Graduate and Professional Students
Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services and the accommodation-focused branch of the department, Services for Student with Disabilities (SSD), is committed to supporting graduate and professional students at the University of Michigan. SSD provides accommodations for graduate students across all programs, with the exception to the U-M medical school, which has its own disability support office.
SSD operates under a liaison model, in which disability access coordinators support designated schools and colleges throughout the university. Graduate and professional students are supported by disability access coordinators who are familiar with graduate student needs and their particular program.
Graduate and Professional Students Frequently Asked Questions
If I went to U-M for undergrad, do my accommodations automatically transfer to my graduate or professional program?
Your previous accommodations at U-M will most likely be approved for your new program. However, since the program expectations are likely different from your undergraduate program, and your needs may have changed, we highly recommend that you set up a meeting with a disability access coordinator to discuss accommodations. Please email the SSDOffice@umich.edu to schedule a meeting. Pending how recently you graduated and the availability of our team, you may be assigned a new disability access coordinator.
If your Accommodate profile was archived due to your graduation (you will know this because you are unable to submit a new semester request for the current semester), contact the SSD office (SSDOffice@umich.edu) to unarchive you and to request a meeting with a DAC.
If you attended before 2021 and had a VISA letter, please reach out to the office (SSDOffice@umich.edu) and fill out our intake form. We may be able to use your previous VISA letter to approve accommodations, depending on needs and current disability impact.
I attended the University of Michigan as an undergrad and I was assigned a disability access coordinator; can I still work with them?
If your assigned disability access coordinator is still on our team, you may continue working with them. Please schedule an appointment to discuss your current accommodation needs. If you do not have access to Accommodate because your profile was archived, or you attended U-M before 2021, please email SSDOffice@umich.edu. There are some programs that are highly specialized and have a DAC with in depth knowledge assigned to them. In those situations, we will likely switch you to the Coordinator who has the most indepth knowledge of your program.
Can I get housing accommodations as a graduate student?
Graduate students planning to live on campus are welcome to connect with the SSD Housing Team to explore housing accommodations. To get started, please fill out the Student Initial Contact form if you have not yet connected with our office; or a Supplemental Request if you already have an Accommodate Portal with us.
Students who are already approved for housing accommodations but have specific questions about implementation should reach out to our housing partners at hsg-accommodations@umich.edu.
If I register with SSD, will you tell my faculty advisor/PI?
Registering with SSD does not automatically notify your faculty advisor/PI or graduate program, nor this information placed on your transcript. As a student, you choose when and with whom to share your accommodations.
Your accommodation letter does not include your diagnosis or disability documentation, it only verifies that you are affiliated with SSD and lists your approved accommodation(s). If you would like your advisor, graduate program coordinator, or other staff member to be aware of your accommodations, you may share your accommodation letter with them directly.
I'm an incoming or current graduate student with a disability. When should I connect with your team?
You can start the registration process anytime during your academic career. However, please keep in mind that accommodations are not retroactive and sufficient time is needed to implement accommodations. We recommend that incoming students get connected with us before their first term, and that current students connect as soon as their needs change or if they encounter new access barriers.
Students with temporary injuries (such as a broken limb, concussion, or recovery from surgery) can complete a Student Initial Information Form and receive services through the SSD on a temporary basis.
Should I connect with SSD if my faculty or advisor is already willing to be flexible?
Faculty and advisors may be willing to provide flexibility, but connecting with SSD ensures that eligibility is formally reviewed and documented. Faculty and programs are not required to provide disability-related accommodations unless they have been approved through SSD. Too often we have students who reach out to us after they have gotten into a difficult situation with their program (i.e. probation) and informal accommodations are no longer helpful. Since accommodations cannot be retroactively implemented, there is often little we can do in these situations. Therefore, we strongly recommend that students get connected with SSD before access barriers arise or as soon as needs change.
Additionally, registering with SSD gives you access to services, resources, and support that may not be available through your department such as academic coaching, assistive technology, accessible course materials, and adaptive furniture.
How long will it take for me to receive academic accommodations as a graduate student?
