On this page
Is DRS right for you?
Eligibility
Student Employees
Have Questions?
When should I apply?
Timeline for establishing approved accommodations
How to apply
Step 1: Complete the online application(s)
Step 2: Provide supporting documentation
Step 3: Attend an access planning meeting
What happens next
What to know if you’ve had accommodations in a different educational setting
Students entering higher education for the first time
Undergraduate transfer students
Graduate/professional students
Is DRS right for you?
If you have a disability that impacts your ability to access your academics or related aspects of your UW experience (such as housing, transportation, and getting around campus), DRS may be able to help. DRS facilitates the interactive process to determine accommodations for students with disabilities.
DRS serves undergraduate, graduate, or professional students at the University of Washington. On the Seattle campus, you must be matriculated (degree-seeking). On Bothell and Tacoma campuses, you can be matriculated or non-matriculated.
Note
A different office, Disability Services Office (DSO), serves non-matriculated students on the Seattle Campus. Bothell and Tacoma DRS offices serve all students including non-matriculated students.
In order to be eligible for accommodations through the DRS office:
- You must have a disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
- Your disability must impact your access to education or other aspects of university life.
- You must be an undergraduate, graduate, or professional student at the University of Washington. On the Seattle campus, you must be matriculated (degree-seeking). On Bothell and Tacoma campuses, you can be matriculated or non-matriculated. In order to apply for accommodations, you must have accepted their offer to attend the University
Defining disability
DRS uses the definition of disability listed in the University’s policies to determine disability and eligibility for accommodations. According to University policy, a disability is the presence of a sensory, mental, or physical impairment (whether temporary or permanent) that:
- Is medically cognizable or diagnosable, exists as a record or history, or is known or shown through an interactive process to exist in fact; and
- Has a substantially limiting effect upon the student’s ability to perform and complete the essential elements of the course, program, service, or activity.
Note
A disability can be temporary (e.g. broken bones, concussions, acute stress disorder, major depressive disorder, etc.) or permanent (e.g. blindness, amputations, learning disorders, Parkinson’s Disease, paralysis, autism, etc.).
Diagnosis vs. disability
Having a diagnosis does not necessarily mean that you have a disability in the educational environment.
A diagnosis is a term that describes a medical condition based on a medical evaluation; it does not necessarily indicate barriers in the educational environment.
A disability, on the other hand, is a legal term that refers to impairment that significantly limits functionality in a specific environment.
Student employees (including students who are compensated for academic work) are accommodated in the workplace by Human Resources (HR), which has separate application and accommodations processes. Student employees seeking accommodations related to their employment at the University of Washington, should reference the How to Request Workplace Accommodations website or email hrleaves@uw.edu. DRS does not establish employment accommodations.
If you’re still not sure if DRS is right for you, we encourage you to contact our Intake Coordinator at drsintake@uw.edu. Our Intake Coordinator will be happy to answer questions via email or set up a Prospective Student Appointment via phone or Zoom to guide you through our process and answer any questions you may have.
Accommodations not provided in higher education
Disability Resources for Students works to ensure access for students with disabilities by designing and implementing accommodations. However, there are some items that are not accommodations in higher education; this includes, but is not limited to:
- Individualized instruction
- Tutoring
- Personal care attendant provided by institution
- Provision of Personal Aids and Assistive Devices (i.e. wheelchairs, hearing aids, etc.)
- Transportation to/from campus
When should I apply?
Newly admitted University of Washington (UW) students are advised to start the interactive process once they have confirmed admission to the University. UW students already enrolled should apply to DRS as soon as possible once they have identified a disability-related barrier.
Note
You must have an active UW NetID and a student identification number to apply.
Timeline for establishing approved accommodations
The timeline from completed application to accommodation implementation can vary considerably depending on the number of applications currently in the DRS queue as well as the nature of your disability, documentation, accommodation(s), scheduling availability, and program specifics/requirements. We work hard to move your application through as quickly as possible. However, we recommend starting this process well before you need accommodations in place.
It can take DRS a couple weeks to process your completed application. Once we have processed your application, we will notify you to schedule an APM. It can take up to 7 weeks from this notification to schedule an APM to when you have your APM. Once notified, you can follow the instructions in the notification email to schedule your APM based on the availability of your assigned Access Coordinator’s calendar.
