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Center for Disability Resources

The Center for Disability Resources strives to create a welcoming environment where students have equal access to academic and co-curricular activities. Disability Resources also oversees the application of federal and state laws, implements reasonable accommodations and supports inclusive programming.

Four core values guide our work: access, education, advocacy and inclusion.  

What does the Center for Disability Resources Do?

  • Determine/provide accommodations when academic and co-curricular barriers exist.
  • Assist students in communicating with professors regarding course access.
  • Met regularly with students for a variety of needs!
  • Connect students with assistive technology.
  • Connect students to each other via groups/programs.
  • Provide resources on disability and Universal Design for Learning.
  • Work with campus partners on accessibility needs.

Who do we work with?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) states that a person with a disability is someone who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a history of such an impairment, or is perceived by others as having such an impairment.  Here are some common disabilities students report: Learning disabilities, mental health conditions, chronic health conditions, attentional differences  (ADHD), blind and low vision, Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Deaf and. or hard of hearing, physical and mobility disabilities, temporary injuries, mental health or health impacts.

Students New to the Center for Disability Resources

Admitted or current Macalester students with disabilities may request accommodations for academic courses or other programs/services. It is the responsibility of the student to make their disability status and subsequent need for accommodations known to Macalester via the Center for Disability Resources. Our goal is to make the accommodation process easy to access via these steps:

2. Intake Appointment

Appointments help us get to know our students and ensure they understand the accommodations process and procedures. Intakes typically take about 30-40 minutes and can be done via phone, Zoom or in person.

Students Renewing Accommodations

If you are a student registered with the Center for Disability Resources and have completed an intake, you can request accommodations for courses by scheduling a meeting or logging in to your AIM system profile. Students need to request accommodations for each class during for each semester.