Office of Accessibility

The Office of Accessibility is an integral part of the University of South Dakota, committed to ensuring students with disabilities shall not be discriminated against because of their disability in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment Act of 2008.  The Office of Accessibility provides support to students with disabilities to ensure full and equal access to the educational opportunities, programs, and activities USD offers through the provision of reasonable and appropriate accommodations.  Reasonable and appropriate accommodations do not fundamentally alter the nature of programs or lower academic and other essential performance standards.

A student is responsible for the accommodation process and actively participating in the process by making timely and appropriate disclosures and requests.  Any delay in the process on the student’s part may result in limiting the ability of Disability Services to provide reasonable accommodations.  The process includes:

• Self-Disclose Disability and Register - It is the student’s responsibility to identify as a person with a disability and register with the Office of Accessibility.  A student may self-disclose at any time, however students are encouraged to self-disclose and register before classes begin.  A student may contact the Office of Accessibility via online, e-mail or phone to register, and begin the interactive process of requesting accommodations.
• Provide Disability Documentation - A student must provide the Office of Accessibility with documentation to support their request for accommodations.  Each student and each disability is unique, therefore the type of documentation each student provides will be different.  However, all documentation must be current and relevant, address the current impact of the disability, and illustrate a connection between the disability and the requested accommodation.
• Request Accommodations - Accommodation requests are approved to ensure full access to the educational opportunities, programs, and activities of USD.  Accommodations ensure access by lessening or removing a barrier to access that may exist.  Requested accommodations must be reasonable and appropriate in a college setting.
• Actively Communicate - A student must actively and continuously communicate with the Office of Accessibility and their professors to assure the accommodations are effective.  Active communication also allows for accommodations to be adjusted as needed throughout the course of the semester.

If you are a student with a disability, please contact the Office of Accessibility as soon as possible if you want to request accommodations.  If you are a student and you suspect you may have a disability, contact Disability Services.  Disability Services will refer you to the appropriate agency or organization for evaluations.

The Commons, Room 116
Phone: 605-658-3745
Fax: 605-658-3357
accessibility@usd.edu