page

Berea College

core/paragraph

At Berea, accommodations are built on a conversation, not just a stack of paperwork. DAS wants to understand your unique lived experience and partner with you to remove barriers in academics, housing, and campus life.

Don't wait. Whether you are new to DAS, returning, or unsure if you even qualify, we encourage you to reach out. We can discuss your history, what you are currently facing, or what you anticipate down the road. Temporary or conditional accommodations may be available on a case-by-case basis while we help you figure out the next steps.

core/spacer

<h2 id="h-how-to-apply" class="wp-block-heading">1. Submit a Request</h2>
Complete the <a href="https://rainier.accessiblelearning.com/s-Berea/ApplicationStudent.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Student Application</a> if you&#8217;re not already registered with DAS. If you are interested specifically in an ESA or Single Room accommodation, please view the &#8220;Housing and ESA Requests&#8221; 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.
<hr data-start="1132" data-end="1135" />
<h2>2. Provide Documentation</h2>
<h4 data-path-to-node="9">What to Submit (and Why)</h4>
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. For example, a brief after-visit note, health summary, or letter from you provider that simply states a diagnosis (like anxiety) and requests extra time is not sufficient on its own.
Instead, useful documentation clearly explains:
<ul data-path-to-node="13">
<li>Diagnosis: The specific, current diagnosis and the date of your evaluation and most recent visit.</li>
<li>Severity and Stability: Information on whether the condition is mild, moderate, or severe, and whether it is stable, chronic, or fluctuating (e.g., does it worsen significantly during high-stress periods like finals?).</li>
<li>The Functional Impact: How your condition actively creates a barrier or limits access specifically within a college environment (in lectures, testing, or residential living).</li>
<li>The Connection: Why a specific accommodation is necessary to resolve that exact barrier.</li>
<li>Current Treatment: A brief summary of current treatments, therapies, or assistive devices that are currently in use and how they may mitigate or lessen the impact of the condition.</li>
</ul>
Before submitting documentation, make sure your provider understands what you are requesting and how your condition affects you in a higher education setting.
<ul data-path-to-node="15">
<li>
Preferred Option: Ask your provider to complete our official <a class="ng-star-inserted" href="https://na2.docusign.net/Member/PowerFormSigning.aspx?PowerFormId=1c28f4cb-72f6-4f7c-ac51-563342ffc3c7&amp;env=na2&amp;acct=03542c71-d3ea-44d2-96f3-d418f38a9ef4&amp;v=2" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-hveid="0" data-ved="0CAAQ_4QMahcKEwjN97mSxLGVAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQPg">Provider Verification Form</a> via DocuSign (fast, secure, and sent directly to DAS). This form asks the exact questions our team needs to review your request.
</li>
<li>
Other options: A detailed, signed letter or evaluation on official letterhead.
</li>
<li>
Important: Health summaries, medication lists, or basic clinical after-visit notes are not sufficient on their own.
</li>
</ul>
<hr data-start="1132" data-end="1135" />
<h2>3. Meet with DAS 
</h2>
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 <a class="ng-star-inserted" href="https://outlook.office.com/book/DisabilityandAccessibilityServicesBereaCollege@bereacollege.onmicrosoft.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-hveid="0" data-ved="0CAAQ_4QMahcKEwjN97mSxLGVAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQSg">Bookings</a>.
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:
<ul data-path-to-node="20">
<li>
Not all requests result in accommodations.
</li>
<li>
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.
</li>
</ul>
If accommodations are approved, you will receive instructions on how to notify your professors.
<hr data-start="1132" data-end="1135" />
<h2>*Housing &amp; ESA Requests</h2>
Housing accommodations, such as single rooms and ESAs, follow a separate process because they involve additional offices and policies.
These requests may require additional documentation and time for review.
Visit the <a href="https://www.berea.edu/disability-and-accessibility-services/academic-accommodations">Accommodations page</a> for details and required forms.

Start Here: Request Accommodations

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:
<ul data-path-to-node="7">
<li>
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.
</li>
<li>
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.
</li>
<li>
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.
</li>
<li>
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 <a class="ng-star-inserted" href="https://rainier.accessiblelearning.com/Berea" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-hveid="0" data-ved="0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwjN97mSxLGVAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQlAE">AIM</a>. They cannot be applied to past assignments, exams, or absences.
</li>
</ul>
<hr data-path-to-node="8" />
<h3 data-path-to-node="9">What to Expect During the Review Process</h3>
Our team reviews each request individually through an interactive process that considers your lived experience, your barriers, and your supporting documentation.
<ul data-path-to-node="11">
<li>
Not all requests result in accommodations. If a request does not meet the threshold for a formal modification, we will still partner with you to connect you with the right campus resources (like Student Success, the Writing Studio, or Counseling Services) to help you build the strategies you need.
</li>
<li>
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&#8217;s grievance/appeal process.
</li>
</ul>

How Accommodations Work

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:

<table id="tablepress-19" class="tablepress tablepress-id-19">
<thead>
<tr class="row-1">
<th class="column-1">What We Do (Our Scope)</th>
<th class="column-2">What We Do NOT Do</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody class="row-striping row-hover">
<tr class="row-2">
<td class="column-1">Ensure Equal Access: We provide accommodations to remove environmental and structural barriers so you have the same access to learning as everyone else.</td>
<td class="column-2">Ensure Success, a Perfect Environment, or High Grades: We cannot guarantee a specific academic outcome, protect a GPA, create the perfect testing environment, or alter course grading criteria.</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-3">
<td class="column-1">Provide Reasonable Accommodations: We approve adjustments (like extended testing time or accessible housing) based on a documented legal need.</td>
<td class="column-2">Modify Essential Course Requirements: We do not exempt students from mandatory assignments, public speaking requirements, or core attendance policies.</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-4">
<td class="column-1">Facilitate the Interactive Process: We collaborate with you to find creative, reasonable solutions to design an accessible college experience.</td>
<td class="column-2">Provide Personal Therapy, Personal Items, or Coaching: We do not provide personal medical equipment, clinical counseling, individual tutoring, or daily executive functioning coaching (though we will gladly connect you to the campus partners who do!).</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-5">
<td class="column-1">Support Self-Advocacy: We give you the official tools (like AIM accommodation letters) to communicate your needs to your professors.</td>
<td class="column-2">Manage Your Accommodations For You: We do not automatically email your professors or force you to use your accommodations; you are responsible for requesting and activating them each term, and communicating with your instructors about their implementation.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

What DAS Does (and Doesn't Do)

If you are experiencing academic stress, test anxiety, or trouble adjusting to college life, accommodations might not be the right tool but support is still available!
<div>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>For help with study skills, time management, or exam preparation strategies, connect with  <a href="https://www.berea.edu/office-of-student-success-and-transition">Student Success Central</a> or <a href="https://www.berea.edu/centers/center-for-teaching-and-learning/writing-resources">Writing Studio</a>.</li>
<li>For strategies to manage the physiological and emotional impacts of stress and anxiety, schedule a confidential chat with <a href="https://www.berea.edu/life-at-berea/student-life/counseling-services">Counseling Services</a>.</li>
</ul>
</div>

Unsure if You Qualify?

acf/accordion

Student Accommodations

Schedule a Meeting

Incoming and Prospective Students

Campus Maps/ADA Access

acf/card-stack

core/heading

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/bereacollegedas/">Instagram</a>

Disability and Accessibility Services

Contact Us

Connect with Us