Current USI students, if you have not reached out to Disability Services before, check out our Getting Started section of our homepage.
Professor Letters
To request professor letters for your current semester, please contact DR staff for request form.
After you complete this electronic form, you will receive an updated copy of your professor letter for current semester via email. You will be responsible for sending/forwarding your professor letter to your class professors.
Temporary Disabilities
It is our practice to facilitate accommodations, as needed and within reason, for students with temporary disabilities. We will need documentation from a qualified professional that states the disability/medical condition, the restrictions in place and the anticipated length of time for recovery.
Requesting Services
Each semester current students should receive a link in their USI email to complete or stop by the Disability Resources office to complete a Request for Accommodations form. The Request form is completed electronically in the Disability Resources office in order for you to receive your accommodation letter for the current semester. If you are an Online Learning student, please call or email us and we will send you the link or send you a release to complete the form in our office for you.
Once the Request form is completed, an accommodation letter will be prepared by Disability Resources staff for you to take to your professors. Letters are usually prepared when you are in the office completing the request form, however during busy times it may take several days to prepare your letter, please plan accordingly. You are responsible for taking the letter to each of your instructors and for discussing in detail the specific accommodations and how they will be utilized in their class.
A change to your existing accommodation plan requires a meeting with a Disability Resources Coordinator. You are responsible for scheduling this meeting. You may need to provide additional documentation to support any additions to your current accommodation plan.
Test Accommodations
Test and Exam Accommodations
If you receive extra time on your exams as an accommodation, please discuss this with each instructor. Your instructor may decide to give you extra time in the classroom or ask that you take your exams in the DR office. If you will be taking your exams in the DR office you will need to reserve a room for the test at least 48 hours in advance. To do this you can either call, stop by the office or schedule on our website. Prior to the exam please remind your instructor that you will be taking your exam in the DR office.
If you have scheduled a test room and need to cancel or change the appt, please notify us as soon as possible. Also, please know that when you schedule an exam time, the scheduled time is when the allowed time for your exam begins. If you arrive late you will not receive your full extended time.
ETS/Praxis Accommodations
Step 1: Visit the main ETS/Praxis website and scroll down until you see a gray box with a “Disability Accommodations” link. Click on the “Disability Accommodations” link.
Step 2: Log into your Praxis Account. If you do not have an account, set one up here. This account is where you will apply for accommodations and submit your documentation.
Step 3: Submit payment for the test(s) you need. However, do not schedule any tests. If you schedule a test, ETS will not review your accommodation request.
Step 4: After you have paid for the test(s), remain logged in to your ETS account and click on "Praxis Accommodation Status/New Request" under the "Test Takers with Disabilities or Health-Related Needs" section on the home page.
Step 5: Fill out each section, questions pertaining to your disability and what accommodations you are requesting. Then you will see a place where you can upload your documentation. Your documentation must be less than 5 years old. See ETS’s documentation guidelines for more information about documentation for specific disabilities. *Please keep in mind that college documentation standards may be different than ETS documentation standards.
Step 6: ETS will email you in 4-6 weeks with a decision regarding your request. USI Disability Resources staff is knowledgeable about this process and happy to help guide you through it. Please feel free to make an appointment with a DR Coordinator.
Grievance Process
If you have concerns about any disability related action taken, a decision made by a faculty or staff member or by a department, you are strongly encouraged to first address your concern to the faculty or staff member responsible for the decision or action followed by contact with that individual’s supervisor if needed. In most cases, this process will provide the quickest, acceptable resolution to your concern.
If the informal process is unsuccessful, or you need help approaching the faculty or staff person, contact Manager Michelle Kirk (mdkirk@usi.edu, 812-464-1961).
If the problem is still not resolved or if your problem is with Disability Resources, you should contact the USI ADA Coordinator at 812-465-7101.