Request → Documentation → Meet → Decision

1. Submit a Request

Complete the New Student Application if you’re not already registered with DAS. If you are interested specifically in an ESA or Single Room accommodation, please view the “Housing and ESA Requests” section below.

Submitting a request begins a review process; it does not automatically result in accommodations. DAS will look at your individual situation to see how it impacts your access at Berea. Our goal is to help you remove barriers, which means we focus on finding the right tool for the job, whether that is an official accommodation or a connection to other campus support resources.

2. Provide Documentation

You do not need documentation to get started, but documentation is necessary. You can submit a request first and provide documentation later.

To help us partner with you effectively, documentation must go beyond a simple diagnosis or medical label. We prefer that you and your provider complete our Accommodation Request Form, but we do accept other forms of documentation as well, such as letters and test results. However, a brief after-visit note, health summary, or letter from your provider that simply states a diagnosis and offers generalized information is not sufficient on its own.

*Before submitting documentation, make sure your provider understands what you are requesting and how your condition affects you in a higher education setting. Learn more on this page under “Documentation Guidelines”.

3. Meet with DAS

After reviewing your information, a DAS Specialist will meet with you to talk through your experiences and any barriers you are encountering. You can schedule a meeting based on your needs through Bookings.

4. Accommodation Decision

Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis through this interactive process. Because college accommodations are designed strictly to ensure equal access rather than to reduce general academic stress:

• Not all requests result in accommodations.
• If a request does not meet the threshold for a formal accommodation, we will still partner with you to connect you with the right campus teams (like Academic Coaching, Peer Tutoring, or Counseling Services) to help you build the specific coping strategies and skills you need to navigate college successfully.
• If you disagree with a decision: If a request is not approved or you believe something was misunderstood, we encourage you to contact DAS immediately so we can talk through it. Students also retain the right to request a formal review through the College’s grievance/appeal process.

If accommodations are approved, you will receive instructions on how to notify your professors.

Documentation is an important part of the interactive process. It helps DAS understand how your condition affects your access at Berea and why accommodations may be needed. Documentation is considered alongside your application and your conversation with DAS when reviewing accommodation requests.

What Documentation Should Include

Strong documentation should explain:

• Your diagnosis or condition (when appropriate)
• Prognosis, severity, and frequency of symptoms
• How your condition substantially limits one or more major life activities (e.g.: breathing, toileting, sleeping, digestive functioning, etc.)
• How those limitations create barriers in classes, housing, dining, employment, or other campus environments
• Why the requested accommodation is necessary to provide equal access
• Any relevant history of treatment or previous accommodations, when applicable

Our Preferred Documentation

For most requests, we recommend asking your provider to complete our Provider Verification Form through DocuSign. The form asks the specific questions our office needs to evaluate accommodation requests and often reduces the need to request additional information.

If your provider prefers not to complete our form, we also accept comprehensive evaluations or signed letters on official letterhead that address the same information.

Documentation That May Not Be Sufficient on Its Own

Some documents are helpful for medical treatment but do not provide enough information for an accommodation review. Examples include:

• Medication lists
• Basic health summaries
• After-visit notes
• Documentation that only lists a diagnosis
• Letters that recommend accommodations without explaining why they are necessary

Submitting these documents does not necessarily mean your request will be denied, but DAS will need additional information before making a decision.

Don’t Delay Getting Started

You do not need to have documentation before contacting DAS. If you’re unsure what documentation is needed or are still working with a provider, we encourage you to submit a request and schedule a meeting. We can discuss your situation, answer questions, and help determine what information may be needed.

Berea College is committed to creating an accessible campus community. Accommodations are modifications or adjustments designed to remove environmental barriers and provide equal access to Berea’s programs, courses, and housing.

To ensure a smooth transition and clear expectations, our process operates under four core principles:

• They Ensure Access, Not Success: Accommodations level the playing field; they do not guarantee academic success, higher grades, the perfect environment, or a stress-free experience. Students are held to the same academic standards and course requirements as their peers.

• They Do Not Automatically Transfer from High School: The legal framework shifts from ensuring success (K-12) to ensuring access (Higher Ed). While a previous IEP or 504 plan provides helpful history, it does not guarantee approval or automatically apply at Berea.

• They Cannot Alter Essential Course Requirements: An accommodation cannot fundamentally change what is being taught or how learning is measured. For example, accommodations cannot change grading criteria, alter core assignment rubrics, or eliminate mandatory course attendance.

• They Are Not Retroactive: Accommodations only take effect after you have completed the interactive intake process and formally shared your accommodation letter with your professors through AIM. They cannot be applied to past assignments, exams, or absences.

Navigating college is a partnership. To help you understand what to expect from our office, here is a quick guide to the scope of Disability and Accessibility Services: