Prospective Students
Disability Access at VT
Whether you’re just beginning to look at colleges or already have your VT acceptance letter in hand, we’re glad you’re looking at how to get your access needs met at Virginia Tech. Below are important things to know about how VT leverages SSD and campus partners to provide disability access. Accepted students should check their VT email regularly for news and updates to the information below.
If you have any questions or need assistance navigating this information, please contact us at 540-231-3788 or email ssd@vt.edu.
Family, Advocates, and FERPA
We recognize that Hokie Families are a big part of what helps college students succeed. When it comes to disability accommodations, college can be a huge adjustment. For many families, the student will transition from sitting in the passenger seat to becoming a solo driver. During our initial meetings with students, we try to help families understand some of the key differences between the laws that govern K-12 special education those governing accommodations in college and beyond.
One important distinction is knowing that disability information is protected by FERPA. Our office will not disclose specific information regarding a student’s accommodation(s) without either a FERPA code or a written authorization from the student. If students do want a third party (for example: a family member) to have access to their records, they must consent to this disclosure. Please review the Registrar’s guidance to setup a family member or advocate with a FERPA code prior to connecting with us regarding accommodation information.
Accommodations and Physical Access
Students interested in accommodations will need to complete our interactive process. Our How to Connect page has all the details of how to complete the application(s), where to upload your disability documentation, and how to revise any approved accommodations throughout your career as a VT student. It may be helpful to review the following to learn more about the kinds of accommodations we can support and what universal access already exists in the area.
BT Access (paratransit)
Disability Documentation
We have a dedicated page on what kinds of documentation we can accept as disability documentation. Simply upload documents when completing the accommodation request application(s). We can also receive documentation by fax at 540-231-3232. We do not recommend sending by email since it is less secure. Medical records provided to Schiffert Health Center during enrollment are not automatically shared with SSD. Please share pertinent records with each office individually.
Campus Supports
We know that navigating your disability at the same time you are developing as an individual can be complex. Our office works with partners around campus to help students get the academic and personal support needed to enjoy their Hokie experience.
Academic Supports
Academic Advisors are a great resource and an incredible wealth of knowledge. We highly recommend all students meet with their academic advisor regularly during their college career. Academic advisors do not receive accommodation notifications from SSD and will only know what students choose to disclose. Additional supports are available through:
Assistive Technology and the AT Services Lab
Health Supports
Both physical and mental health supports are available at VT and in the surrounding area. A few common ones are:
Hokie Wellness: Student Wellbeing
Pharmacy Services through Schiffert or Local Pharmacies
Students who need a sharps container for syringes can request one in-person at the Schiffert Health Center.
Dining with Disabilities
VT Dining has a dedicated staff of nutritionists and dieticians. They work hard to make sure food allergies and dietary restrictions are thoughtfully provided for. Check out their information page and reach out to them for a consult at yes@vt.edu.
Cadets with Disabilities
Our Corps of Cadets has three ROTC tracks and a Citizen-Leader (civilian) track. Our office will work with the Corp leadership as students make requests for accommodations. Students in the ROTC tracks should connect with Corp leadership to learn how accommodations impact commissioning into the military. Students in the Citizen-Leader track are encouraged to complete the SSD accommodations request form and connect with Citizen-Leader Track director, Mr. Ken Mallory, at kemallor@vt.edu or 540-231-8595.
For some medical conditions, the Corps has support already built into the program. Students are encouraged to review the Cadet Standard Regulations on the Corps of Cadets Resource page for more information on how medical conditions are supported.
Places for Quiet or Solitude
VT is a large campus, and we know it can be challenging for many types of disabilities. Students may be inclined to try and use their on-campus housing as the primary source of quiet space. But VT has much more to offer. We recommend students try out several places to find the ones that best support them.
Residence Hall Lounges
Torgersen Bridge Study Space
AT Services Lab, 110 Newman Hall
Departmental study lounges
Classroom building alcoves
Serenity Spaces: Cook Counseling, Vet Med, School of Medicine
Using Accommodations
Academic Accommodations
The best place to start after working with us to determine accommodations is to complete our SSD student orientation. This online, self-paced training is full of information on how to work with faculty, where accommodated exams take place and much more.
Our campus uses the Accessible Information Management database (AIM) to manage the creation and distribution of accommodation letters. Each semester connected students will request their Course Accessibility Letters through their AIM student dashboard. These letters are automatically sent to the instructor of record beginning the first day of the semester. We recommend students communicate with faculty early in the semester to ask questions about how their accommodations will be implemented for each class. Depending on the design of the class not all accommodations may be needed for every class.
Students who need to complete the ALEKS placement exam for Math should review the FAQ provided by the Math Department. They have done extensive work to embed extended time and a quiet testing environment into the design of the exam. Any accommodation requests beyond extended time and a quiet room can be considered when meeting with SSD staff. We will communicate any additional accommodations to the Math Department representatives.
Other exam accommodations are implemented directly by the instructor or in partnership with our Werth Testing Center. Students should communicate with faculty directly to learn how exam accommodations are implemented for each class.
Housing and/or Dining Accommodations
Once SSD has completed the interactive process for housing and/or dining accommodations, we communicate these to Housing Services through StarRez. Housing Services professional staff will then take the lead on implementing the accommodations and communicating directly back to students.
Expressing a Concern
We encourage students to reach back out to their access specialist if they experience any challenges with using their accommodations. Our highly trained staff are happy to help provide clarification on how accommodations should be implemented and to determine if an accommodation would alter essential course requirements. We work with both students and faculty to resolve questions and concerns.
Discrimination or Harassment
If a student believes that they may have experienced discrimination or harassment on the basis of disability, or any other trait, identity, or characteristic covered by the university’s nondiscrimination policy, we encourage them to contact the Office for Civil Rights Compliance and Prevention Education. You can contact the Office for Civil Rights Compliance and Prevention Education via email at civilrights@vt.edu, via phone at 540-231-2010, or by using the office’s online reporting form.
Examples of issues or concerns that students or employees may want to report to the Office for Civil Rights Compliance and Prevention Education include the following:
Denial of a requested disability-related service or accommodation
Inaccessibility of a university program or activity for one or more individuals with disabilities
Access of a service animal
Harassment on the basis of disability
Any other alleged university violation of the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, or a university nondiscrimination policy
Retaliation
Finding Disability Community
Students have tremendous opportunities at VT to find community through Student Organizations, Living-Learning Programs, and much more. For those seeking community around disability specifically a few places to start are:
Check GobblerConnect for more.
Registering
The first step to receiving accommodations is to register with SSD.
Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.