For students with disabilities moving into higher education, we suggest learning about your rights and responsibilities. Below is one of many important websites with helpful information for students.
U.S. Department of Education
The Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act are the primary laws that govern the procedures for post-secondary education. Universities/colleges must ensure that a student does not encounter discrimination due to a disability, and must provide reasonable accommodations that allow the student to fully participate in the university/college programs and/or classes.
CAS strongly encourages students to develop these self-advocacy skills.
No. Not all high school accommodations will be reasonable in the college environment. Your 504 or IEP plan does not automatically follow you to college. You will need to apply to CAS. Together the student and the CAS access specialist will determine reasonable accommodations for the college environment.
No. It is the student's responsibility to apply for CAS services. Universities cannot seek out students with disabilities.
While the Center for Accessibility Services is happy to discuss concerns with your parents, please be aware that confidentiality laws prevent us from discussing specific information with parents, unless the student has signed a Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) release allowing us to speak with your parents. Contact the Office of the Registrar for more information on FERPA.
If you need accommodations to participate in the Radford University application process please inform the University Admissions office at admissions@radford.edu or phone 540-831-5371.
CAS is happy to meet with you to discuss the application for CAS services process and reasonable accommodations that would assist you if you chose to attend Radford University. Please call CAS at 540-831-6350 or email cas@radford.edu to schedule an informational session.
When on campus for QUEST visit the CAS office as your schedule allows.
Disclosing your disability is voluntary. Please note, if you disclose your disability during the admissions process, you will not automatically be registered for services with the Center for Accessibility Services (CAS). CAS is the department on campus that approves official disability related accommodations that have been determined as reasonable through a completed interactive process with a student and the CAS offices.
No. A student with a disability must meet the same admission standards.
Admissions will evaluate your application in the same manner that all applications are evaluated. For additional information about the college's admission procedures visit Radford University Undergraduate Admissions website.
No. Before Radford University accommodations may be determined and provided, you must self-disclose to CAS, complete the application for CAS services process, and engage in an interview with a CAS Access Specialist. Documentation may be requested. Reasonable accommodations are determined on a case by case basis by each college or university.
A CAS Access Specialist may request documentation to determine eligibility for accommodations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This documentation must demonstrate that a qualified professional has established a formal diagnosis of a disability and that there is evidence of a substantial limitation in one or more major life activities. Please review the Center for Accessibility Services Documentation Guidelines for more information.
No. Generally, once a student has completed the process for accommodations with CAS, new documentation is not required unless a student is requesting an additional need related to disability.
No, to receive accommodations with standardized exams, the student must register with that testing company and complete their requirements to receive accommodations.
Looking for information about housing, dining or interpreting accommodations, please see our Accommodations Information tab.
Reasonable academic accommodations are based on the nature of the disability and the
impact of the disability on the academic environment. All accommodations are determined
on an individual case-by-case basis. Reasonable accommodations at the university/college
level may differ from those available to the student in high school. Accommodations are available to ensure access to the material and are not to fundamentally
alter the content of the curriculum.
No. Accommodations are not retroactive. Students should work with their CAS Access
Specialist and the faculty member to put their accommodations in place prior to the start of the semester.
If at any time you feel you need additional or different accommodations, please schedule
an appointment with your assigned CAS Access Specialist to discuss. You may be asked
to provide additional documentation to support your request for new accommodations
if the documentation on file does not support that request. If you are experiencing
changes in the status of your disability, CAS may request updated documentation to
better accommodate your changing needs.
The University standard for full-time is twelve (12) credit hours, or about 4 classes,
per semester for undergraduate students and nine (9) credit hours per semester for
graduate students. Radford University recognizes that some students may qualify for
a reduced course load as an accommodation (meaning less classes, or below 12 credits,
not less assignments within the classes).
Students should be aware that a reduced course load requires additional coordination of services and could impact the following:
Each semester a CAS student is required to complete a semester request to use their
accommodations. CAS will create an access plan and send an email notification to the
student with instructions for setting up accommodations. Students will then discuss
their access plan with each of their instructors. It is encouraged that students meet
with professors during office hours to discuss the Access Plan and the applicability
of accommodations to the class. The student and professor will agree upon appropriate
accommodations and electronically sign the Academic Access Plan.
If you feel that you are not being afforded your accommodations, and you have already
had a discussion with your instructor to try and resolve the issue, please set up
an appointment to meet with your CAS Access Specialist.
Sign Language Interpreters and closed captioning services are available. Please contact
the CAS Coordinator for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services for more information.
CAS does not provide personal attendants or equipment for personal use.
The Center for Accessibility Services (CAS) does not provide academic advising or
assist with course scheduling. Academic advising is available to all students through
the Highlander Success Center.
Please visit the Radford University Highlander Success Center website to locate contact information.
CAS does not provide tutoring, if a student would like to receive this type of service,
they should visit the Harvey Center for Learning and Writing which is located on the fourth floor of McConnell Library.
If you suspect you have a disability that is impacting your academic performance,
please contact CAS at 540-831-6350 to schedule an appointment with a CAS Access Specialist.
The Center for Assessment and Psychological Services (CAPS) located at CHBS 5201 (5th floor) on campus can provide full scale testing.
A list of additional agencies that conduct testing in the community is also available.
Once a student has completed the Housing and Residential Life process, a student should
contact a CAS Access Specialist. Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case
basis for Radford University owned housing only.
All students are required to purchase a Radford University student parking pass through Parking and Transportation. Students with a state handicap placard from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
can park in marked accessible spaces anywhere on campus.
Please contact Parking and Transportation for more information about parking regulations and policies.
Students with temporary injuries or medical conditions are eligible for temporary
services through the CAS. Please contact the office to set up an appointment with
a CAS Access Specialist.
If you are currently undergoing testing, please set up an appointment to discuss eligibility
for provisional accommodations. Provisional accommodations are granted on a case-by-case
basis and are good for one semester at Radford University.
Each testing agency has their own process for requesting accommodations. Please contact
the testing agency to find out what information is necessary to apply for accommodations.
How will I get my prescription medication for ADHD, depression, anxiety, etc.?
The Radford Transit is free for all Radford University students and has regular routs to various establishments
where prescribed drugs can be purchased.
The university/college setting is challenging, and it can be even more demanding for
a student with a disability. It is important that you create an academic plan with
your advisor that best fits you. Seek accommodations for your disability early. Even
if you think you may not use your accommodations, it is best to go ahead and complete
the registration process and get your accommodation paperwork in place should you
need to use them. At the college level, it is up to you how and when to use your
accommodations.
The first step is to know yourself, including your strengths, weaknesses, and what
type of accommodations you need. Have a goal and a plan of action to obtain that goal.
Obtain assistance from a mentor or other persons whom you could use as a resource.
Learn what resources are available on campus by reviewing websites, and attending
information fairs. If you do not know something, ask for help.
No. The Center for Accessibility Services (CAS) adheres to the laws governing confidentiality.