation Guidelines. If you have concerns about qualifying documentation, please contact our office.
2. Upon review of the application and/or documentation, the student will receive a “Next Steps” follow-up email advising them on the next steps of the registration process.
   • The email will include the name of your assigned Disability Specialist.
   • To ensure that students do not miss important emails from the Office of Accessibility, we encourage students to (1) provide their university email address on the application, and (2) regularly check your email, including the junk mail folder.
3. Attend your Intake Appointment. Intake Appointments can be scheduled virtually via Microsoft Teams; in-person meetings are available upon request. During your Intake Appointment, you and your Disability Specialist will discuss and review:
   • Eligible services based upon documentation and disability-related needs.
   • Documents and materials related to accommodation and office policies and procedures.
   • Training on our online accommodation request system (STARS).
   • Any other questions about The University of Akron, our office, and preparation for attending college.

Expedited registrations are self-directed and do not require an Intake Appointment. Students will be responsible for carefully reviewing the Office of Accessibility Student Handbook and all supplements covering the policies and procedures related to the approved accommodations, signing any applicable E-Agreements, and submitting accommodation requests for classes, through STARS. Additionally, students are responsible for scheduling a follow-up meeting with their Disability Specialist if they have any questions or concerns.

If you are interested in the Expedited Registration Process, these are the steps to take:

• On the Application within the Application Center, select Expedited Registration. Please be specific about your requests and remember to upload disability documentation. For more detailed application instructions, see Traditional Registration.
• Upon the review of the application and/or documentation, you will receive a status update email confirming eligibility for the expedited registration. 
• Within one week of the review of your application and documentation, you will receive a registration confirmation email which lists your approved accommodations and next steps for requesting those accommodations in your classes. Additionally, this email will contain any necessary policies and procedures that you are required to review. If you have any questions or concerns about the accommodations or would like to review any of the content covered in the expedited registration process, please contact the office to schedule a follow-up appointment. 

A temporary medical condition (TMC) typically describes conditions in which the student expects to recover in one semester or less. TMCs are often sports-related injuries, upcoming surgeries, high-risk pregnancies, etc. While the University is not obligated to provide students with temporary medical conditions an accommodation, as a courtesy and where feasible, the Office of Accessibility will attempt to provide services to students who experience temporary illness or injury that will allow the student to access the physical campus and the educational curriculum. If you have a temporary medical condition, please complete these steps:

• Submit an application through the Application Center and upload documentation which confirms the temporary medical condition. If there are any barriers to being able to complete the application, please contact the office.
• Upon review of the application and/or documentation, the student will receive a “Next Steps” follow-up email advising them on the next steps of the registration process.
• Visit Frequently Asked Questions: Temporary Medical Conditions to answer any questions regarding Temporary Medical Conditions 

Students have the ability to submit additional documentation through the Additional Documentation form within STARS.  Students should utilize this form when needing to submit additional documentation.  Students may consider submitting additional documentation for many different reasons.  These reasons may include, but are not limited to:

• Sustained a Temporary Medical Condition (broken bone, concussion, unexpected hospitalization);
• An exacerbation of current disability related symptoms;
• Additional disability diagnosis;
• Submitting documentation for the review of Provisional status;
• Requesting a new accommodation

Students should upload current, disability-related documentation of their disability(ies) to STARS completed by a qualified professional. The Office of Accessibility has specific guidelines available on our website or in Simmons Hall 105. The Office of Accessibility will not accept disability-related documentation from treatment professionals who are related, in any way, to the student requesting services.

Students are encouraged to contact their Disability Specialist with questions or to discuss the process of submitting additional documentation.

Requests for accommodations related to University Residence Life and Housing should be completed through the Application Center.

In order for accommodation requests to be considered for housing assignments, students must submit documentation of a current impairment(s) that substantially limits a major life activity. This documentation should be submitted via the Application Center as soon as possible, preferably at the time the Housing Contract is submitted to the Department of Residence Life and Housing.

The Office of Accessibility will determine whether the current impairment qualifies under the Americans with Disabilities Act and whether or not reasonable housing accommodations are warranted. Final decisions regarding specific accommodations and how they will be implemented will be made after consultation between the Director of Residence Life and Housing and the Director of the Office of Accessibility or their designees.

Things to Remember for Disability-Related Housing Accommodation Requests

1. Complete the housing application on the Residence Life and Housing website.
2. Have an appropriate treating professional complete the Disability-Related Housing Accommodations Request Form. Upload the completed form to your application in the Application Center.
   • Students requesting an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) must adhere to the ESA Procedure which can be viewed here. Students requesting this accommodation must have their qualified treating professional complete the Documentation Verification for Emotional Support Animals and follow the review and intake process prior to bringing their ESA on campus.
3. Once completed documentation is received, the Office of Accessibility will send a letter explaining the next step.