Note
If your situation meets the criteria for being emergent, please follow the application process for emergent disabilities to communicate this status so we can accelerate the process.
If you need additional accommodations after your initial APM, you can submit a new or revised accommodations request in myDRS using the AC Connect form in myDRS. For more information, please see our information on adjusting accommodations.
How to apply
Step 1: Complete the online application(s)
There are two separate applications depending on the type of accommodation you are seeking: the DRS Academic Accommodation Application and the DRS Housing Accommodation Application. These applications are completed online through myDRS, the DRS student portal. Apply to both if you are seeking both academic and housing accommodations.
Note
In cases where DRS approves accommodations that other offices implement–such as housing, dining, and transportation–additional steps may be required with those other offices as detailed below.
Academic Accommodations
Fill out the DRS Academic Accommodation Application for accommodations related to:
- Course requirements (assignments, materials, assessments, participation)
- Physical environment
- Getting around campus (parking/transportation)
- Clerkships, labs, clinicals, research roles
- Housing related to an off-campus UW academic program such as study abroad or a research lab
- Service animal notification in courses
Housing Accommodations
Fill out the DRS Housing Accommodation Application and/or follow the additional steps described below for accommodations related to:
- On-Campus Housing
- Dining and dietary needs
- Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) in housing
- Service animals in housing
For housing related to an off-campus UW academic program such as study abroad or a research lab, please complete the DRS Academic Accommodation Application.
Additional instructions for specific accommodation types
If a current UW student has an emergent disability need, DRS will work to get the student in sooner. If the DRS Intake team identifies your application as being emergent, your intake process will be referred to the appropriate campus coordinator for faster processing.
Disability needs are considered emergent when a medical event occurred within the past month with ongoing effects on the student or a medical event will occur within less than three weeks. “Medical Event” is defined here as something which requires medical care and acutely impedes the student’s ability to function (typically, something which requires surgery or hospitalization). Common examples include:
- Physical injury
- Parturition, miscarriage, or pregnancy termination
- Emergency room visits
- Inpatient care
- Non-chronic acute illness
- Acute onset of chronic illness symptoms
- Suicidal ideation
- Acute severe emotional/psychological distress
- Unplanned surgery
Note
Professors are the first line of support for students experiencing an emergent situation or condition. Please first start the conversation with your professor to explore informal support while our office reviews your emergent accommodation request.
Instructions for students new to DRS
Please fill out a DRS Academic Accommodation Application.
Instructions for students already registered with DRS
If you are already registered with DRS, please use the AC Connect form in myDRS to inform your Access Coordinator of your emergent needs.
Questions?
If you have any questions or concerns about emergent/short-term circumstances, please reach out to your campus DRS office.
Housing accommodations include adjustments within University residence halls or apartments to ensure the living environment is accessible and meets your disability-related needs. This could include assignment to a specific room type (e.g., single or ground floor with accessible path), room modifications (e.g. installing a visual fire alarm or handrails in the shower), or approval for an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) or Service Animal in residence.
If you are seeking accommodations for on-campus housing, you must apply for housing accommodations with DRS and apply to Campus Housing separately. Please note there are application deadlines for DRS (listed below) and separate application deadlines for Campus Housing.
If you need housing accommodations for a UW-sponsored off-campus program (study abroad, clinical placement, Friday Harbor labs, etc.), you do NOT need to take these steps. You only need to complete the DRS Academic Accommodation Application.
DRS first determines if you are eligible for housing accommodations and approves reasonable accommodations. This decision is not based on housing availability but on an assessment of barriers and impacts. Then DRS informs Campus Housing of your approved accommodation so they can determine how they will implement your housing accommodation based on availability. DRS approved accommodations do not guarantee that you get a room that allows for your accommodations in a specific timeframe.
Note
Once your accommodations are approved through DRS, you do not need to reapply annually. However, you have to apply for Campus Housing annually.
Applying to DRS for housing accommodations
Complete the DRS housing accommodation application
If you only need housing accommodations you only need to complete the DRS Housing Accommodation Application and also apply to Campus Housing.
If you need both housing accommodations and academic accommodations, you should complete both the DRS Housing Accommodation Application and the DRS Academic Accommodation Application and also apply to Campus Housing.
