Academic Accommodations
Disability Information and Definitions—Whitman College
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, 1990, as amended in 2008) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973), students with disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodations that ensure equal access to academic programs, services, and activities.
To qualify, a student must have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
- Disability: A physical, mental, emotional, or psychological condition that significantly limits one or more major life activities.
- Clinical Diagnosis: A formal diagnosis alone is not sufficient to determine accommodations. Documentation must explain the functional limitations in a college environment.
- Substantially Limits: The impairment must significantly restrict a major life activity when compared to the general population.
- Major Life Activities: Includes but is not limited to learning, reading, writing, concentrating, communicating, walking, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, breathing, and performing manual tasks.
- Equal Access: Accommodations aim to remove barriers—not to guarantee success, but to provide students with the same opportunity to participate in college life as their non-disabled peers.
- Otherwise Qualified: A student with a disability must meet all academic and technical standards of admission and participation, with or without accommodations.
Steps To Request Accommodations
- Submit an Application
Log into the Accommodate Portal and complete the online application in detail. - Provide Documentation
Upload supporting documentation directly to the portal, or send via:- Email: das@whitman.edu
- Mail: Disability Access Services, Whitman College, 345 Boyer Avenue, Walla Walla, WA 99362
- Fax: 509-527-5039
- Schedule and Attend an Intake Meeting
After documentation is reviewed, you’ll be invited to an interactive intake meeting. This meeting is required to complete the accommodation process. - Receive Accommodation Letter
Upon approval, students will receive an electronic accommodation letter. Students must request each semester which accommodations to send and to which faculty.
Accommodation Determination
DAS reviews requests based on:
- The necessity of the accommodation for equal access
- A clear connection between the disability’s impact and the request
- Whether the request removes a specific access barrier
- Whether the accommodation would be effective
- If it avoids:
- Fundamentally altering essential elements
- Lowering academic or program standards
- Imposing an undue administrative or financial burden
Accommodations may be temporary, provisional or permanent depending on the need and documentation.
Common Academic Accommodations
- Extended time for timed exams and quizzes
- Reduced-distraction exam settings
- Use of computers or assistive tech for note-taking
- Alternate text formats (e.g., audio, Braille)
- Accessible classroom locations
Documentation Guidelines and Specifics
- Verifies eligibility as a person with a disability under ADA/504.
- Explains how the condition functionally limits the student.
- Helps DAS determine reasonable accommodations on a case-by-case basis.
- Be provided by a qualified, licensed professional (not a family member)
- Include:
- Diagnosis, DSM-5/ICD-10 code (if applicable)
- Date of diagnosis, treatment history
- Functional limitations in a college environment
- Severity, frequency and expected progression
- Assessment methods and results
- Specific accommodation recommendations tied to documented limitations
- Typed on official letterhead
- Include license number, signature and date
- Must be current:
- Within 5 years for learning disabilities
- Within 1–3 years for most other disabilities
- Longer accepted for permanent/observable conditions
Access and Renewals
To renew accommodations or request updates:
- Log into Accommodate Portal.
- Select: Accommodation → Supplemental.
- Submit a new or updated request.
If you encounter barriers or have questions at any point in the process, we encourage you to contact DAS for support. Our goal is to ensure access, not create obstacles.