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Students Already Registered with SSD
Congratulations! By submitting documentation that met the guidelines set forth by the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD), completing your intake interview, and signing an accommodation agreement with a member of the SSD professional staff, you are now registered with SSD. You will generally not need to submit additional documentation unless your condition changes, which is more likely to be the case if you have a psychological or health-related disability, or unless you are requesting additional or different accommodations.
If Accommodations Are Needed, Request Them Each Quarter
Every quarter that you will be requesting accommodations, you will need to submit an accommodation letter request form. Ideally, submit your request before the quarter begins when SSD has the most time to prepare your letters. In this way, you'll avoid the wait and be able to present your letter to your professor no later than the second week of classes, as recommended.
Audio Books and E-Text
If you have been approved for the accommodation of recorded textbooks or e-text, please identify what books will be required in your classes and give SSD as much notice as possible that you need these books. This means it's a good idea to:
- Contact professors in advance of the course starting to identify required texts.
- Access this external link to Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic website to see which of your books are available through Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFBD) and which ones SSD will need to convert to e-text for use with Kurzweil software.
- Use this direct link to our office email address to notify us regarding which books we need to order from RFBD.
- Bring in any books not available through RFBD so that we can convert them to e-text. When you bring in your books, please fill out our Scanning Request Form, which you can do in the office or print out and complete ahead of time by accessing this direct link to our Scanning Request Form (Word document).
SSD is a small office. As such, students and staff can form productive and satisfying partnerships in the context of learning strategy instruction and other services.
Coach-Inspired Support, Learning Strategy Instruction, and Self-Advocacy Guidance Are Available
University life is a difficult transition for all students; however, it poses additional challenges for students with disabilities, especially those who thrived with smaller class sizes, more readily available tutoring, and greater overall one-on-one support through their high schools. If you experience difficulties at Northwestern, your initial thought may be that additional or revised accommodations are needed. On the other hand, perhaps you would benefit from being taught individualized learning strategies, working with a coach-inspired approach, or having guided instruction in time-management, organization, or self-advocacy skills. We encourage you to set up appointments with SSD professional staff to address these areas and to make your transition to Northwestern a smoother one.
Revisions of Accommodation Agreements Are Sometimes Necessary
Although you have already signed an accommodation agreement, SSD recognizes that new challenges may arise depending on the nature of the classes you take each quarter. Moreover, you may find that your initial accommodation agreement does not address all of the functional academic impacts of your disability. If you think that you may need to revise your accommodation agreement, please make an appointment with the professional staff member with whom you originally met in order to determine what additional accommodations may be reasonable and what related additional testing or documentation may be required.
