Current Students

Faculty Notification Letters

If you've previously worked with Ability Services and have received your Letter of Eligibility, please review Steps 1-5 below to proceed with requests. If you have not had accommodations at UWRF, please complete the New Student Application to begin the process to qualify for accommodations.

Each semester, it is the student's responsibility to present their approved accommodations to instructors. Communication is recommended early in the semester. Beginning Fall 2020, students will use A.S. Connect to notify professors of their accommodations via e-mail. This process replaces the paper copies previously distributed.

1. Open A.S. Connect
2. From the list of your enrolled courses, select which classes you plan to request accommodations.
3. Continue to Customize Accommodations and select which accommodations you'd like to use in each course.
4. Submit your Accommodation Request.
5. An e-mail will be sent to your professor and to your UWRF email.

• Faculty Notification Letters (FNL) are valid for one term. Every semester the student should request a new set of letters and then meet with individual professors to present and discuss their eligible accommodation(s).
• Eligible students are not required to meet with an AS staff each semester. Students should request their FNL early each semester and confirm their current accommodations are satisfactory.
• Why do students need to request accommodations each semester? 
  1. Each student has the right to choose if and when they would like to use their approved accommodations.  The Ability Services staff do not make assumptions about a student's needs, as each student has the right to determine what level of support they need in each of their courses.
  2.  Provides an opportunity to discuss whether the AS office could support the student in a different way. It creates an opportunity for communication with the student. 
• Students can update or review with AS staff their accommodation plan at any point during their collegiate career. If a student does want to change or add an accommodation, they are required to set-up an Accommodation Review Meeting with the Ability Services Manager, Alicia Reinke-Tuthill. Updated documentation may be required to support the need for the student’s additionally requested accommodations. 
• Current students should request their accommodations (FNL) within 30 days of the term start date. 
• For concerns or issues during the course of the semester, please contact  Deb Morgan or Alicia Reinke-Tuthill. 

AS Connect dashboard > My Accommodations > Alternative Testing

Before requesting testing accommodations in Ability Services, a testing agreement must be signed by the student. This is done within your AS Connect dashboard and will be prompted prior to scheduling tests.

A request for each test should be made under the Alternative Testing subset, found on the left column of the page.

1. Course
2. Day/Date -  should correspond with the date scheduled for the class section 
3. Start time (allowing for additional time is eligible, without missing another schedule course)
4. Specific accommodations requested

This process is only for tests conducted in the Ability Services office and should be requested a minimum of one week prior to the test.  Finals should be requested at least 2-3 weeks prior to Finals week.

For online tests, request your accommodation directly from your professor, multiple days before it's scheduled, and receive confirmation of you request. 

1. Classmate Note Taker Accommodation Request Form and Application

Relies on the accuracy and participation of a classmate to take notes from a lecture and share them electronically. 

Download the form onto your computer and "save as" your course name.  Send your professor the form via email and CC the request.abilityservices@uwrf.edu email.  Once a note taker has been recruited by the professor, and notes have been received, a link will be sent to the student to access lecture notes.

2. Sonocent Audio Note Taker Software Accommodation 

Students who have already been approved for the previous audio notetaking technology known as "Glean," will have an opportunity to transition to Sonocent Audio Note Taker in the Spring of 2021. Technology access and usage tutorials are shared with the student.  A.S. staff is available for support if needed.  This accommodation allows the student an independent opportunity to record lecture, organize main concepts, add details, and ultimately formulate best strategies for learning course content. Students approved for this accommodation should review the UW-River Falls Recording E-Form Agreement Video Tutorial and Sonocent Audio Note Taker Student Training Checklist before the Spring of 2021.

UW-River Falls Recording E-Form Agreement Video Tutorial 

Sonocent Audio Note Taker Student Training Checklist Spring of 2021

Alternate Format (e-Book, Audiobook) Request Form

Please keep in mind that many requests can take up to four weeks to fulfill. Ability Services works as quickly as possible to provide audio books and other materials. Submitting request forms for each textbook or video, prior to the start of a semester or term is recommended. Once the form(s) is completed, please send them to request.abilityservices@uwrf.edu.

For all questions regarding Kurzweil technology, check out this extremely helpful website - https://www.kurzweiledu.com/kurzweil-academy/kurzweil-academy.html

The first step for each student requesting accommodations is to complete the New Student Application form found on our home page. Once this form is complete, the student will receive an email providing the contact information for step 2 of the process, scheduling an Intake appointment with an Ability Services staff to discuss the student’s learning style, strengths, and academic barriers. Students are asked to share information with staff about how and why their disability makes it difficult for them academically.

