Obtaining Disability Resources

Disclosing that you have a disability is a personal decision. Prospective and current students are welcome to contact us with questions about obtaining accommodations.

Upon enrolling at the Academy of Art University, new students who plan to request accommodations are encouraged to contact Accessibility Resources as soon as possible. Early identification can be the key to ensuring a smooth beginning to your semester. Often arrangements and accommodations can be time-consuming to coordinate, especially interpreter scheduling, furniture and design modifications, and alternative format production–advanced planning allows us to meet your needs and give you access to programs and services from day one.

How to register with Accessibility Resources

To obtain accommodations and support related to a disability, you must register with Accessibility Resources by providing verification that you have a disability and stating its effect as it applies to university level study. Students are required to submit current and comprehensive documentation from a qualified professional, such as a doctor, licensed mental health practitioner, or learning specialist, to the Accessibility Resources office. We suggest discussing the impact your limitations may have on your desired course of study with your practitioner so that we can help you prepare, and ask that you include necessary information and recommendations in your documentation.

You will need to:

• Acquire documentation from your diagnosing professional that includes the following:
  • Diagnosis
  • How the disability will impact your experience at AAU
  • Specific recommended accommodations applicable to a university setting
• Send documentation to Accessibility Resources:
  • Email us at: accessibility@academyart.edu
  • Or mail to: Accessibility Resources 79 New Montgomery St., San Francisco, CA 94105

Accessibility Resources will review your documentation as soon as it is received, and may ask for additional documentation. After your documentation is approved, Accessibility Resources will contact you to help you schedule an appointment with a coordinator to discuss your accommodations, provide you with an accommodation letter, and activate disability-related services. These services must be reactivated every semester, but unless your condition or needs change, new documentation is not required.

What does acceptable documentation look like?

Obtaining accommodations in college is different from what you might be used to in K-12 schools. You may be used to an IEP or 504 Plan, but at universities, accommodations are based on the results of a recent evaluation and subsequent report, similar to the way your IEP or 504 Plan was created following an evaluation. The transition from high school to college is a good opportunity to rethink the accommodations you may need that may be particular to our campus and curriculum. If you’re unsure if your documentation meets our requirements, please contact us for assistance.

For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website, which provides more information regarding preparation for college, as well as the rights and responsibilities of students with disabilities:

Visit the U.S. Department of Education