UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls

Parent Information

Information for Parents

The Disability Resource Center staff appreciates the support parents provide their children. We invite you to contact us with general inquiries, concerns, or feedback. Transition to college can be a confusing process to many students, particularly regarding their eligibility for accommodations. The Disability Resource Center can offer the best level of support to the student who recognizes a need for accommodation and is engaged in the interactive process. We realize a parent may want to contact us on behalf of their child during a term, but please understand that even when we're arranging and supporting a student's accommodations, it is rare that we know what the student is experiencing day-to-day. College students are considered legal adults with a strong right to privacy. The Disability Resource Center staff respects this privacy and does not attempt to closely monitor specific students. 

Please review our page for Future Students. It provides information regarding documentation guidelines for various disabilities.

FAQs for Parents

Because the Disability Resource Center focuses on our current student’s needs, we generally do not receive and evaluate documentation until a student has accepted UWRF, has completed the New Student Application, and has (or soon-to-be) enrolled in courses. The admission process does not include disclosing the need for accommodations.

Maybe. Documentation should reflect your student’s current functioning as an adult and any recommended accommodations should be reasonable for UWRF's academic programs.

In general, the time frames are as follows:

  • ADHD — 3 years
  • Specific Learning Disabilities —3 years
  • Physical and Systemic Illness or Injury — Every 6 to 12 months
  • Mental Health Disabilities — Every 6 to 12 months
  • Additional disabilities are discussed in the documentation guidelines found on our Future Students page

 

Strong collaboration between the DRC and student is important. We encourage the student to initiate and complete the online New Student ApplicationParticipating in this process allows the student to be more confident in communicating their perspective regarding their need for accommodations.

In order to be eligible for academic accommodations and to best meet each student’s individual needs, students are required to meet and engage with the Disability Resource Center staff. Students have the opportunity to share academic and personal strengths, as well as barriers. It's also a time to discuss policies and procedures, as well as legal information. Documentation is not thoroughly reviewed prior to the one-on-one meeting.

No. Parents may be invited by the student to attend Intake meetings and share details on what may be helpful, but ultimately the student makes the decision on which accommodations are requested.

This depends on when the appropriate, supportive documentation is submitted and when the intake appointment is completed. 

  • Documentation submitted during May, June, July, and early August will be evaluated prior to the start of school in August.
  • Documentation submitted during mid-to-late August and September may take two to three weeks evaluation time.
  • Documentation submitted October through April usually takes one to two weeks to be evaluated

No. Students are considered legal adults at 18 and are protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This protects a student’s right to privacy concerning their records. Students do have an option to sign a confidential release of information through the Disability Resource Center to allow information to be shared with parents or another individual providing support to that student.

No. The primary role of the Disability Resource Center is to support students by providing academic accommodations, coordinating with faculty, and problem-solving any accommodation issues that arise. The Disability Resource Center does not offer 1:1 support to students in the area of time-management, organization, academic coaching, tutoring, etc.  Separate services on campus provide these supports. If the student needs this level of support, connect with Student Support Services, Tutoring Center, Speech and Hearing Clinic, etc. 

504 and IEP plans are not transferred to college from the K-12 setting.  504 and IEP plans can be submitted as supporting documentation that aid in determining what accommodations are reasonable for the student in a higher education setting. The Disability Resource Center needs documentation that specifically addresses the student’s diagnosis and how that diagnosis affects the student academically. Students are asked to have an appropriate licensed clinical professional complete the Disability Resource Center's Collaborative Document. It is also helpful to submit the student’s most recent evaluation or assessment.

Possibly. In order to receive an accommodation, a student is required to have a documented disability. Under section 504 of the ADA, disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such impairment, or is regarded as having an impairment. A student experiencing test anxiety is to have a documented diagnosis, and the diagnosis needs to demonstrate that it substantially limits one or more major life activity for that student. Students who do not have a diagnosed condition and experience test anxiety should reach out to the Disability Resource Center to receive resources about testing, evaluation services in the area and counseling supports on and off campus.

Students are able to connect with the Disability Resource Center at any point over the course of each semester. It is encouraged that students who are eligible for accommodations connect with the Disability Resource Center before the start of the semester as arranging accommodations can be a lengthy process if the student does not provide sufficient information that demonstrates a need for academic accommodations.  It is difficult to process successful accommodations late in the semester.  During the final month of each term, intake appointments to determine appropriate accommodations will be conducted with the intent of creating accommodations for the following academic term.  Accommodations are not retroactive, meaning they cannot address an issue that occurred in the past. Accommodations can only address present and future student concerns. 

After meeting with the student and reviewing documentation, if the director of the Disability Resource Center recommends accommodations, the Disability Resource Center will provide letters for the student to give each professor. These Faculty Notification Letters are valid for the current semester only. 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).

No. Tutoring is a free service offered to all UWRF students. Information about course tutors can be obtained by contacting Tutoring Services. There are options for tutoring services: (1) appointment based services featuring 1:1 or small-group sessions, or (2) drop-in hours at tutoring centers. There are six tutoring centers across campus: CAFES, Business/CSIS, Chemistry, Math, Physics, and General tutoring.

The UWRF Online Writing Lab (the OWL) provides a useful resource for students who are seeking assistance during all stages of composing (inventing, revising, editing).

Tutoring Services: Our mission is to empower students to become confident, independent learners through facilitation of the learning process.

Yes. The student can complete an Authorization to Release Confidential Information form to indicate to whom information may be released. A student can change this form at any time by contacting the Disability Resource Center.

No.

Things To Keep In Mind

Learning Support

There are hundreds of courses at UWRF. Nearly all of them explore their subjects at a brisk pace. This happens through lectures, textbooks, and various assignments. The staff at the Disability Resource Center do not provide support on lessons because they don't attend the lectures or read the textbooks. Free tutors are available to all students through the Academic Success Center. The staff explain this to students.

Difficult Courses

College courses can go for many weeks without tests or assignments. This means there are actually few tests or assignments, but those that do occur usually count heavily. Students should be studying on a daily basis; there is simply too much information to learn by studying only a day or two before the tests. Similarly, students should start and continue to work on assignments well before their due dates. The staff at the Disability Resource Center are available to explain these matters to students, but students need to be self motivated.

Problem Solving

A student's experience with an accommodation and course is largely a private matter. If a problem arises it can be quite difficult for anyone else to notice. Because a course usually moves along at a rapid rate, each student is expected to immediately notify a staff member about any problem. The staff will then give prompt attention to the matter. If a student waits to report a problem until it's already causing significant difficulty in a course, it may be too late to prevent the problem from having a lasting impact on the student's achievement in that course.

Medical Support

The Disability Resource Center strives to provide excellent services, but the staff are not experts on a wide range of medical, physical, or brain related issues. The staff can't monitor health situations or attempt to provide expert advice on those issues. There are some free health services at the M Health Fairview Clinic-River Falls. Contact Student Health and Counseling Services for more information.

Other Support

The staff at the Disability Resource Center specialize in arranging accommodations. They do not attempt to duplicate services that are already available from other UWRF offices. For instance, the staff do not attempt to advise students on selecting courses, help find money for college, or provide personal counseling. This is because other UWRF offices are able to provide expert support on those matters. Students can approach the Disability Resource Center for friendly support on virtually anything, but the staff may need to refer them elsewhere for the best solutions.

Equal Access for Students

Fostering Independence, Reducing Barriers, & Promoting Inclusion

 

Disability Resource Center

715.425.0740
drc@uwrf.edu
Secure Fax: 715.425.0742
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
123 Rodli Hall