Do I need to disclose my disability when applying to Meredith?
Disclosure of a disability is always voluntary. However, a student may benefit from disclosing a disability early in the application process. By incorporating information concerning disability into a personal statement, for example, an applicant can explain challenges they’ve faced or overcome and any transcript discrepancies. To qualify for accommodations, you must identify yourself as having a disability, but you may do this after the application process.
Please refer to the Meredith College Admissions page for admissions information.
When should I request accommodations through Disability Services (DS)?
New students can begin contacting their providers for documentation as soon as they learn of their acceptance. They may submit documentation once they officially commit to Meredith and receive their MyMeredith account and Meredith student email. Current students may submit documentation and request accommodations at any point during their academic career at Meredith College.
Information about requesting accommodations at Meredith is found on the Disability Services webpage.
Where is the Disability Services (DS) office located and how can I reach you?
Disability Services is located on the second floor of the Student Health and Wellness Center (SHWC). The main office is 208 SHWC. You may email us at DisabilityServices@meredith.edu or call 919-760-8427.
How accessible is the campus?
Meredith College is actively working to make the campus more accessible. Recent renovations have added electric door openers, lowered elevator panels, additional curb cuts, accessible parking spaces, visual alarm systems, and braille signage. To navigate areas on campus, visit the Accessibility at Meredith page on our website. If you need to report a barrier on campus, please complete the Access Barrier Report Form. Please contact DS with any concerns you may have about accessibility on campus.
What documentation will be needed to verify my disability?
Acceptable documentation will need to be consistent with the Meredith College Documentation Guidelines. Please share this information with your medical, psychiatric, or educational professional who is licensed or certified in the area for which the diagnosis is made.
Can I use my high school IEP or 504 Plan in college or as documentation for college?
Generally, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan alone is not sufficient documentation because they can lack the detail needed at the college level. If you submit an IEP or 504 Plan and no other supporting documentation, be aware that additional documentation may be required to make a determination of eligibility.
Will my disability documentation be treated as confidential?
We consider all information submitted to or developed by the college related to the diagnosis, documentation, or accommodation of a disability confidential. The DS staff have access to disability records and may provide information to authorized college officials in the event of an emergency. DS can provide limited information to faculty members or other members of the community who have an educational need to know, but only with the express written consent of the student.
How does the Disability Services (DS) staff determine accommodations?
This is done through an interactive process between a Disability Counselor and the student on an individual, case-by-case basis. The Disability Services team reviews the required documentation submitted by the student. The student will then meet with one of the Disability Counselors to discuss more information about their disability and how it impacts them in an academic setting and/or living environment. After all information is gathered, the Disability Services team will make a determination regarding accommodations that are reasonable and appropriate.
How will my faculty and others be notified of my accommodations?
Once certified with Disability Services (DS), students request their Accommodation Letters each semester using the Student Wellness Portal. Faculty and college officials are expected to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with official written Accommodation Letters from DS. In addition to academic accommodations, the DS team coordinates the efforts of college departments such as Residence Life, Facilities Services, Campus Police, the Registrar, Events, and Student Leadership and Service to address access issues related to a student’s educational experience.
What type of accommodations do students with disabilities receive in college?
Every accommodation request is considered uniquely, on a case-by-case basis; not all students qualify for the same accommodations. Common accommodations include extended time for testing, small-group testing environment, note taking support, screen reading technology, and accessible housing.
What’s the difference between accommodations in high school and accommodations in college?
The laws that protect K-12 students with disabilities no longer apply at the college level. The Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973) require colleges and universities to make reasonable accommodations to allow students with disabilities full participation in the same programs and activities available to students without disabilities. The K-12 laws ensure success. The laws that apply in college ensure equal access; the ADA is comprehensive civil rights legislation that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Its purpose is to ensure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.
The changes in the laws when a student turns 18 years old means that accommodations in college may or may not be similar to ones the student received in high school. Some accommodations that promoted success in high school (such as modified assignments) may not be appropriate in college. Accommodations that create equal access (such as extended testing time) may be authorized, but may be implemented differently than when the student was in high school. More information about the differences between accommodations in high school and college can be found in this document (Disability Access: High School vs. College) and this website (Learning Disabilities Association of America—Modifications vs. Accommodations: High School vs. College).
Will I need to renew my accommodations and/or meet with DS staff every semester?
No. Unlike accommodations implemented through a high school IEP or 504 Plan, most* college accommodations are established for the duration of your enrollment at Meredith. Additional documentation or a meeting with a Disability Counselor is not required each semester. Students will request their Accommodation Letters each semester for their new instructors and new courses.
*Some accommodations, depending on the specific situation, may require updated documentation.
What if I have concerns about housing?
Newly-admitted and currently enrolled students requesting housing accommodation on the basis of disability should submit all relevant documentation to Disability Services. Please refer to the Housing Accommodation Request for more information. Documentation will be reviewed and, if approved, DS will inform Residence Life of the appropriate housing accommodation.
For additional housing information please refer to Residence Life.
What if I need learning assistance?
All Meredith students can receive success coaching and mentoring through the Student Success Center. Other offerings include time management assistance and general study skill sessions.
For further information, visit the Student Success Center.
What if I need tutoring for specific courses?
The Learning Center offers free peer-tutoring services to all Meredith students.
Visit the Learning Center for more information.
What is the process for requesting an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) at Meredith?
Students interested in requesting an ESA to join them in their on-campus housing must follow the request process described in the Meredith College ESA Policy and Agreement. Students are sometimes surprised when ESAs actually create stress rather than decrease anxiety or depression. Before you begin the ESA request process, consider the pros and cons as well as the financial commitment required when caring for an animal.
The first step in the ESA request process is the same as for any accommodation request—Complete the Application for Accommodations on the Meredith College Student Wellness Portal. Students should also complete and submit the ESA Student Request Form. The Documentation Guidelines for an ESA Request are a bit different from the general Meredith Documentation Guidelines for academic accommodation requests. Share these ESA Documentation Guidelines with a provider with whom you have had a therapeutic relationship for a period of three months or longer.
If you are interested in pursuing an ESA request, below are a couple of important details:
- There are individuals and organizations that sell ESA certification or registration documents online. These documents do not convey any rights under the ADA. The websites in question offer documentation for profit that is not reliable for purposes of determining whether an individual has a disability or disability-related need for an ESA because the website operators and health care professionals who consult with them lack the knowledge that is necessary to make such determinations.
- An ESA may not reside in College housing at any time prior to the individual receiving official approval as a reasonable accommodation pursuant to the ESA Policy. Unapproved ESAs will result in a $100/day fine and referral to the Director of Residence Life, Residence Hearing Committee (RHC), and/or the Office of the Dean of Students.
- Carefully review the requirements for an ESA found on pages 4 and 6 of the Meredith College ESA Policy and Agreement. To be approved, an ESA must be over the age of one year (at least 12 months old).
