Disability Accommodations for Students

Salem State utilizes Accommodate to manage academic accommodations for students.

Students must meet with our office each semester to plan their accommodations through an interactive process.

Scheduling an Appointment

If you are connecting with us for the first time, please fill out our new student information form. Once you have filled out the form, please reach out to our office regarding scheduling an appointment to discuss your request.

If you are already receiving accommodations through our office and looking to request accommodations for the current semester, please reach out to us to schedule an appointment.

Submitting Your Documentation

In order to receive accommodations, a student must submit documentation that establishes the presence of a disability. Documentation can be uploaded directly into accommodate. Alternatively, documentation can be emailed or faxed to us directly.

Types of documentation we accept include, but are not limited to:

Letter from an appropriate medical or mental health provider that is signed and on official letterhead
IEP/504 Plan
Diagnostic Evaluations

Find specific documentation requirements for various disabilities here.

Final decisions regarding academic accommodations will be made with you and your access coordinator.

Our office works with students on an individual basis to determine what accommodations would be most effective to help them achieve academic success. Some, but not all, of our accommodations are described below.

Priority Registration

Priority or pre-registration allows students with documented disabilities who receive academic accommodations through our office to register for classes each semester at the earliest scheduled registration date. Learn more about priority registration.

Note Taking Support

Options for note taking support include a peer note taker, identified from the students class, or in some cases JamWorks note taking software.

Accessible Technology

Our office is equipped with adaptive and accessible computer equipment and software. Learn more about our available technology and how to gain access.

Alternative Textbook/Handout Format

Alternative formats for textbooks or handouts can be made available from our office to students who submit appropriate supporting documentation. Learn more about available alternative formats and texts.

Interpreters

Our office will coordinate services through freelance interpreters, CART reporters and the Massachusetts Commission for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH), to ensure quality services, depending on your specific interpreting or CART needs. Learn more about interpreters.

FM Systems

FM Systems are available through our office for use by students. Contact us for more information.

Scheduling Computers Aided Real Time (CART) Services

Computer aided real time (CART) services are the near verbatim transformation of the spoken word into a visual text display on a computer screen. Learn more about this service and if it’s right for you.

Grievance Procedure

Our office understands that there are times when a disagreement on a decision regarding accommodations may arise or problems during the process of receiving accommodations that have already been determined. Learn about the grievance process and how to file a grievance.

Faculty Notification

Confidential accommodation letters will be sent to each faculty member for courses in which accommodations have been approved.

We recommend that students have a conversation with their faculty members regarding their accommodations.

Confidentiality and Release of Information

Our office is committed to ensuring that all information you provide is maintained as confidential. Any information collected is used for your benefit. Read more about confidentiality.

Student Academic Meetings (SAM)

SAM, or student academic meetings, is a service offered at no cost to students who are receiving academic or campus accommodations. SAM is an individualized consultation and skill-building program where the access coordinator meets individually with a student, focusing on developing compensatory strategies and skills related to global learning concerns.