Accommodation Process

Based on information gathered during the Intake process, the student will be contacted by Ability Services staff when reasonable accommodations have been determined. A Letter of Eligibility outlines the individualized, approved accommodations for the student. This letter is for personal record only and is not to be distributed to professors.

The final meeting for student is to learn how to appropriately use their accommodations on campus. At this meeting, students will obtain their Faculty Notification Letters. The student receives one letter for each professor, each semester. The student shares this letter with their professors. Students have the liberty to choose which courses will require accommodations. 

Students are responsible for giving their Faculty Notification Letter to each professor prior to requesting any accommodations in a class. Students are encouraged to meet with their professors to discuss the accommodations and their individual learning needs.  Requests for testing accommodations should be turned in one week ahead of time for each test and a minimum of two week before finals week. Faculty Notification Letters are dated for a specific semester. By reqeuesting new letters each semseter, a student has the opportunity to meet with Ability Services staff to discuss if changes are necessary to their approved accommodations. It also allows Ability Services to know that a student is satisfied with the accommodation process. If ever a student feels an accommodation need is not being met, they should reach out to Ability Services as soon as possible.

FM System Listening Devices, Spelling Software Programs, Audio Recorders, Screen Readers,

Extended Test Time- Most students receive 50% additional time.  Depending on the severity of the impairment, the test time could be adjusted up to 100%.
 

Alternative Testing Location- Most students take exams in distraction reduced locations where a small number of other students may be present. Students who have significant barriers in distractibility and concentration can see benefits in a less stimulating environment. Some students qualify for a private testing room. These students may need more physical space due for wheel chair access, high levels of social anxiety, etc. 

 
Writing Assistance –For students who struggle with writing their responses, students can be offered a scribe to record responses that are dictated from the student.
 

Test Questions Read Aloud- Test questions are read by Ability Services staff who can only read each question as written. No question can be rephrased or reworded. 

This accommodation is for a medical, physical, or brain related issue that limits the ability to write adequate notes.  It is not intended to be a substitute for the need to attend class. The copies of notes are often handwritten and obtained from a classmate. Typically, the classmate does not know the identity of the student who is receiving the notes. Word-processed notes can be arranged if documentation explains why such a thing is important.

Students have opportunities throughout the course of the semester to develop their self-awareness and self-advocacy skills in preparation for meetings with professors to discuss their learning needs, barriers, and accommodation supports. 
Students who are experiencing difficulties obtaining the appropriate accommodations with faculty and staff they can connect with Ability Services for additional supports to aid in the resolving the concern.

Preferential Seating, Priority Registration, Course Substitution Evaluation, Classroom Furniture, Early Access to Course Materials, Reduced Credit Load Recommendation, Flexibilty on Class Attendance, and Due Dates etc.

Arranging Flexible Attendance and Due Dates Accommodations (PDF)

Arranging Flexible Attendance and Due Dates Accommodations (Video Tutorial)

Alternative format text provides copies of textbooks or other print materials in electronic format, Braille, or another accessible format.

A temporary impairment (broken arm or leg, surgery, recovering from surgery, etc.) does not constitute a disability for purposes of Section 504 or the ADA unless its severity is such that it results in a substantial limitation of one or more major life activities for an extended period of time. Temporary accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration both the duration and expected duration of the impairment, and the extent to which it actually limits a major life activity of the student. Individuals with temporary disabilities are encouraged to connect with Ability Services office to determine whether reasonable accommodations are required.

Temporary disabilities can include, but are not limited to, concussions, broken limbs, or post-surgical procedures. All temporary disabilities are handled on a case-by-case basis so accommodations may not always be available.

Please connect with the Ability Services office to seek out temporary parking accommodations. The Ability Services office is able to arrange a temporary disability parking permit for students who submit a disability parking application that has been signed by a doctor. Such a special parking permit is only valid on campus. The temporary permit expires after 30 days and cannot be renewed through any UWRF office.  See the state links below for the appropriate application found on the website of a Department of Transportation (DOT).  Students should use the DOT website that matches the state where their vehicle is licensed. Students who may need disability parking for more than 30 days, or need it somewhere other than campus, should attempt to acquire a disability parking permit directly from their state’s Department of Transportation. 

Wisconsin:   

http://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/formdocs/mv2933.pdf

Minnesota:   

http://www.mnsu.edu/parking/pdf/NewDisabilityCertificat.pdf

Iowa:          

https://forms.iowadot.gov/FormsMtg/External/411055.pdf

Illinois:            

https://cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/vsd62.pdf

South Dakota: 

https://www.state.sd.us/eforms/secure/eforms/E0865V7-AppForDisabledParkingPermit.pdf

North Dakota:  

https://www.dot.nd.gov/forms/sfn02886.pdf

For more information on disability parking at UW-River Falls - Please Visit The Parking Office.