Documentation
The preferred documentation for housing accommodations is the Disability Verification Form–Housing/ESA. Please visit our Documentation Guidelines page for more information.
Deadlines
| Quarter | Student Type | Deadline | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Returning housing students | April 1 | Returning on-campus housing students seeking a change to their Fall quarter housing accommodations. |
| Fall | New housing students | June 1 | Newly admitted students and students who have NOT lived in on-campus housing before seeking Fall quarter housing accommodations. |
| Winter | All Students | November 1 | – |
| Spring | All students | February 1 | – |
| Summer | All students | May 1 | – |
*Students ONLY need to reach out to DRS for NEW accommodations. Otherwise, your current accommodations will automatically transfer between quarters.
Note
Students must follow both Campus Housing and DRS timelines as well as complete applications for both offices. Approved accommodations do not guarantee availability of campus housing for all applicants, nor give preference or priority to any building or unit. Late applications will be processed on a space-available basis.
Apply to campus housing
In addition to applying to DRS for accommodations, you also need to apply to Campus Housing in order to be considered for on-campus housing.
Seattle: Use the Seattle MyHFS Portal. For assistance, call 206.543.4059 or email hfsinfo@uw.edu.
Bothell: Use the UW Bothell Housing Application. For assistance, call 425.352.3544 or email uwbreslife@uw.edu.
Tacoma: Use the UW Tacoma Housing Application. For assistance, call 253.692.5708 or email court17@uw.edu.
Note
Be sure to select “disability accommodation needed” on your housing profile and check your Campus Housing website for their specific application deadlines.
If you want an ESA in Campus Housing, then you will need to complete the additional housing application steps detailed above. Complete the DRS Housing Accommodation Application. For all ESA requests, the preferred documentation is the Disability Verification Form–Housing/ESA. Please visit our Documentation Guidelines page for more information.
Service animals are generally permitted on campus in most spaces you enter as a student. However, if you require a service animal to reside with you in Campus Housing you will need to complete the DRS Housing Accommodation Application.
Housing
Students requesting that a service animal be permitted to reside in Campus Housing will need to complete the DRS Housing Accommodation Application. Please refer to the steps detailed above.
Academic setting
It’s helpful but not required for building coordinators and instructors to be notified when service animals will be present in the environment. You can reach out to your campus DRS office or complete the DRS Academic Accommodation Application if you would like DRS assistance with notifications or help resolving concerns about the animal in the academic setting.
Students with special dietary needs are not exempt from meal plan requirements or given priority assignment to specific room types such as a single room or studio. If you are requesting dietary modifications, follow the steps for your campus.
Seattle
Many dietary modifications can be addressed directly with HFS and do not require you to complete an application for DRS. Start by contacting the HFS Nutrition Team at uwdining@uw.edu to schedule a consultation. If HFS is unable to meet your needs, they will refer you to DRS for further assessment. More information is available on the HFS Website.
Bothell
Next steps will be emailed to you after you submit the DRS Housing Accommodation Application.
Tacoma
Next steps will be emailed to you after you submit the DRS Housing Accommodation Application.
Note
Special dietary needs do not automatically guarantee dining account adjustments or housing on-campus and/or specific room types if you are living on-campus.
Seattle
Disability Parking:
If you already have a state-issued disability placard, contact UW Transportation Services directly to purchase a UW permit. Short-term needs can sometimes be handled directly with Transportation Services.
If you don’t have a state placard but require disability parking access due to your condition, complete the DRS Academic Accommodation Application first. DRS will verify the need and communicate with Transportation Services.
For more information on UW Transportation and parking locations, please see the Accessible Parking page.
Dial-A-Ride :
For ongoing access to this free, shared shuttle service, Complete the DRS Academic Accommodation Application first. DRS verifies eligibility and notifies UW Commuter Services. You then contact Dial-A-Ride directly to enroll and schedule rides. (Short-term needs can be arranged directly with Dial-A-Ride).
Bothell
All vehicles parking at Bothell campus must purchase a campus parking pass. To park in any ADA space, vehicles must also display a state-issued placard or plate. Your Husky Card U-Pass covers regional paratransit for eligible riders. Find information about all transportation options on Bothell campus at UW Bothell Commuter Services.
Tacoma
Students with state issue placards can park in state stalls or in a UW Tacoma parking lot that is hourly unrestricted parking (no payment/fee).