During the busy times of the semester, especially at the beginning and end of term, it may take a few weeks to have your welcome meeting with your disability access coordinator. After your welcome meeting, the timeline for approval depends on your access barriers, documentation, accommodation requests, and program requirements. In many cases, accommodations are typically approved within a week of the welcome meeting.
Accommodations for qualifying exams, defenses, and dissertations, or other major program milestones may require additional coordination and a longer timeline. We recommend contacting your disability access coordinator a few months before your larger milestones to begin the interactive process.
Can I get accommodations for my prelims, qualifying, comprehensive exams?
Yes, SSD frequently works with students with disabilities who experience barriers related to their prelims, qualifying, or comprehensive exams. As with all academic accommodations, approved accommodations depend on the format of the prelimary/qualifying exams and the disability-related barriers a student experiences. To allow enough time for coordination and implementation, we recommend connecting with the SSD office a few months before your exam. If you are already working with a disability access coordinator, please schedule a follow-up meeting. If you have not yet connected with our office, please complete the student initial information form and schedule a welcome meeting once you are assigned a disability access coordinator.
Can I get accommodations for my research (lab, field work)?
Yes, if you experience disability-related barriers in your research, lab, or field work, a disability access coordinator can work with you to explore reasonable accommodations to address those barriers. We encourage you to get connected with SSD if you are having a disability-related barrier to your research.
How do I get accommodations for my field placement?
If your field placement/internship is a course tied to a degree requirement, please get connected with SSD to explore reasonable accommodations; the exact process will depend on your particular program and placement. If your field placement is employment based and not for credit, please work with the Disability Equity Office to receive employment accommodations.
I no longer have exams in my courses, why should I register with SSD?
Even though many graduate programs structure their coursework differently than undergraduate programs, we recommend registering with SSD. You may still benefit from accommodations for coursework, research, field work, clinical placements, communication access, or other disability-related barriers. During your welcome meeting, your disability access coordinator may recommend support services through Academic Support and Access Partnerships (ASAP).
Can I get accommodations for my dissertation and/or oral defense?
Yes. SSD can facilitate accommodations for dissertations and/or oral defenses, depending on the barriers a student is experiencing and the requirements for the disseration and/or oral defense. If you are already connected with SSD, please reach out to your disability access coordinator to discuss accommodations. If you are not yet connected with SSd, fill out our initial information form to explore reasonable accommodations. SSD can also assist with identifying resources (such as ASAP) and technology that may support students with disabilities during the dissertation and defense process.
Can I get accommodations for coursework for a certificate or other non-degree part of my program?
Yes, though implementation will depend on the fundamental aspects of the certificate or course and the barriers you are experiencing. If the course is in your Accommodate profile, you may send a semester request at the beginning of the term. If there is not an associated course with this requirement, please reach out to your disability access coordinator for a meeting, or if appropriate, for a certificate of accommodations that you can share with the appropriate faculty and staff.
I want my faculty to know about my accommodations, but I also want my graduate program coordinator/advisor/other support staff to know. How would I share my letter with someone who isn't my course faculty?
You are welcome, and encouraged, to share your accommodation letter with your graduate program coordinator and any other appropriate support staff. To do so, please download your accommodation letter as a PDF and email it to the appropriate staff.
To access PDF versions of your letters, please complete the following steps:
- Log in to your Accommodate portal
- Click the Accommodate Portal (drop-down) tab
- Click the "Communication Log (Previous Letters)" tab
- Click the letter with the dates you wish to view, and then you will see options to "Print Letter" or "Generate PDF."
How do I get accommodations for X professional exam (MPRE, Bar, MSW license, etc)?
Every professional exam has its own accommodation request process and documentation requirements. Please review the accommodation criteria carefully on your exam's official website, as many testing organizations require specific medical or disability accommodation. Additionally, they may have recency requirements for evaluations and supporting documentation.
We recommend that you schedule a meeting with your disability access coordinator around a year before you plan to take your professional exam to discuss the exam accommodation application process and timeline. If appropriate, your disability access coordinator may recommend that you get a new neuropsychological evaluation or other documentation, so it's important to allow enough time for an evaluation before your exam.
