• Disability Support Services Home
• Registering
• Documentation Requirements
• Services
• For Students with a learning disability or ADHD or ADHD
• For Students with a mobility disability
• For Students with psychiatric disabilities
• For Students who are deaf or hard of hearing
• For Students who are blind or have a visual disability
• For Students recovering from alcoholism and/or drug addiction
• For Students with chronic illness
• Qualifying for General Services
• Disability Emergency Evacuations
• Program Housing Accommodations and Process
• DSS Student Grievance/Appeal Procedure
• Temporary Disabilities & Injuries
• DSS Shuttle Service FAQ
• Forms
• FAQ
• Resources
• Resources for Faculty
• Student Responsibilities
• General Procedures
• Appropriate Terminology
• Interacting with Students with Disabilities
• Essential Components of a Course or Program
• Teaching Students with Disabilities
• Visual Disabilities
• Hearing Disabilities
• Speech Impairements
• Mobility or Medical Disabilities
• Manual Disabilities
• Learning Disabilities
• Attention Deficit Disorder
• Psychological Disabilities
• Other Disabilities
• Where to Get More Help
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Registering with DSS

Student Responsibilities

Brown University neither imposes accommodations on students nor pre-empts their responsibility to disclose and define their disability and their need for accommodation. Self-identifying a disability, and asking for accommodation are personal decisions. If a student requests accommodations at Brown, he or she is responsible for completing the process of registering with Disability Support Services (DSS).

To register with DSS, students must:

• complete an Information and Release Form
• submit current and complete documentation of a disability
• meet with the DSS Director or Assistant Director to discuss services and determine reasonable accommodations
• Call DSS at 401-863-9588 to begin the process.

Although the DSS assists students with disabilities with many tasks, it is up to the student to take the initiative and remain actively involved in the accommodation process. If there are concerns about this process, or advice is needed in coming to a decision as to whether to seek accommodations, the DSS office encourages students to call or stop by for a confidential review of the options available to them. Should a student then prefer not to self-identify, that decision will be understood, respected, and supported. Students seeking reasonable accommodations should be aware that it is their responsibility to:

1. Supply supporting clinical documentation to the Office of DSS in advance of the semester to determine appropriate services and accommodations. For students registering with a learning disability, documentation needs to be current within the last three years.
   
   
2. Request accommodations from DSS in person with at least two weeks notice of the accommodation need. If less than two weeks notice is given every effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations, but accommodations are not guaranteed.
   
   
3. Confirm the adequacy of accommodations as soon as possible and notify DSS whenever they encounter unsatisfactory conditions.
   
   
4. Approach faculty and staff in a confidential setting to discuss accommodations requested and deliver, in person, letters for request of accommodation from DSS to faculty or staff.
   
   
5. Obtain syllabi and lists of course materials for reproduction in alternate formats.
   
   
6. Adhere to deadlines established by the DSS, Residential Life, faculty, Registrar, etc. for submission of medical documentation and requests for accommodations.
   
   
7. Pursue financial aid or state vocational rehabilitation support for accommodations and personal equipment needs.
   
   
8. Notify DSS of pre-registered classes for the following semester so accessible space can be arranged if necessary.