Requests may be submitted at any time during a student's academic career.
We encourage students with a documented disability to begin the process if you believe that accommodations may be necessary.
Fall 2026 Admits
Accessibility Requests for newly-admitted students will start being reviewed in mid-May/June.
Step 1: Accessibility Request Form
To request accommodations, begin by completing the Accessibility Request Form. This request form seeks information about the following:
- Details of the diagnosis/diagnoses/condition
- The impact of the diagnosed disability/condition(s), including the academic impact
- Accommodation history
- Requested accommodations
PLEASE NOTE: The intake form must be completed in one sitting and cannot be saved to complete at a later time. Documentation may be uploaded at any time after the form is completed.
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Questions to Be Prepared to Answer Before Starting This Form (click to expand)
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What diagnosed disability/condition(s) are you requesting accommodations for?
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When did you receive your diagnosis? (Month/Year)
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What accommodations have you previously received in school? (High School and/or Higher Ed)
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What impacts do you currently experience with your diagnosed disability/condition(s)?
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What barriers are you concerned about managing at The Catholic University of America?
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What supports have you tried in the past?
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What supports have been helpful in the past?
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What care/treatment plan(s) have you utilized to manage your diagnosed disability/condition(s)?
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What accommodations would you like considered? Please include any academic, housing, and/or dining accommodations you would like to discuss.
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- 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 Initial Accessibility Request.
- Complete all required questions, attach your documentation, and click Submit.
Step 2: Documentation
PLEASE NOTE: Your request will not be reviewed unless documentation is submitted.
All 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.
Documentation needs to address the current state of your health and disability. 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.
Documentation needs to address the current state of health / disability of a student and reflect the current barriers and limitations experienced by the student due to their disability. Examples of documentation may include:
- A completed copy of the Clinical Care Provider Form by a Qualified Provider
- 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
For more details and specific documentation guidelines, please click here: Documentation Guidelines
Step 3: Interactive Process Meeting
After submitting the Accessibility Request and documentation, DSS staff will conduct a review of your submission. If more information is needed by DSS, a member of our team will reach out to you and provide you with specific guidance.
If all information is sufficient, 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 March 2026