Westminster University seeks to provide equal access in higher education to academically qualified students with physical, learning, and psychiatric disabilities. Student Disability Services works with departments throughout the university to help ensure that programs and facilities are accessible to all members of the university community.

Student Disability Services is located in the lower level of Giovale Library. If you have questions regarding services for students with disabilities, please call 801.832.2272 or email disabilityservices@westminsteru.edu.

Employees seeking accommodations should contact Human Resources at 801.832.2572.

Robin "Bino" Gillon

"I was really surprised, in a good way, that Westminster has a lot to offer for people that have certain challenges. It's been a relatively smooth ride thanks to my teachers. They were always willing to work with me."
—Robin "Bino" Gillon

Read their story

Accessing Services

Students who are interested in requesting services should start their process by meeting with the Accessibility Coordinator, who can explain the process to you, discuss what comprises quality documentation, and show you how to use the Student Disability Services software to upload your documentation and request a meeting. Your next meeting will be with a member of the Student Disability Services team for a comprehensive initial appointment to determine your eligibility for services. When you request program eligibility, you'll be asked to describe the nature and impact of the disability and prior use of accommodations (if any) to clarify how it may interact with living and learning on campus. Submitting relevant professional documentation is important and is used to confirm eligibility and support requests for accommodations, academic modifications, and/or other aids. Once eligibility is established, you'll meet with a Student Disability Services staff member.

Request for Academic Accommodation

  • New students should log into our student portal to request accommodations or a meeting. If possible, have your documentation available to upload at this time.
  • If you have questions about logging into the portal or just in general, please reach out to the Accessibility Coordinator at 801.832.2608.
  • You will then have an initial appointment with a member of the Student Disability Services team to discuss your eligibility and, if appropriate, potential accommodations.
    • Accommodations are in place for the semester on the date that letters of accommodations are requested by the student and sent out by Student Disability Services. This occurs every semester. Accommodations for the semester are valid from the date on the letter and are not retroactive.
    • Most accommodation requests are resolved during the initial appointment. If there is an accommodation request that needs further review, this review will occur within 10 business days of the initial meeting. In that case, an appointment will be set to review the decision before the conclusion of the initial meeting.

During the course of a semester, unexpected events can occur that may necessitate the need for a student to request "temporary" academic accommodations. Unexpected events could include but are not limited to injury to any part of a student's dominant arm or shoulder.

Students can follow the following process to request temporary academic accommodations:

  • Make an appointment with the Accessibility Coordinator, who will explain the process to you, discuss what comprises quality documentation, and show you how to use the Student Disability Services software to upload your documentation and request a meeting
  • Complete the request for Temporary Accommodations in the student portal
  • Upload appropriate documentation to the student portal
  • Request an appointment through the student portal
  • Attend your initial appointment, during which Student Disability Services will discuss your condition and determine appropriate accommodations and length of time for said accommodations
    • The accommodations request is reviewed during this appointment and the student and the director of Disability Services (or their representative) will review which accommodations are needed for particular classes during the current semester.
    • Accommodations are in place for the semester when letters of accommodations are signed and sent out. Accommodations for the semester are valid from the date on the letter and are not retroactive.
    • Most accommodation requests are resolved during the initial appointment. If there is an accommodation request that needs to be reviewed, the review will occur within 10 business days of the initial meeting. In that case, an appointment will be set to review the decision before the student leaves the initial meeting.

If a student's injury persists into a subsequent semester, new documentation must be provided and the process to receive temporary academic accommodations repeated. If the injury is severe enough for the student to become permanently registered with Student Disability Services, that must be stated in the documentation.

First-Year Students

First-year students may benefit from reading Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education, Know Your Rights and Responsibilities, a U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights brochure designed to help students understand the transition from the IDEA (K-12) to the ADA, as amended.

Transfer Students

Transfer students should follow the process outlined above and contact their current institution’s student disability services office for a letter of accommodation or to transfer their documentation.

Pregnancy Accommodations

Pregnancy in and of itself is not a qualifying condition that would receive accommodations from Disability Services. Students seeking pregnancy-related accommodations should contact the Title IX Coordinator, Mary Edmonds (medmonds@westminsteru.edu).


Contact Student Disability Services

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

Natalie Atkinson

Natalie Atkinson


Disability Services Accessibility Coordinator