To request accommodations through the Office of Disability Support Services (DSS), students must first register with our office following the three (3) steps below. This applies to requests for academic, housing, dining, temporary accommodations, or Foreign Language Substitution.

For more details and specific documentation guidelines, please click the links below:


Requests may be submitted at any time during a student's academic career.
If you believe that accommodations may be necessary, we encourage students to begin the process. 

 

Step 1: Accessibility Request Form


This request form seeks information about the following: 

  • Details of any diagnosis/diagnoses
  • The impact of the student's diagnosed disability/condition(s), including the academic impact
  • Educational history
  • Requested accommodations

  • Questions to Consider Before Starting This Form (click to expand)

    • What diagnosed disability/condition(s) are you requesting accommodations for?

    • When did you receive your diagnosis? (Month/Year)

    • What accommodations have you previously received in school? (High School and/or Higher Ed)

    • What impacts do you currently experience with your diagnosed disability/condition(s)?

    • What barriers are you concerned about managing at The Catholic University of America?

    • What supports have you tried in the past?

    • What supports have been helpful in the past?

    • What care/treatment plan(s) have you utilized to manage your diagnosed disability/condition(s)?

    • What accommodations would you like considered? Please include any academic, housing, and/or dining accommodations you would like to discuss.

To begin the form, click here to log into the Accommodate portal with your CUA student credentials. 

Looking at the left navigation bar, select Accommodation, then Accessibility Request. 

PLEASE NOTE: The form must be completed in one sitting and cannot be saved to complete at a later time.

 

Step 2: Certified Documentation


Certified documentation must be from a qualified provider who can verify the diagnosis and provide sufficient details on its impact to one or more major life activities, including learning. 

All certified documentation should be current within the last three years of the date of your request. Certified documentation that is not current within the last three years of the date of your request may be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

Examples of certified documentation:

  • A completed copy of the Clinical Care Provider Form by a Qualified Provider (see below)
  • A letter or report on official letterhead from a qualified clinician (letter must include all information requested on the Clinician Form)
  • Prior evaluations (neuropsychological or psychoeducational) completed by a school district or private provider using adult-normed assessments
  • An Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) or 504 plan from a previous educational setting. This documentation may be provided without the need for additional documentation from a certified clinician if:
    • It clearly identifies a condition or disability protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
    • It reflects the status of the student's current functional limitations.

   ♦ What Determines a Qualified Provider? (click to learn more) ♦


PLEASE NOTE: Submitting evidence of a diagnosis alone may not meet the standard of a disabling condition or be sufficient to warrant accommodations.

 

Step 3: Interactive Process Meeting


After submitting the Accessibility Request and documentation, DSS staff will conduct a preliminary review of your submission. If more information is needed by DSS to proceed, a member of our team will reach out to you and provide you with further guidance. If all information is good to proceed, you will be sent an email invitation to schedule an Interactive Process Meeting with a DSS staff member.

All communication will be via your CUA email.

Meetings are generally 45-60 minutes, in-person during the school year and virtual during the summer. During the meeting, you and a DSS staff member will discuss specific accommodations based on the your needs and lived experiences. Each plan is individualized, and accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis.

If you have any questions, please contact our office by email: cua-dss@cua.edu or by phone: (202) 319-5211. 

 

 

Updated July 2025