If you are a new student, or if you have not previously requested accommodations, and if you are interested in support services for a documented disability, the following information will help you navigate the process.
1. Incoming students request accommodations using the Meredith College Student Wellness Portal (select Application from the pull-down menu in the Accommodations tab).
2. Submit Documentation
Disability Services (DS) determines eligibility according to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Based on the documented functional limitations caused by a disability, DS determines reasonable accommodations to ensure individuals with disabilities have equal access to all programs and services.
- Submit documentation from an appropriately credentialed professional dated within the last five years that includes your diagnosis, how your disability impacts you as a student, and recommended accommodations. Documentation Guidelines are available in Forms. If your documents don’t meet the guidelines, please send what you have.
- Documentation must be submitted using the Meredith College Student Wellness Portal under the Accommodations or Document Upload tab.
- After you have completed and submitted the Application for Accommodations under the Accommodations tab, additional documentation may be uploaded at any time using the Document Upload tab in the Meredith College Student Wellness Portal. Select “Disability Documentation” from the pull-down menu to send documents to Disability Services for review.
New Students / Insufficient Documentation
When documentation submitted to the review team is incomplete, the student will be asked to seek an additional evaluation and/or clarifying information from the evaluator(s). An Individualized Education Plan (IEP), 504 Plan, or Summary of Performance (SOP) provides useful information, but is generally not considered sufficient by themselves. If your documents do not meet the guidelines, please upload what you have.
The DS team reviews documentation and makes decisions about accommodations on a case-by-case basis. DS reserves the right to request additional information in order to determine eligibility and reserves the right to make final decisions concerning eligibility and appropriate accommodations based on the quality, how recent, and how complete the documentation is. It is the student’s responsibility to provide documentation meeting the guidelines set forth by Disability Services. All documentation is confidential, will be maintained by the Counseling Center and Disability Services, and is entirely separate from a student’s academic and other College records.
Please review the Meredith College Documentation Guidelines before uploading any of the following in isolation:
- IEP or 504 Plan
- A Health Summary generated by a patient healthcare portal
- A screenshot of medical information on a patient healthcare portal
- A note (typed or handwritten) on a prescription script
Additional documentation will likely be required if not accompanied by an evaluation report or clinical letter that conforms to the Documentation Guidelines.
If at any time you have questions about any accommodation and the determination process, please contact Disability Services by phone at (919) 760-8427 or at DisabilityServices@meredith.edu.
3. Intake Appointment
After your disability documentation is reviewed and approved, you will receive a message from a disability counselor inviting you to an Intake Appointment. You will schedule an Intake Appointment by emailing DisabilityServices@meredith.edu or by calling (919) 760-8427. DS counselors can make arrangements to meet with you in person or remotely via secure telehealth. An Intake Appointment lasts about 45 minutes and allows the DS staff to understand how the disability impacts a student’s daily life. The Intake also provides an opportunity for the student to become acquainted with services offered through Disability Services and the College. Learn more about the Certification Process here.
Student Rights & Responsibilities
It is the student’s right to:
- Request reasonable accommodations ensuring equal access to courses, programs, services, jobs, activities, and facilities available through the College.
- Expect appropriate confidentiality of all information regarding their disability(ies) and disclosure of information except disclosures that are required or permitted by law.
- Receive information available in accessible formats.
- File a grievance according to the Grievance Procedure, if they believe they have been treated unfairly.
It is the student’s responsibility to:
- Meet the essential qualifications and institutional standards.
- Disclose the disability in a timely manner to Disability Services staff if you wish to receive services.
- Provide appropriate documentation.
- Inform Disability Services staff of accommodation needs.
- Talk with professors about classroom accommodations, as needed.
- Inform the Disability Services staff of barriers to a successful education.
- Follow through with appointments.
- Arrange testing accommodations with each faculty member a minimum of 5 business days prior to each test/exam.
Support Resources at Meredith
Students who ask for help and utilize opportunities for support are more likely to succeed academically and personally. The faculty and staff at Meredith care about you as an individual and about your academic and professional goals. These departments, offices, and people are here to help you be your best self at Meredith College.
