Having had accommodations in high school or at another post-secondary institution does not automatically qualify you for services at IU South Bend. The laws governing the provision of services for students at the post-secondary level are much different than those for high schools. Even if you had services at another college, you must disclose your disability and provide documentation to the AES office at IU South Bend. Appropriate accommodation will be determined for your courses here at IU South Bend.

You will be asked to complete the AES intake form, which requires disclosure of your disability. You will also need to provide documentation from a qualified professional. See the documentation guidelines for a description of the documentation requirements for your disability.

The AES office is unable to assess or diagnose individuals for a disability; however, we can refer you to community resources, including Vocational Rehabilitation Services, that may be able to assist you in obtaining an evaluation.

Appropriate accommodations are determined by considering the functional impact of the disability concerning specific course requirements. Students must request services each semester, although, in many instances, the same accommodation will be applied from one semester to the next.

AES does not provide tutoring; however, peer tutoring is available for many courses through the Academic Centers for Excellence. The writing center helps students in the writing process. Additionally, some departments on campus, such as math, offer additional study assistance. All tutoring resources on campus are free.

Class attendance policies are determined by the instructor based on academic requirements. AES cannot provide an accommodation that exempts students from attendance requirements because of a disability. However, we can note in the accommodation letter that missed class time is possible due to the student's disability. It can be helpful for the instructor to know that the student does have a documented disability that may cause them to miss class. It is still the instructor’s decision as to how they will act on the attendance requirements.

Although the student is free to disclose information to professors as they see fit, they are not required to disclose their disability to the professor. If disclosure of a disability is required, the AES office will receive written consent from the student.

The AES office has no authority to make decisions concerning course waivers or substitutions. All requests must be made through your academic school. The role of the AES office in such an instance is to verify that the student has a qualifying disability and the functional impact of the disability relative to the student's performance in the course in question.

Yes, you should contact AES if you need assistance due to a temporary condition. We may be able to assist you with alternative classroom furniture or other required services. The AES office will still require the appropriate documentation, even if the condition is temporary.

In most cases, a disagreement can be resolved through communication, whether with AES or with an instructor. If you have an issue with a professor, you should first attempt to speak with the professor while informing AES of your concerns. AES will become involved if necessary. If you are dissatisfied with an action or decision made by AES, first contact the office and let us know your concerns. We may be able to come to a resolution with additional discussion and clarification. If these options do not solve your issue with AES or your professor, a grievance process exists for you to follow.