Accessibility Services

Support for Your Learning Journey

Accessibility Services is here to support your learning and success. We provide academic accommodations for students with learning, sensory, emotional, and physical disabilities.

You’ll work one-on-one with our team to identify reasonable accommodations and access the support you need. We collaborate with Advising, Counseling, Career Services, and the Academic Learning Center to help you reach your academic and career goals.

Requesting Accommodations

We encourage you to start the process early so we can best support you.

Important timing notes:

  • Request accommodations at least two weeks before you plan to use them.
  • Requests can be made at any time during the semester.
  • Accommodations begin once they are approved and in place. Work completed before that time cannot be adjusted.

Step 1: Schedule an Appointment

To get started, schedule a meeting with the Accessibility Services Coordinator:

Step 2: Submit Documentation

To qualify for academic accommodations, documentation from a qualified professional is required. You may bring documentation to your appointment or send it by email, mail, or fax.

Examples of acceptable documentation:

  • Medical records from a diagnosing specialist
  • High school evaluation reports or an IEP
  • A letter from a licensed mental health professional

Documentation must include:

  • A clear diagnosis
  • Description of diagnostic criteria or tests used (with scores, if applicable)
  • Current treatments, medications, or assistive supports
  • Expected impact of the condition over time
  • Professional letterhead and credentials

Need help with documentation?

  • Contact Accessibility Services if you’re unsure what’s required
  • Your coordinator can help you understand how to request records from a provider

Step 3: Attend Your Appointment

During your appointment, you’ll talk about how your disability affects your learning and daily academic tasks. We’ll review your documentation and discuss course expectations. After the meeting, your accommodation plan will be emailed to you.

Step 4: Share Your Accommodation Plan

Your accommodation plan is valid for the fall, spring, and summer semesters. You’ll need to email your plan to your instructors each semester to activate accommodations in each course.

Step 5: Schedule Testing Accommodations (If Needed)

If your plan includes separate or extended testing, you’ll need to reserve a testing space by completing the Test Accommodation Request Form.

Appeals Process

If you are denied accommodations, disagree with a decision, or believe you have experienced discrimination, please contact:

Stephanie Bender
Dean of Student Services
715-422-5628

Contact Accessibility Services

We’re here to help and happy to answer questions.

Accessibility Services Appointments
715-422-5452 or Schedule Online

Questions
Contact Accessibility Services

Deaf or Hard of Hearing
711 (Wisconsin Relay System)

Additional Resources

Looking for more? Explore these additional resources from outside Mid-State.

Specialized Resources

Wisconsin Department of Health Services

FAQs

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a disability as a permanent physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

Accommodations may include but are not limited to:

  • Extra time on tests
  • Testing in a quiet room
  • Audio books
  • Use of assistive technology

Accommodations are individually determined based on the interview and documentation.

You can decide when you want to use your accommodations. You may not need them for every class. It is important to request accommodations ahead of time when you do decide to use them.

You need to update your accommodation plan every academic year:

  • If your accommodations are approved in August (fall semester), you will need to update the plan again the following fall semester.
  • If you are approved accommodations in January (spring semester), you will need to update your plan in the following fall semester.

Schedule an appointment with the Accessibility Services coordinator to discuss. Additional documentation may be needed.

Tutoring services are available to all Mid-State students. The Academic Learning Center can help you learn about the various types of tutoring available. Accessibility Services can help you with this, if needed.

You will need to meet with Accessibility Services coordinator at least one month prior to the start of the class. The coordinator will schedule the interpreters for you.

The Accessibility Services coordinator will discuss this process with you. Many of the books are available in electronic format. If there is a choice between purchasing a hard copy or an eBook, be sure to choose the eBook. If an eBook is not available, you can request an electronic copy. It is important to request accommodations as early as possible to allow time to obtain the electronic copy.