Ability Services

Response Plan and Resources for COVID-19 

• As of March 16th, 2020 students were informed that beginning on March 30th, 2020 all classes have been moved to alternative instruction through the end of spring semester. As of Tuesday March 17th, 2020 the Ability Services Office will not be providing face-to-face services due to the recent impact of COVID-19. For more details regarding how COVID-19 is impacting overall campus functions, please review the following website https://www.uwrf.edu/COVID-19/. 

The Ability Services Office will continue to provide services to students via remote options. Students will be asked to email Alicia Reinke-Tuthill at (alicia.reinketuthill@uwrf.edu) to inquire about setting up a remote meeting. Once a time is agreed upon via email, a meeting invite will be sent to the student's uwrf student email. 

Remote Meeting Details

• All academic and housing intakes, follow-up meetings, meetings to review accommodations, meetings to problem-solve concerns, meeting check-ins, etc., will be conducted via Google Hangouts. 
• Google Hangouts can be accessed for free by adding the extension to your chrome browser or by downloading the app via your Android or IOS device.
• We will be offering New Remote Sessions for the Spring Semester starting on Wednesday April 1st. 
• Outlined sessions would be offered weekly.
• Currently we have two sessions we are finalizing, but listed below are the general topic areas:
  • Q and A's with A.S. Staff
    • This session will allow students the opportunity to ask general questions about accommodations, problem-solve concerns, receive guidance and advice when working with faculty, as well as reviewing what tools and strategies other students are utilizing. Students can submit questions ahead of time via the registration form or through the chat function in Google Hangouts during the session. These sessions will be offered weekly.
    • In order to register for these upcoming sessions, please complete the registration form listed below and indicate which sessions you plan to attend. Weekly sessions will max out at 15 participants. If there is a high demand for the sessions, Ability Services staff will look to provide increased sessions weekly, and look to allow more participants to attend in the future.

      • Q and A with A.S. Staff Session Registration Form 

• Ensuring Campus Community Connectedness 
  • More Details to Come!

Campus Colloaboration 

Creating accommodations meant for in-person instruction, will take a creative and collaborative effort by students, faculty, and ability services staff. Ability Services staff are currently connecting with relevant campus stakeholders to ensure reasonable accommodation needs are met during this time. 

Further Questions??

If you have concerns about your reasonable accommodations during the alternative instruction time period, please contact, Alicia Reinke-Tuthill, Manager of Ability Services at 715-425-0740 or alicia.reinketuthill@uwrf.edu.

Resources for Students 

• Resource Guide for Students During Alternative Instruction 
• Built-In Accessiblity Features for Windows and Mac Devices 
• Free or Low-Cost Internet Options (WI)
• Free or Low-Cost Internet Options (MN) 

Resources for Faculty 

• Video Webinar-Faculty Guidance on Providing Accommodations During Alternative Instruction
• Ability Services Alternative Instruction Response Plan 
• OCR Short Webinar on Online Education and Website Accessibility 

Resources for Notetakers

• Guidance and Protocol For Notetakers During Alternative Instruction 

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:

Due to the unprecedented and unexepcted development of COVID-19, the deadline to request accommodations for spring semester have been extended from Friday April 10th, to Friday April 17th. Any requests made past the deadline will be at the discretion of the Ability Services Manager to determine if any accommodations can be offered for the rest of the spring semester. For more information on this policy, please click on the "Policies" page and review the "Accommodation Deadline Request Policy." 

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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