If you need a disability parking permit, then you will need to complete the DRS Academic Accommodation Application. If the accommodation is approved, you will then work with the Transportation office to purchase a permit for C1/C2 lot.
There are no shuttles in Tacoma.
Privacy
All information and documentation submitted to the DRS office is kept separate from academic records and is considered private under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Under FERPA guidelines, DRS cannot guarantee complete confidentiality as there may be times when sharing some information with other UW staff/faculty with an educational need to know is necessary in the facilitation of the accommodation process.
Release of information
Students can complete the online Release of Information form if they would like DRS staff to be able to speak with a family member, healthcare provider, or other non-UW staff. You can submit a Release of Information at any time during or after the application process.
Note
DRS’s Release of Information form is specific to our office. Release of Information forms completed for other departments do not apply to DRS. Similarly, a FERPA disclosure does not apply to DRS.
Step 2: Provide supporting documentation
After submitting your application (Step 1), you’ll be prompted to upload documents that support your request. This is different from the application itself – it’s about providing verification and additional context.
Learn more about documentation guidelines and submission options.
Purpose
This information helps us verify your eligibility for services under disability law and gives us a clearer understanding of your specific condition, limitations, and barriers. This context is essential for determining reasonable accommodations in Step 3.
Choosing your documentation
Detailed documentation that speaks to your barriers in the university environment will help the accommodation process move forward efficiently. For specific documentation guidelines, visit our documentation page.
We recognize that some students face serious challenges in obtaining detailed documentation. You can find more information on your options if you have limited documentation on our documentation guidelines page.
Time considerations
You will not enter the queue to schedule an initial meeting with a DRS Access Coordinator–called an Access Planning Meeting (APM)–until you have submitted a completed application and documentation. Therefore, we recommend that you submit documentation as soon as possible after your application to keep the process moving. If you are unable to upload your documentation after completing the application, there are alternative ways to submit your documentation. Please see our documentation page for more information.
Step 3: Attend an access planning meeting
This is a collaborative meeting between you and a DRS Access Coordinator, held either in-person or via Zoom. You’ll discuss your experiences and needs, review the information you submitted (application and documentation), and work directly with the Access Coordinator to determine reasonable accommodations for your specific situation and program at UW.
The Access Planning Meeting (APM) is a synchronous meeting with one of our Access Coordinators where you will discuss your individual access needs and determine appropriate accommodations. Once accommodations are established, the Access Coordinator will share how each accommodation is activated and facilitated on a quarterly basis. Accommodations are not retroactive and begin after the APM.
How to schedule
After you submit an application and documentation, DRS reviews your materials and reaches out if anything is needed. When all the information is complete, a DRS staff member will follow up to schedule an APM. APMs can be conducted in-person or on zoom.
Note
Allow up to 7 weeks from submitting a completed application and documentation to receive scheduling instructions.
Determining reasonable accommodations
Academic accommodations are approved on a case-by-case basis and are individually designed to create equal access for a student. They can be approved on a temporary or permanent basis. Additional accommodations can be requested/reviewed as needed.
According to University policy, accommodations cannot be an undue hardship to the University, fundamentally alter academic standards, or modify the program/course curriculum. DRS staff will work with academic partners to determine if a requested accommodation will fundamentally alter a course or program.
In the event that an accommodation request is not approved and the student is in disagreement with the decision, they may seek re-evaluation through the Reconsideration Process.
What happens next
After students are approved for traditional classroom accommodations, they must request every accommodation for every class, every quarter through myDRS.
After accommodations are approved for non-traditional learning environments (e.g. clinicals, study abroad, research locations, etc.), students or DRS must send a notification letter to the appropriate person responsible for implementing accommodations. Instructions for doing so are provided in the meeting with your DRS Access Coordinator.
If students experience any difficulties in obtaining or receiving accommodations, or if any additional accommodations are needed, they should follow up with their DRS Access Coordinator. Please visit our Using Accommodations page to learn more about what to do once accommodations are approved.
What to know if you’ve had accommodations in a different educational setting
Accommodation processes and policies vary from institution to institution and between different systems (e.g. the K-12 system and higher education).
Understanding these differences is crucial to a smooth, successful transition to the University of Washington. We have outlined some of the differences below and provided resources to help students and families/guardians navigate them.
