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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Because of a disability, I plan to request to live in a single room. How do I make this request?
In order to be considered for a special room request, a health care form for students requesting housing accommodations must be completed by the student’s health care provider. This form is available at the Health & Wellness Center – Disability Services. The disability Services Documentation Review board meets on a regular basis with the goal of collectively reviewing the special housing requests and determining outcome based on medical necessity and severe undue hardship. The student must also have applied for housing within the expected time frame and have a contract through the University housing office.
Medical necessity is defined as a psychiatric or medical disability in which decompensation of medical or mental status could be imminent without the option of on-campus housing.
Severe undue hardship are cases in which off-campus housing options pose undue hardship on the student secondary to the functional limitations of the disability.
Students will be reviewed on a first come basis which means that students with housing contracts will receive reviews by the committee first.
Should I tell my advisor that I am a person with a disability?
It is your decision whether to disclose your disability with your advisor or any other person. The benefit of disclosure is to help your advisor understand your disability so he/she is able to help you make appropriate choices for course scheduling.
I chose not to disclose my disability though a faculty letter; I have failed a test and now would like accommodations. What do I do?
Accommodations are not retroactive. However, if at any point during the semester you want to inform your instructor of accommodations needed, you may do so. You must contact the staff person at disability services you are working with to discuss accommodations. The Disability Services staff person will write your accommodation letter and review the contents of it with you. You will then need to give the letter to your faculty member.
Where do I get tutoring assistance?
Disability Services is not required to provide individual tutoring for students. However, students with disabilities have the same access to tutoring that all Penn State students have. Contact the Learning Support Center at
(814) 949-5112 for more information.
The Learning Resource Center
Where do I get assistance with job interviewing/preparation?
Disability Services is not required to provide job interviewing/preparation services. However, students with disabilities have access to the job interviewing/preparation that all Penn State students receive through the Career Services Office. For more information call
(814) 949-5058.
Career Services
I am often absent from class due to my disability. My instructor is not being very cooperative. What can I do in this situation?
The first thing you want to do is discuss the situation with your faculty member and the disability staff that you are working with. It is important to remember that attendance may be an essential requirement of the class and that may impact on whether absences are considered to be a reasonable accommodation.
I need to get access to a building that has a keyed elevator. What should I do?
There are procedures established by Disability Services to obtain access to keyed elevators. If you are not already registered with Disability Services, you will need to provide documentation of your disability (documentation procedures are on p.2). If you are already working with a staff person, notify them of your needs and they will assist you.
Information for Students
| Information for Faculty |
Meet the Staff | Disability Services | Health & Wellness Center
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