Is there a special admissions process for students with disabilities?
If I have a disability and have received accommodations in the past, am I automatically eligible for services at IU South Bend once I am admitted?
Does IU South Bend have a structured learning disabilities “program?”
What tests and information am I required to submit to the Office of Disability Support Services to document my learning disability?
I have an attention deficit disorder and take medication. Is that counted as a learning disability?
Once I am admitted to the university and am determined to be eligible for disability support services, what services are available to me?
Some of my requirements in high school were waived. Will requirements be waived for me at IU South Bend?
Will I have all the same services I have had in the past?
Do you provide tutors?
Are there resources available to help me develop more effective study strategies?
How do I contact your office?

Is there a special admissions process for students with disabilities?
No, there are no special admissions criteria at IU South Bend for students with disabilities. The Office of Admissions evaluates all applications without regard to disability status. All students must meet the specified admissions criteria. Admission to the university is competitive. When you apply, professionals in the Office of Admissions evaluates your past academic performance and determines whether you are ready for Indiana University South Bend’s academic challenge.

If I have a disability and have received accommodations in the past, am I automatically eligible for services at IU South Bend once I am admitted?
Having had disability support services in high school or at another postsecondary institution does not automatically mean you will have services at IU South Bend. Your eligibility for services must be established with us before you begin receiving services here. It is your responsibility to notify the Office of Disability Support Services (DSS) that you are a student with a disability and to request any needed services. This is called self-identifying. This is very different from high school. You must submit appropriate documentation to support your need for accommodations to our office for review.

Does IU South Bend have a structured learning disabilities “program?”
No. Like many postsecondary institutions, IU South Bend provides services to students with learning disabilities and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders. This means that we provide academic adjustments (e.g., testing modifications) to offset the substantial limitations that result from the disorder so that the student with a disability has equal access to the educational environment. As such, students are responsible for self advocating and pursuing assistance. DSS will assist, however, in identifying possible resources for assistance.

What tests and information am I required to submit to the Office of Disability Support Services to document my learning disability?
You must provide us with a comprehensive psycho-educational evaluation that is current (usually, this means it was completed within the last three years). Please refer to the ”Guidelines for Documentation: Learning Disabilities” handout for specific details about what is required.

I have an attention deficit disorder and take medication. Is that counted as a learning disability?
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) are conditions that can interfere with learning, but they are not technically learning disabilities (unlike those with learning disabilities, students with ADHD have achievement scores consistent with their IQ scores). Students with ADHD may be eligible for disability support services, depending upon the severity of the disorder and current functional limitations.

Once I am admitted to the university and am determined to be eligible for disability support services, what services are available to me?
The specific academic accommodations provided to a student with a disability are determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the student’s individual needs, as supported by the documentation. The kinds of services we can provide may include, but are not limited to, testing modifications (e.g., extended time, use of a word processor with spell checker, a reader to read exam questions aloud or an audiotaped version of the exam, a scribe to record exam answers, etc.), permission to tape record class lectures/discussions, a backup set of class notes from a peer note taker, audio versions of texts, and referrals to other campus and community resources.

Some of my requirements in high school were waived. Will requirements be waived for me at IU South Bend?
At the postsecondary level, reasonable adjustments, support services, and auxiliary aids are designed to offset the effects of the disability by providing effective access to academic programs and the university environment, but do not constitute a fundamental alteration of essential course or degree requirements. Therefore, such essential requirements are not waived. Occasionally, course substitutions may be granted on an individual basis depending upon the role of the course in the overall degree requirements. This decision is made by the academic department on a case-by case basis following a referral from the director. Be sure to carefully review the course requirements for the degree(s) in which you are interested. If you have concerns, discuss these with the director.

Will I have all the same services I have had in the past?
Not necessarily. The services you receive here will be determined by an individualized review of your documentation and will be based on the current functional limitations that are shown to result in a substantial limitation in a major life activity (such as learning). The federal laws that govern accommodations and assistance for students with disabilities at the postsecondary level are quite different from those that apply to high school students. Some of the services provided in high school may not be appropriate at the postsecondary level because of these differences.

Do you provide tutors?
No, we do not provide tutors as an accommodation. However, there are a number of helpful resources on campus. The Writing Center offers free help to students in any stage of the writing process. The Academic Learning Center provides free peer tutors. In addition, some departments (e.g., math) have study tables or review sessions where students can seek additional help. If a student wants to hire a private tutor to work with them one-on-one in a particular subject, we can help them generate ideas on how to recruit a tutor.

Are there resources available to help me develop more effective study strategies?
Yes! The Academic Learning Center offers a variety of options which include workshops, courses for credit, and individualized academic assessment and assistance. All of these options are available at no charge and students can select an option which best meets their needs.

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You may contact the Office of Disability Support Services by phone at (574) 520-4832 or by e-mail at hassej@iusb.edu.

Contact the information center.