Student Accessibility Support

A reasonable accommodation can be an added support, the removal of a barrier, an adjustment to a policy, or other modification of materials, practices, and spaces. Accommodations are designed to support equal access for people with disabilities/medical conditions. Requests for accommodations that would fundamentally alter the nature of a course, assignment, experience, etc., or would result in an "undue hardship" as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act may not be considered reasonable and may not be approved.

Families are an essential part of any student’s life. The parent/guardian may continue to offer the student advice and support to navigate college resources, however, it is the responsibility of the student to communicate their needs with our office. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) does not allow sharing of a student's confidential information with anyone (including families) unless a student gives written permission and waives FERPA for our office. If you still have questions, you are welcome to contact SAS at access@brandeis.edu or call the main phone line at 781-736-3537 to request to speak with a SAS staff member.

Accommodations are confidential and therefore at the student's discretion to share with the individuals of their choosing.  Upon request, the student and SAS have an intake meeting to discuss their diagnostic profile, the types of supports that would be beneficial, and next steps for implementation. This can include accommodations related to the classroom, disability housing, parking, accessible transportation, and medical dietary needs. SAS encourages students and parents to discuss this information following the intake meeting. 

Transition to college can be stressful for the student as well as the family. You are a very important person in your young adult’s life. You can always arrange for a specific time to communicate with your student during the week. Keeping in touch via social media, email, and text messaging can also be comforting to the student as well as you. You can also check the Parents and Families Brandeis page for more information.

You are welcome to reach out to SAS if you are concerned about your student at access@brandeis.edu or call the main phone line at 781-736-3537 to request to speak with a SAS staff member.

You can also contact Dvora Pemstein, Director of Family Engagement and Student Affairs Communications at pemstein@brandeis.edu or 781-736-8717. For more resources, check out the Parents and Families Brandeis webpage.

Families can play an essential role in the student’s transition from high school to college. While parents/guardians are no longer directing the process, you are a guide that the students often look up to. You can help your student in this transition process by taking the following measures:

• Update documentation: Often, reevaluation prior to graduation from high school is a good idea which can be requested at their current school. The accommodations at the college level are determined based on current documentation as well as functional limitations of the condition/-s. For more information, please check the following section on Providing Documentation on SAS website.
• Register with SAS: Encourage your student to register with Student Accessibility Support (SAS) and seek support for reasonable accommodations. We are always available at access@brandeis.edu for any support, concerns, or questions.
• Understanding the difference: Help your student to understand the difference between receiving accommodations in high school versus the college level. We encourage you to take a look at the chart below that provides information on the key differences between high school and college for receiving accommodations.  
• Self-Awareness: Help your student to acknowledge their condition and understand the limitations that might come with it. The more self-aware students are, the better they will be able to know how to access and use appropriate resources.
• Self-Advocacy: Help your student to find their “voice.”  Help them become more independent in making academic decisions and seeking support for concerns. This will help them to develop self-advocacy skills which will lead them to grow into a more confident and responsible adult.
• Practice Independent Skills: Help your student learn how to schedule and manage their time effectively. This includes building skills like self-regulation, creating schedules, completing tasks independently, etc. 

You can encourage your student to take the first important step towards receiving accommodations at Brandeis by submitting documentation of their condition. For more information on what kind of documentation we are looking for, we encourage you and your student to please check the Providing Documentation page.  It is good for the student to submit documentation to Student Accessibility Support as soon as they matriculate at Brandeis, in order for us to have enough time to review their documentation and understand their needs for accommodations.  

Once a student commits to Brandeis and submits documentation for their condition, they should meet with one of the Accessibility Specialists at Student Accessibility Support (SAS). The accommodations at Brandeis are determined through an interactive process between the student and SAS staff member after reviewing their submitted documentation.

It may or may not be. In order to provide accommodations at the college level, current documentation is required. “Current documentation” can look different based on the condition. Students are always invited to submit what they already have, which can include IEP/504 Plans. SAS will let them know if additional materials are required. They may also reach out to SAS at access@brandeis.edu with any questions.