Are graduate students with disabilities eligible for other support through SAAS (such as Academic Support, Adaptive Sports and Fitness, testing in the Testing Accommodation Centers, or Disability Funding)?
Yes, graduate students are eligible to explore all of the services that SAAS provides.
Academic Support & Access Partnerships (ASAP) offers academic coaching, advanced degree study sessions, coaching corner workshops, and self-directed Canvas modules. To get access, please connect with our office by filling out our initial information form and have a welcome meeting with your assigned disability access coordinator.
Adaptive Sports and Fitness is open to all students, regardless of disability, and there are many ways to get involved.
The Testing Accommodation Center (TAC) is a faculty resource for implementing testing accommodations. The TAC is not an accommodation you can request, but may be used by some of your faculty to facilitate testing accommodations; it is also utilized by some programs to facilitate qualifying/preliminary examinations.
SSD offers smaller funding opportunities to students with disabilities.
How do I get accommodations for my GSI/GSRA/GSSA appointment?
All employment accommodations for graduate students are facilitated through the Disability Equity Office, which is a standalone unit separate from SSD. While both offices use the Accommodate system, the Accommodate systems are separate and do not interact with each other. Therefore, you will need both academic and employment accommodations, you will need to submit separate requests with each office.
Why are there two different processes for academic and employment accommodations?
Academic and employment accommodations are handled through different processes because they are covered by different legal frameworks. Academic accommodations ensure that students have equal access to education, while employmentf accommodations are intended to ensure individuals have equal access to employment opportunities and can perform the essential functions of their position. Because academic and workplace accommodations have different requirements, SSD and the Disability Equity Office have teams with specialized expertise in each area to evaluate and process accommodation requests.
I have a disability that makes it difficult for me to physically navigate campus. Are there options for accommodations for accessible parking or transportation if I cannot access the buses?
If you have a valid, state-issued accessible parking placard or license plate, you are eligible for a student accessible parking permit through Parking Services. If you do not have a state-issued accessible parking placard or license plate, we recommend that you register with SSD and talk with your disability access coordinator about other options such as paratransit.
I need specific accessible furniture for my lab/graduate research space/graduate classes. Is this something that SSD can accommodate?
Yes, SSD has an adaptive furniture specialist who can meet with you to discuss your barriers and access needs. Once you are connected with SSD, please discuss your furniture needs with your disability access coordinator so they can make a referral to our adaptive furniture specialist.
Please note that if your accessible furniture needs are tied to your paid graduate student instructor (GSI) position or graduate student research assistant position (GSRA), please reach out to the Disability Equity Office for assistance.
I want to explore specific technology that would make my program/dissertation research more accessible to me. Is this something SSD can help with?
Yes, SSD has assistive technology media specialists who work with students to explore assistive technology and alternative formats that meet their needs. If you are already connected with SSD, please reach out to your disability access coordinator to discuss your access needs and possible referrals. If you are not yet connected with SSD, please complete the initial information form to begin the process.
I have a disability that requires CART captioning, video captioning, FM radio, or ASL interpreting. How do I get access to these services?
First, please fill out our intake form, and let us know about any access needs you have for meeting with a disability access coordinator. At the welcome meeting, please discuss your access needs and which services have been most helpful for you in the past. Your disability access coordinator will refer you to our communication access specialist who will arrange CART providers, ASL interpreters, and notetakers as needed, and your coordinator will also refer you to our accessible media specialist who will help with video captioning.
Will registering with SSD impact my student visa or graduate appointment/funding? Will registering with SSD be on my transcript? Will future employers be able to find out?
Registering with SSD will not impact your student visa or graduate appointment, or funding. Additionally, SSD registration and accommodations do not appear on your transcript. Information shared with SSD is protected under The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and is maintained separately from your academic records. Medical information is only shared with SSd staff who have a need to know; other staff and faculty do not have access to this information. When your instructors are informed of your accommodations, we only share that you are connected with SSD and which accommodations you are approved for. We will never share your disability, diagnosis, or medical information with anyone outside of SSD.