Welcome to the University of Michigan!
SAAS sees disability as an essential part of diversity and is dedicated to making sure disabled students feel included and supported at the university. If you are in high school, haven’t been admitted, or haven’t said yes to U-M yet, you are considered a prospective student.
Getting Started
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions has a UMich 101 YouTube Channel that offers helpful advice to disabled prospective students preparing to start college.
You can also visit their pages for prospective high school students and prospective transfer students to find more tips.
If you are thinking about costs, the Office of Financial Aid’s Net Price Calculator can help you and your family estimate how much it might cost to go to Michigan. To receive financial aid from the government or the university, incoming disabled students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS Profile. If you have questions about financial aid, contact the Office of Financial Aid.
When to Connect with SSD
After you get your UMID number and U-M email address, you can start asking SSD about accommodations by filling out the Student Initial Information Form. Once you complete it, SSD will give you information about what happens next.
Meetings with SSD for academic accommodations begin in May. Meetings for housing accommodations can be scheduled at any time after you receive your UMID number and email. If you think you will need housing accommodations, it’s best to schedule a meeting early, as soon as you decide to attend U-M. You can find the complete steps and details about this process on the SSD site.
If you are a prospective disabled student and want to learn more before committing, you can email SSDOffice@umich.edu to talk with someone on our team. SSD does not confirm or guarantee accommodations before you are an admitted student, but you are welcome to connect if you want to understand how accommodations work at college, what documentation you might need, or if you have other questions. Meetings can be held in person or online.
Campus Accessibility
Use the Interactive Campus Map to find accessibility features, such as ramps and elevators. To see these features in a campus building, look for the yellow box in the top-right corner, then click it to open the “buildings” tab for accessibility information.
The Spectrum Center also has a list of all-gender bathrooms across campus, which may be helpful for students to look at. A map version of the all-gender bathroom list is also available.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How does the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office determine what accommodations and services I should receive?
SSD engages in an interactive process to explore accommodations. During the Welcome Meeting, the student should communicate their lived experience and any academic barriers they face to their coordinators. The coordinator will then follow the department’s process to review the student's disability-related accommodation requests. This process typically relies on a mix of the student's narrative and related third-party documentation.
What documentation do I need to submit to receive accommodations?
Third-party disability documentation may come in many forms. For students who received accommodations in high school through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or a 504 Plan, submitting that documentation can be a great way to show your history with accommodations. SSD does not maintain a specific recency standard for documentation, however, documentation is most helpful when it reflects current impact and disability-related barriers.
Consult our Helpful Documentation Guidelines page for additional information.
Students should not delay in connecting due to documentation concerns. In your Welcome Meeting, your coordinator can review questions and discuss if further disability-related documentation is needed.
What is the difference between high school and college accommodations?
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protect elementary, secondary, and postsecondary students from discrimination. Nevertheless, several of the requirements that apply through high school differ from those that apply in higher education. For instance, Section 504 requires a school district to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to each child with a disability in the district’s jurisdiction. Whatever the disability, a school district must identify an individual’s educational needs and provide any regular or special education and related aids and services necessary to meet those needs, as well as meet the needs of students without disabilities.
Unlike your high school, however, your postsecondary school is not required to provide FAPE. Instead, your postsecondary school is required to provide appropriate academic accommodations as necessary to ensure that it does not discriminate based on disability.
Does my IEP or 504 Plan automatically transfer over?
No, high school accommodations do not transfer over to the college setting; however, an IEP or 504 Plan can be used for documentation purposes. Students seeking accommodations must self-identify and initiate the process with SSD by completing the Student Initial Information Form.
I did not receive accommodations in high school. Can I receive accommodations at U-M?
Yes! Students can get connected with SSD at any time, regardless of their prior history of accommodations. Please consult our Helpful Documentation Guidelines for more information regarding appropriate documentation.
When should I establish academic accommodations?
You can connect for accommodations at any time during your career at UMich. If you are an incoming student for the Fall semester, we suggest connecting in late Spring or Summer. Students MUST have a Uniqname and UMID to submit the Student Initial Information Form to SSD.
How do I apply for housing accommodations?
To apply for housing accommodations, first, committed students need to fill out the Student Initial Information Form and indicate that they are applying for housing accommodations. In addition to having a Welcome Meeting to discuss academic accommodations with their coordinators, students also need to schedule a separate housing meeting to discuss their housing needs. Housing meetings should take place as early as possible to ensure approved accommodations can be provided.
As a student, do I have to disclose my disability?
If you intend to use accommodations, you will need to disclose your disability to the SSD office. Please note that SSD keeps your disability-related information confidential and does not disclose sensitive information (e.g., diagnosis or treatment) to faculty or staff. This allows the student to determine who, where, and why they disclose their disability.
How do I locate accessible routes, entries, and elevators to campus buildings?
Information about ramp and elevator access to campus buildings can be found on the Interactive Campus Map.
Is accessible transportation available?
Yes, Paratransit services are available. SSD manages paratransit requests for students. To start this process, please complete our Paratransit Application.
For non-students (faculty, staff, and guests), please request Paratransit through the Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IV (ECRT) Office.
Will my transcript show that I used accommodations in college?
No, accommodations are a confidential civil right and will not be noted on transcripts.
Do I have to renew my accommodations every semester/year?
You do not have to renew your accommodations, but you will have to request them through Accommodate at the beginning of every semester based on your needs in individual courses.
How can I connect with the disability community at U-M?
There are many ways to get connected with the disability community at U-M, including student organizations, campus-wide organizations, Adaptive Sports & Fitness, and more. For more information, please visit our Disability Community page.
What if I have additional questions?
Always reach out to your coordinator or the SSD office at SSDoffice@umich.edu.
I attended U-M Flint/U-M Dearborn. Will my accommodations automatically transfer over?
No, students transferring to the Ann Arbor campus will need to fill out our Student Initial Information Form and schedule a Welcome Meeting with their coordinator.
What do I do if I do not have any documentation of my disability?
Students can still schedule and attend their Welcome Meeting with their assigned disability access coordinator without submitting documentation. During the Welcome Meeting, their coordinator will address any documentation concerns.
FAQ for Parents/Guardians
What role do parents/guardians play in the accommodation process?
At the postsecondary education level, establishing accommodations is a student-driven process. It is our process to have all conversations directly with the student, including previous use of accommodations and any requests for accommodations while attending the University of Michigan. While parents and learning specialists can communicate more directly with high school staff, that access is not in place in higher education. It is the students' decision whether to include their parents in meetings with SSD staff. If students would like their parent(s) or other individuals to speak with a staff member without the student being present, they may complete a FERPA form. A FERPA form will allow SSD staff to communicate more freely with other individuals; however, it does not remove the student from the process. Student engagement is required throughout the interactive process.
What is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) establishes rules and regulations regarding access to and disclosure of student records. FERPA defines a student record to include all records maintained by the institution that directly relate to a current or former student.
As an institution that receives federal funding, the University of Michigan cannot disclose student records to anyone other than the student (including the student’s parents) without the student’s written permission. SSD is unable to discuss student accommodations with parents who have not expressly authorized it.