Disability Services: Information for Students

Supporting Students

A variety of resources are available to student registered with Disability Services at Olin (DSO). DSO works closely with all students with disabilities to individualize needed accommodations. Students with both chronic and temporary disabilities can seek services with DSO.  

Disability Services at Olin values and recognizes:

• Students with disabilities face a wide range of barriers that impact their access to their education and reasonable accommodations should be individualized to meet their needs.
• Disability exists when the student meets a structure or barrier that is not equipped to deal with their particular way of interacting with the world and this causes difficulty in a major life activity.  We ascribe to a social model of disability.
• Disability status should be considered when thinking about diversity and equity on campus.  Students with disabilities have a rich and important perspective to offer this community.
• The way that a disability presents itself can change, just as the student changes.  Therefore, DSO empowers students to engage in ongoing conversations about their learning needs.  Students can contact DSO at any time during the year to discuss reasonable accommodations and their experience at Olin overall.
• The student is an expert on their own experience.  Thus, disability accommodations are done in partnership and collaboration, with an eye to student agency in identifying and understanding the barriers to access they experience. 
• Exploration and continual professional development is necessary to maintain the best standards of care for students.

Steps to Register with DSO

1. To fill out a DSO Registration form.

DSO REGISTRATION FORM FOR 2023-2024 (FOR THOSE ENTERING IN FALL 2023)

DSO REGISTRATION FOR CURRENT OLIN STUDENTS

2. Provide documentation from a health or medical professional that gives information about the student's disability.*

3. Make an appointment with The Assistant Dean of Student Affairs for the initial meeting and conversation.

*DSO requests documentation because in order to understand the entire picture of a student's disability, we prefer to have multiple perspectives, of which health professionals can be one resource for understanding and is used in the conversation about the student's needs. 

Because of the highly individualized approach to accommodations, students can receive any number of services.  Among them are:

• Letters of Accessibility to faculty and advisors that indicate reasonable accommodations for the student's classes.  These letters are updated each semester and the student must give permission for DSO to send to faculty. 
• Dietary accommodations for students who have dietary-related disabilities.  Often, the Assistant Dean and Dining Services will meet with the student to discuss their particular needs. 
• Housing accommodations for students who have disabilities that may impact housing. 
• Notification of temporary disability that can go to faculty that indicate if a student is temporarily incapacitated or unable to function normally.
• Assistive technology for particular needs. This is largely based on conversations with the student and DSO in order to determine what tools might be appropriate and necessary. 
• Peer support in the form of Academic Resource Co-Designers and/or tutors.  Students can request these resources by contacting the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs. 

There is never a question too trivial or small to be explored together!