Frequently Asked Questions

Students should not assume that accommodations provided in high school/other colleges will be provided at the college level. The standards for granting accommodations are different from high school to college. In addition, accommodations are determined on an individual basis, and cannot change the essential elements of the course curricula or give a student an unfair advantage over other students. A student’s request, documentation, and past experiences are taken into consideration when determining accommodations.

With whom and/or when you share that you have a disability is a personal decision. At Illinois College, it is important to reach out to the Disability Services Coordinator if you choose to identify as a student with a disability. The Disability Services Coordinator can provide you more information on the process of obtaining accommodations.  

Students who did not have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 plan in high school, and believe that they have a disability, are encouraged to contact the Disability Services Coordinator to discuss options for determining their eligibility.

A meeting will be scheduled each semester with the Disability Services Coordinator to complete academic accommodation letters. At these meetings, the student and the Disability Services Coordinator will discuss the accommodations used during the previous semester, as well as any new information (ie medication, testing, diagnoses) that the student may have. Following this discussion, academic accommodation letters for each professor will be created and printed. The student is then responsible for distributing the letters to faculty members. The best way to do this is to meet with your instructors during office hours or by appointment. This will allow for a meaningful, one-on-one discussion with the professor. Should students have questions or concerns about meeting with their professor to discuss their accommodation letter, he/she should contact the Disability Services Coordinator to discuss these concerns. 

An assistance animal, more commonly referred to as an emotional support animal, is explained under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). This act states that for animals to be designated as “assistance animals” students are required to demonstrate that their animal is a reasonable accommodation for an emotional or mental health disability (defined as an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities). Demonstrating this need requires documentation from a treating medical or mental health provider (not related to the student) certifying that the assistance animal is part of a prescribed treatment plan for the disabling condition that alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person’s disability. A service animal, explained under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), is defined as any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. The work or task performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual’s disability. Service animals are working animals and are not considered “pets.” Pursuant to the ADA, dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals. 

Disability Services treats all personal information with the strictest confidentiality. Information pertaining to a student’s disability will only be released in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) or with the student’s expressed written consent. FERPA is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Student’s can find a detailed explanation of FERPA and how information is protected by going to the U.S. Department of Education’s Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act website.

Those individuals wishing to request an ASL interpreter on campus should use the Interpreter Request Form. Students and faculty who need sign language interpreting should complete this form not less than 72 hours in advance (not counting weekends and holidays) to request such services. To cancel services, resubmit form not less than 72 hours in advance (not counting weekends and holidays) and type "Cancel Interpreter" in the Special Instructions field. This form, once submitted online, will be received by the Disability Services Coordinator. If you are a prospective student who is planning to tour Illinois College and require ASL interpreting services, please contact the Disability Services Coordinator.

Disability Services, which is housed in the Center for Academic Excellence, can be found in Lincoln Hall. 

Students who receive an accommodation to test with Disability Services in the Center for Academic Excellence will need to complete the Testing Accommodation Request Form and submit it to Disability Services at least seven days in advance of the date of their test. The form can be printed and filled out or it can be submitted online.

Students seeking information about accommodations on LSAT, MCAT, GRE, etc. are encouraged to contact the Disability Services Coordinator for more information.

Students who find they are having a hard time adjusting to the coursework and feel that they may need some extra support at Illinois College are encouraged to contact or stop by the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE). The Center for Academic Excellence houses Disability Services, TRIO Student Support Services, and IC Tutoring. Students can find more information about the TRIO program by visiting their website. If you are a prospective student or a current student, we encourage you to contact the CAE to discuss with our staff what these valuable resources can do to assist you on your journey to academic success!