At the college level, it is a student’s right whether or not they choose to self-disclose to request services. This is a very personal decision that we at Student Disability Resources respect, and a decision that only the student can make for themselves. Students seeking services at Penn State must self-disclose the need for academic accommodations, auxiliary aids, and/or services to the office of Student Disability Resources at the Penn State campus they are attending. 

Self-disclosing means that:

  • Parents or anyone other than the student may not identify the student as having a disability or request services on the student’s behalf. 
  • Students must initiate the process, actively participate in the process, and have direct interaction/contact with Student Disability Resources throughout the requesting/providing accommodation process. 

In order for a student's disorder or impairment to be considered a disability, the student must demonstrate through documentation that the disorder/impairment meets the definition of a disability under Title II of the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. 

Due to the number of students we serve, we strongly suggest applying for services as soon as possible; early on in the semester prior to the semester you wish to receive accommodations. Please keep in mind; this is a multi-step process that takes time to complete. If additional information is needed at any time during the process, the procedure of reviewing documentation can be delayed, which may also delay the delivery of academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and/or services. 

As part of building self-advocacy skills, it is extremely important that the student completes these steps/forms, not the parent or other concerned individual. If you are not certain how to answer a question, feel free to ask a parent or other concerned individual for suggestions, but students should enter the answers themselves.  

Please refer to the following links for more information.