Ability Services

Honoring Abilities with Equal Access

The mission of the Ability Services office is to arrange equal access and opportunity for students in the way of academic accommodations and to provide students an inclusive and accessible campus community and culture.

Ability Services serves students with a documented disability who need to arrange academic accommodations for their classes. A disability under ADA may include ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Acquired Brain Injury, PTSD, or a physical, sensory, psychological, or learning disability, etc.

In an effort to ensure equal access for eligible students and appropriately guide and support those students,  Ability Services focuses on the following learning outcomes: fostering independence, reducing barriers, and promoting inclusively.

Please see the Future Students Page on the left column to learn more about the process of arranging accommodations. For a basic overview of our office, what to expect, and information on reasonable accommodations, check out the Information to Know for New Students.

What is an accommodation?

An accommodation is typically an adjustment in the way things are done, not an adjustment in the curriculum. An accommodation could be a different way to receive important information for a course, such as using an audio textbook in conjunction with the hardcopy. It could also be a different way to do important things such as having additional time to take tests.

Getting Started 

1. Complete the New Student Application
2. Submit Documentation
3. Call the Ability Services Office at 715-425-0740 to set-up an intake appointment

New Student Application

Application Hints:

• For the "Username" portion of the application, please also use your Student I.D. number otherwise known as your W# (Example: w3xxxxxx). 
• Please use your UWRF assigned email address on the application. Emails are formatted as such: first.lastname@my.uwrf.edu

Approved For Accommodations? 

1. Go to our "Current Students" Page
2. Click on the "A.S. Connect" button to login to your student account
3. Sign-in using your W# number and password

Accommodations for Placement Testing

If you request accommodations a placement test under non-standard conditions due to a disability, do not register online. Instead, send a letter on high school letterhead from a teacher, counselor, or principal describing the appropriate accommodations you need.

With the letter, please include:

• Your address and telephone number
• Which site you would like to test at
• Which UW campus you plan to enroll

Email this information to tnoconno@wisc.edu, or mail to:

Tim O'Connor

1025 West Johnson Street

Madison, WI 53706

Quick Reference Guide for Spring 2020 semester:

123 Rodli Hall

New office location, east of Centennial Science Hall 

Returning students with approved accommodations at UWRF:

If you completed the request form for your Faculty Notification Letters prior to January 24, they'll be ready for you on the first day of classes.  It's recommended you pick them up at the Ability Services front desk during the first week of classes. If your request is submitted after January 27, letters will be ready within 48 hours.  All Faculty Notification Letters must be picked up by February 28th for Spring Semester. 

If you have a new diagnosis or would like to discuss a change in approved accommodations, please make an appointment with Ability Services staff to initiate a review for eligible accommodations.

Enrolled students at UWRF with a new diagnosis or an intent to request accommodations:

Complete the New Student Application on this page and call 715.425.0740 to make an intake appointment as soon as possible.  Depending on the circumstances, approval could take several weeks.  Deadline to meet for Spring semester accommodations is April 10, 2020.

Prospective and Fall 2020 students:

Complete the New Student Application on this page and call 715.425.0740 to make an intake appointment after May 15, 2020. Informative meetings are available if you plan a campus visit during the school year.  Please schedule an appointment in advance by calling our office.

Important dates to watch during the semester:

https://www.uwrf.edu/Registrar/Dates.cfm  Last day to add a class, drop a class, register for graduation, registration for summer and fall courses, spring break, finals, etc.

Test Request Forms

are due a minimum of one week prior to a scheduled test during the semester.

Finals Week, May 11-14

Monday - Thursday. Test requests are due Friday, April 24, 2020.

G.A.D.G.E.T.

The Ability Services office will pilot a one-year Peer Mentor Program G.A.D.G.E.T (Guiding Autism Diversity through Guided Education and Transition) for the 2019-2020 Academic Year. 

To learn more about the program and the application process, please check the G.A.D.G.E.T page on our website.

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