We rely on students to disclose their need for accommodations. As a result, we do not always have information in advance; however, we will work with you as soon as we are notified of a student’s needs.

Students with disabilities must meet the same admissions criteria as their non‑disabled peers for acceptance to Eastern Illinois University.

There is no deadline for students to register with our office, so you may receive an accommodation letter at any point during the semester.

We encourage students to initiate a conversation with their instructors about their accommodation letter at the beginning of the semester. This conversation is voluntary and may take place by email, Zoom, or in person.

Once you receive an accommodation letter, accommodations must be provided as outlined. You may also ask a student privately how you can best support them at any time.

You may notice that several students have similar accommodations. This is common. In K–12 education, students often received specialized services; at the postsecondary level, support is provided solely through accommodations.

Many accommodations are effective across multiple disability types (e.g., ADHD, learning disabilities, anxiety). Please understand these accommodations as documented needs, not preferences.

Accommodations are determined through a thorough review of documentation from qualified professionals, including:

• K–12 education records
• Psychiatrists, psychologists, or neuropsychologists
• Medical doctors or licensed therapists

This process is taken seriously and is not automatic.

One accommodation you may see is “alternate test/quiz environment.”
This means:

• A quieter testing space outside the classroom
• It does not mean individual or private testing unless explicitly stated

If multiple students in your course have this accommodation, they may test in the same space. If a student requires an individual testing environment, the accommodation letter will specifically indicate this.

If you believe a student may benefit from accommodations but you have not received an accommodation letter, please contact our office. Possible reasons include:

• The student has services but is hesitant to disclose
• The student is unaware A&A is available as a resource
• The student has a late‑onset disability and is unsure where to begin

Our office coordinates CART services for students who are hard of hearing.

CART provides real‑time captioning during class:

• Audio from your lecture is transmitted to an off‑campus captioner
• The captioner converts speech to text instantly using a stenotype machine
• The student views the captions live on an iPad

When CART is in use:

• The student will provide a lapel microphone at the beginning of class
• Please clip the microphone to your shirt so the captioner can hear clearly
• Return the microphone to the student at the end of class
• The student is responsible for ensuring the microphone is powered on and functioning

For questions about CART services, please contact the Office of Accessibility & Accommodations at 581‑6583.