Ability Services

Your Access Resource Center

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

Upcoming Events:

To learn more about what's happening in our office and opportunities for current student involvement, please check out the sessions below.  

Ability Services Early Move-in

Thursday and Friday, August 29-30

Deadline to apply was July 31.

• Activities and Sessions Include:
  • Ability to move-in early to the Residence Hall
  • College Prep 101 Session
  • Current Student Panel 
  • Campus Resource Presentation
  • Opportunities to Meet other Students
  • Apply by clicking on the "Early Move In Registration" listed below
  • Learn more about the sessions and eligibility by reviewing the "Early Move In Guide.
• Early Move In Registration
• Early Move In Guide

Ability Services News:

 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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