FAQ for Students

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 provide protection against discrimination based on a disability. According to Section 504, "No otherwise qualified person with a disability in the United States … shall, solely by the reason of …disability, be denied the benefits of, be excluded from participation in, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” The ADA states a "person with a disability” is someone with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, learning, breathing, and working. Physical or mental impairments include, for example, learning disabilities, emotional or mental illness, blindness and visual impairments, deafness and hearing impairments, mobility impairments and some chronic illness"

The UAS Disability Services Office is located on the Juneau Campus in the Student Resource Center (bottom floor of the Mourant building). All UAS students with disabilities are served from the Juneau office. Students not in Juneau can request Zoom or phone appointments.

The Disability Services Office is located on the Juneau Campus in the Student Resource Center on the bottom floor of the Mourant building. Ketchikan and Sitka students are also served from the Juneau Campus and contact the Juneau Disability Services office to set up a Zoom or phone appointment.

Students who experience all types of disabilities are eligible for support services. Disabilities could be related to a physical, medical, or mental health reason. Students must obtain or provide recent supporting documentation of the disability to receive services.

Current diagnostic and evaluative reports by a trained professional are the types of documentation needed. Documentation should be current; however, discretion may be used in accepting documentation of conditions which are permanent or non-varying (eg; a sensory disability). For more information on documentation needed for specific disabilities.

The first step it to self-advocate and self-identify that you experience a disability. You can do this by contacting Disability Services (DS) to schedule an appointment. An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan can be useful documentation for starting services with DS but additional documentation may be needed.

All evaluations, test results and medical records are confidential and are used for the sole purpose of determining eligibility for accommodations. The nature of the disability or temporary disabling condition is not released to any other party except with the written consent of the student.

No. The Disability Services Office provides service to qualified UAS students with disabilities free of charge.

There are a variety of services and accommodations available to UAS students through the Disability Services Office. A Disability Services staff member will work with the student to find the most suitable accommodations for each individual. Examples of accommodations include: testing accommodations, note-taking and scribing assistance and alternate format books.

Students are able to contact the Disability Services (DS) at any time during their academic career at UAS to request reasonable accommodations. However, the sooner DS is notified the sooner they can begin preparing reasonable accommodations and services. High school students with disabilities transitioning to post-secondary education may want to contact DS after receiving admission acceptance and/or registering for classes. It is your decision whether or not to inform the University of your disability. However, DS highly encourages any students with disabilities to contact the DS office and strives to provide a safe, confidential, and welcoming environment in which to discuss disability concerns. Contact with the DS office is the first step towards receiving any type of support services or accommodations.

When you come to your first appointment with a DS staff member you will need to bring a completed DS Registration Form (found on the Forms page), all supporting documentation of a disability, and any questions you have about services or accommodations.

The best way to schedule an appointment is by contacting 907-796-6000 or e-mailing uas.info@alaska.edu.

Students are welcome to bring a family member or support person during their visits with Disability Services. However, at University of Alaska Southeast we highly encourage students to self-advocate for themselves.

Yes, accommodations can be provided on a temporary basis when the disability is clearly evident and with the approval from a DS staff member.

The details of your specific disability are private and confidential. Only the student can give permission for this information to be made available to faculty or staff.

If your faculty is not facilitating your approved accommodation, please contact DS as soon as possible. As a student working with the DS Office, you have the right to receive the accommodations you have been approved for. DS can help by talking to the professor on your behalf to make sure they understand the accommodation and why it is important or work with you to solve the issue another way.

If you disagree with the decision made by the DS Office about your accommodations, it’s important to let them know and provide additional information about how you feel the accommodation would help you be successful in your courses. Talking with the Dean of Students is the next step if you still disagree with the decision.

The DS Policies page has more information about both of these topics.