New and Returning Students

Student Accessibility Services is dedicated to providing students with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in university programs, courses and activities through reasonable accommodations and services. Our office is here to support students, staff and faculty with accommodation requests, implementation, guidance and general information.

Accommodate Portal

Student Accessibility Services (SAS) at Clark University uses Accommodate to manage student accommodation requests. This system helps ensure that students with disabilities receive reasonable accommodations and services. Students can access Accommodate to manage accommodations and requests to send out letters of accommodation.

Students New to SAS:Register with Student Accessibility Services

Step One: Submit an Online Application.

To register, first complete and submit an Application for Accommodations. Inadequate and/or incomplete answers may delay the eligibility review process. Please contact SAS if you are having any trouble accessing the form. Email: accessibilityservices@clarku.edu

Phone: 1-508-798-4368

Fax: +1-508-793-8877

Step Two: Submit Documentation

Students requesting reasonable accommodations and/or services must submit documentation of a disabling condition to verify eligibility. Students are required to submit documentation regarding the diagnosis/diagnoses that demonstrates a disability covered under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 as amended (2008).

Please review our Documentation Guidelines for additional information. All documentation is kept confidential.

Additional forms of documentation may include:

• Medical providers may fill out our Disability Verification Form

• A letter from a qualified medical professional

• Psychological evaluation(s)

• Psychoeducational evaluation(s) with standardized test scores

• A physician’s medical records, etc.

Step Three: Schedule an Intake

Once the Application for Accommodations has been submitted online, you will be notified by email to schedule an intake to discuss accommodations, procedures, and services. The intake will typically last about 30 minutes where we will discuss your lived experiences with disability and how they may impact you academically and/or in your residential life.

Step Four: Log In to Accommodate

After the intake, students will receive a Student Registration Notice regarding their accommodation requests and registration status. This letter will also contain steps on how to request your accommodations through Accommodate. Once registered, students log in to Accommodate to submit semester requests to send accommodation letters to instructors each semester. Students must communicate with each instructor to discuss the arrangements for receiving accommodations. In addition, accommodations are not retroactive, and instructors do not have to provide accommodations to students if they have not been informed of the need for accommodations by SAS.

Returning Students

If you are a returning student to Clark who has registered with SAS previously, you will now be using Accommodate to manage your accommodations. Each semester you will submit as Semester Request so that SAS can send your Accommodation Letters to your professors.

You can submit a semester request at any time prior to the start of the semester.
SAS will send out your accommodation letters a few days prior to the start of the semester.
If you add a course(s) after you submit a semester request, you will need to submit an additional semester request for the new course(s).

How to Submit Semester Request in Accommodate Visual Guide provides you guidance to the steps listed below.

Step One: Login to Accommodate portal

Once you have logged into Accommodate, you will select “Accommodation” on the left side of the screen.

Step Two: Select “Semester Request”

On the left side of the screen, select “Semester Request”

Step Three: Select “Add New”

After you have selected “add new”, select the correct semester from the drop down menu.

Step Four: Select “Review the Renewal”

Select “Review the Renewal” to select accommodations by course OR select “Submit for All Accommodations” to add all accommodations for all courses.

Step Five: Email Notification

You will receive a notification email stating your semester requests have been received.

Tips for Talking with Your Professors

If you choose to talk to your instructors about your disability, follow these tips.

Set up a meeting with professor to talk about your accommodation letter. Doing it in this way helps to remind the professor that this information is confidential and not to be shared with others.

Email your professor to set up an appointment
Ask you professor after class to arrange a meeting time
Visit the professor during office hours (hours are usually posted in the syllabus).

At the meeting, refer specifically to your accommodations as identified in your Accommodation Letter the professor would have received via email. Your letter will not identify your specific disability.

You do not have to share specific disability information. You may just want to share that you are a student with a disability and what your accommodation needs are. Use clear communication skills to discuss your needs with your professor.

If you decide to share specific disability information, be sure to use brief, positive everyday language that focuses on your strengths and abilities and effective accommodations.

Be prepared when you talk with your professors; have an idea of what you want to talk about with them. With busy schedules, instructors appreciate forethought and succinct explanations.
It is your choice as to how much information you wish to share concerning your disability.

Discuss the information on the letter by approaching it as you are a student registered at the Office of Student Accessibility Services and these are the accommodations that you are to receive. Be prepared to answer any questions.

If you do not feel comfortable answering your professor’s questions, you can refer them to the Office of Student Accessibility Services.

Contact Information

Student Accessibility Services

Office Location

2nd floor, Offices 208 and 210
Shaich Family Alumni and Student
Engagement Center
950 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01610

1-508-798-4368

+1-508-793-8877 Fax

accessibilityservices@clarku.edu

office hours

Monday-Friday

9 a.m. to 5 p.m

Excluding holidays and campus closure days.