The laws governing higher education differ in important ways from those that govern K-12. This means that your rights and responsibilities are different in higher education. These differences impact everything from how the accommodation process starts to how accommodations are evaluated and established.
Accommodations in higher education are governed by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). This is different from accommodations at the K-12 level, which are informed by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Additionally, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) informs who has access to student records, including disability documentation records.
Summary of differences
| Description | Secondary Education (K-12) | Higher Education (postsecondary education) |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Laws | Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) | Section 504 (particularly subpart E) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) |
| Purpose of Legislation | To ensure that all eligible students with disabilities have available a free appropriate public education (FAPE), including special education and related services (IDEA). To ensure that no otherwise qualified person with a disability be denied access to, or the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination by any program or activity provided by any public institution or entity (504/ADA). | To ensure that no otherwise qualified person with a disability be denied access to, or the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination by any program or activity provided by any public institution or entity (504/ADA). |
| Eligibility | For special education services: all infants, children, and youth (0 through 21 years) with disabilities (as defined by the state Administrative Rules for Special Education, and/or the ADA). | For disability services: anyone who meets the entry level age criteria of the college and who can document the existence of a disability as defined by Section 504 and ADA. |
| Documentation | School districts are responsible for providing trained personnel to assess eligibility and plan educational services. | Students are responsible for providing documentation of their disability, barriers, and impacts. |
| Receiving Services | School districts are responsible for identifying students with disabilities, designing special instruction, and/or providing accommodations. | Students are responsible for self-identifying to the designated disability services staff that they have a disability, and for requesting accommodations for each class. Accommodations (not special education) are provided so students with disabilities can access the educational programs or courses used by all students. |
| Self-Advocacy | Students with disabilities learn about their disability, the importance of self-advocacy, the accommodations they need, and how to be a competent self-advocate. | Students must be able to describe their disability, identify barriers and impacts, and identify any accommodations needed and be a self-advocate. |
| Privacy | FERPA gives parents rights to access and control their children’s education records until they turn 18. | Once a student enrolls in a postsecondary institution, whether they are 18 years old or not, they become the sole guardian of all records maintained by that institution. Students must fill out a release of information form if they want parents/guardians/providers to be included in communication with DRS. |
Resources for transitioning from K-12 to university
DRS staff are responsible to assess students’ barriers and determine accommodations knowing the specific education environment that student will be learning in. This means accommodations at other institutions may not be reasonable at the University of Washington. The University of Washington is not required to implement the same accommodations you received at a different higher education institution. However, providing a list of previous accommodations will help DRS staff have context for your previous impacts and barriers.
Some undergraduate students engage in non-traditional classroom experiences such as study abroad, research, field work, clerkships, clinicals, practicum, etc. The process for accommodations in non-traditional environments is different from the process for traditional classrooms.
Resources for transitioning from 2 year institutions to 4 year institutions
If you had accommodations in your undergraduate program, please keep in mind that the graduate environment is different from the undergraduate environment and, therefore, you could receive different accommodations than you had as an undergraduate. Additionally, accommodations are determined by each university based on the specific learning environment of that university. The University of Washington is not required to implement the same accommodations you had at a different higher education institution.
Graduate students often participate in a wide variety of assistantships, research, and professional opportunities outside of the traditional classroom. Since each student and their program requirements are unique, DRS works to tailor accommodation needs to the graduate environment by working with you and your faculty/program staff from the beginning of your journey through to your graduate or professional examinations and defense processes.
Some graduate students engage in non-traditional classroom experiences such as study abroad, research, field work, clerkships, clinicals, practicum, etc. The process for accommodations in non-traditional environments is different from the process for traditional classrooms.
Note
The process for seeking academic accommodations as a graduate student starts the same as for undergraduate students with submitting a completed application and documentation.
Any employment responsibilities (teaching assistant, research assistant, fellowship, etc.) or funding for your graduate/ professional program falls under the umbrella of student employment and are accommodated in the workplace by Human Resources (HR), which has separate application and accommodations processes. Student employees seeking accommodations related to their employment at the University of Washington, should reference the How to Request Workplace Accommodations website or email hrleaves@uw.edu. DRS does not establish employment accommodations.
Resources for transitioning to graduate school
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