How to Obtain Services

Registration with the Disability Services Office (DSO) within the Office of Student Experience is on a voluntary, self-identifying basis. Services are available only after a student has presented certified documentation of the disability from an appropriate medical or educational specialist, and this documentation has been reviewed and accepted as complete.

Disability documentation

Services are available through the DSO only after an enrolled student has completed all steps outlined in the accommodation process (academic, housing, etc.), presented certified documentation of the disability from an appropriate licensed professional (physician, psychologist, etc.), and this documentation has been reviewed and accepted as complete. Any request for accommodations with no supporting documentation will be put on hold until documentation is provided.

Documentation should describe the student’s impairment adequately and verify the student’s current need for accommodations to have equal access to learning or housing environments or activities. A diagnosis does not, in and of itself, qualify a student for accommodations under the ADAAA. Accommodations are not based on the student’s diagnosis, but instead are designed to address the barrier(s) caused by any functional limitation(s) related to the condition. Accommodations are meant to allow for equal access to academic and Institute life for students with disabilities; they do not guarantee student success. General statements will not be accepted. Parents are not appropriate evaluators, even if they are otherwise qualified.

Students should be prepared to provide the following preferred disability-related documentation to DSO through Accommodate to determine eligibility for accommodation services:

• Psycho-educational evaluation report (Might be part of an IEP)
• Medical documentation 

If the preferred documents listed above are not available to you, it is recommended for supporting documentation from an appropriate licensed professional (physician, psychologist, etc.) to contain the following information for DSO to be able to determine the degree of resulting limitation on a major life activity and the relevant accommodations.

Academic documentation

• Specific diagnosis of DSM-V or equivalent criteria
• List of functional limitations that the student will experience in an academic environment as a result of the documented disability
• Description of the current impact of this condition (i.e., is the impact permanent or temporary?) as it pertains to academics
• A clear description of the reasonable accommodation related to the disability as it pertains to academics
• An indication of the level of need for the requested adaptation or accommodation

Please note: While an IEP or 504 can be helpful, they are not considered sufficient documentation to document a disability. DSO will accept IEPs or 504s as additional information; however, please be prepared to submit additional documentation. 

Housing documentation

• Specific diagnosis of DSM-V or equivalent criteria
• List of functional limitations that the student will experience in a housing environment as a result of the documented disability
• Description of the current impact of this condition (i.e., is the impact permanent or temporary?) as it pertains to housing
• A clear description of the reasonable accommodation related to the disability as it pertains to housing
• An indication of the level of need for the requested housing adaptation or accommodation

Suspecting a possible learning disability?

Students suspecting a possible learning disability should contact a community clinician for assessment. CalArts does not conduct or pay for this testing. Some health insurance companies may pay for all or part of the evaluation, and some of the referrals offer a sliding scale for payment. 

Once testing is completed, students should upload a copy of the diagnostic report through Accommodate for DSO to review. Instructions are as follows: 

1. Log in to Accommodate
   1. Need some help? Check out our video: How to Access Accommodate
2. Click on “Accommodation” on the left navigation menu
3. Select “Document” from the drop down menu 
4. Click on “Add New”
5. Select “New Accessibility Document”

All disability documentation should be submitted through Accommodate. 

Email is not a secure method to submit documentation.