Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I register with SAS?

You must be an accepted student at FAU which then allows you to log into SAS register for services using your FAU Net ID and password to complete the online    Application for Academic Accommodation,    and click submit at the bottom when completed.    After the application and documentation have been received and reviewed the student meets with an SAS counselor to discuss the student's disability and academic accommodations.

When I ask for special consideration for admission does that mean I am automatically registered with SAS?

No, these are two separate processes. To receive academic accommodations from FAU, students may register with SAS after being accepted to FAU.

Is there a charge for accommodations?
No. There is no charge for accommodations.
Who can receive assistive technology training?

Any student who is registered with the Student Accessibility Services.

Can I borrow assistive technology equipment to help with my studies?
Yes, some assistive technology items are available for loan by registered SAS students such as RFB&D audio players, digital audio recorders, and FM amplification systems.
What kind of assistance can an SAS student get with coursework?

While some students may require classroom accommodations such as volunteer notetaking assistance, audio record lectures, or textbooks in alternate format, other students may require testing accommodations such as extended time or exam in distraction-reduced setting. Other types of accommodations might include assistive technology training or study strategy instruction. Accommodations are highly individualized, and are only granted to students on an ‘as needed’ basis.

Are there any scholarships available through SAS?

SAS offers 3 different scholarships for students with disabilities. Applications are available each year between February 1 and April 1. Information and applications are available here

A student in my class doesn’t look disabled but he has been approved by SAS for extended time for exams. Could he be lying?

Many students have “hidden” disabilities which are not obvious to others. To be eligible for services at the SAS, a student must satisfy the definition of a disability as established by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 1990 (ADAAA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It is the student’s responsibility to provide ample documentation to the SAS from a licensed professional in the field concerning the specific diagnosis and expected academic limitations in order to receive accommodations from FAU.

I’ve always kept my disability quiet. Now that I’m in college do I have to tell others?

Students are not required to register with the SAS, but are encouraged to do so in order to receive academic accommodations from FAU. Due to the confidential nature of a student’s disability, specific information cannot be released by the SAS to faculty members unless authorized to do so by the student. You do not have to discuss your disability with anyone else.

In class I heard the professor asking for a student to volunteer as a notetaker. Since I take lousy notes can I get copies of the notes at the same time as well?

The volunteer notetaker is an accommodation due to the student having a documented disability which prevents her/him from successfully taking notes in class.

A student with a disability attending my class just provided me a letter from your office listing the authorized accommodations. How are these determined?

Accommodations are support services which are determined based on an analysis of the current impact of the person's disability on academic or work performance. They are authorized by the SAS only after a thorough examination of the student’s documentation, for the purpose of allowing students with disabilities the same access to education as their non-disabled peers. Accommodations are, by necessity, highly individualized, and are only granted to students on an ‘as needed’ basis.

Do I have to lighten up on my course requirements because there are students with disabilities in attendance?

Accommodations for a student with a disability must not compromise course content or the requirements for satisfactory course completion. Academic standards are not to be lowered, nor should there be an alteration in the essential nature of the degree requirements. The faculty need not fundamentally alter the nature of their classroom materials.

How can I determine if a dog is a service dog and can be allowed to accompany a student on campus ?
When it is not obvious that a dog is a service animal, limited inquiries are allowed.  You can ask two questions – Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
Since my lecture notes are the basis of a textbook that I am writing, I have concerns about a student with a disability who is authorized to audio record my class as an accommodation.
In order to provide assurances to the professor, the student can sign a “Student Agreement Form for Audio Recording Lectures” in which the specific problem can be addressed. This agreement would specify that the student will destroy the tapes after the term is over and agrees to use the tapes only for the purpose of preparing for class assignments. A violation of this signed agreement by the student is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct. However, professors must understand that Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act notes specifically that the audio recording of lectures cannot be prohibited.
In high school I attended special classes which were taught by special education teachers because I have a learning disability. Now I find out that the University has no special classes for people like me and I’m not being guaranteed anything. To receive any kinds of disability services I actually have to prove that I have a disability. Why is there such a big difference?

Students attending K through 12th grade are under the auspice of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which ensures that all children with disabilities have available to them, a free, appropriate public education that emphasizes special education, and that there are related services designed to meet their unique needs which should prepare them for employment and independent living. IDEA is about providing programming to encourage success. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act & the ADAAA are the guiding principles when dealing with post-secondary education. These laws are about access, in which no qualified individual will be excluded from participation. Under Section 504 & the ADAAA students gain access to the curriculum, but the student is the primary advocate, and determines his/her own success. The student must self-identify to the school to receive services. While in K through 12, under IDEA, the student is identified by the school, which is responsible for the students success, with the parent being the major advocate for the student.

Can I enroll in classes without first being registered with SAS?

Yes, you can.  As long as you are in good academic standing and have no holds on you record.

Is there a deadline for application for support services from SAS?

No, there is no deadline, but it is recommended that students apply for support services before the beginning of the semester.

Does SAS provide transportation to and from classrooms (classes)?

SAS does not provide on-campus transportation. There are wheelchairs available to be checked out, for students who have a temporary need.

Does SAS provide testing for LD or ADHD?

SAS does not provide testing for LD or ADHD, however the office has a suggested list of local diagnosticians who do.