Using Approved Student Accommodations

Once students have been approved for accommodations, they do not need to repeat the application process each semester, but there are some things they will have to do for each course.

• To receive accommodations, students must notify their instructor with a Student Accommodation Letter through McBurney Connect for each of their courses and for each semester.
• After students generate their Student Accommodation Letters, they should communicate with each of their instructors, ideally by the third week of class.
• Depending on the accommodation, students might send an email or schedule a meeting to discuss each of the accommodations requested and how they’ll be implemented in this specific course.
• Collaborating with instructors is important, and they appreciate as much notice as students can provide them.

For detailed, step-by-step instructions, consult the training on Selecting Your Accommodations and Sending Student Accommodation Letters in McBurney Connect.

Training is required for all students receiving accommodations. It can consist of several options:

• • Accommodations training focuses on teaching students how accommodations are utilized and communicated to instructors here at UW-Madison, like the above training on submitting accommodation letters.
  • More specific accommodation trainings will be scheduled with you by your Access Consultant, for example, accommodations involving adaptive technology.
  • McBurney Orientation and Service Training (MOST) is a comprehensive training for incoming freshman students that is available during the summer after students attend SOAR.

To schedule any of these trainings, contact the front desk or consult the online training resources linked further on this page.

We offer technical assistance and in-depth training for all McBurney Center and accommodation related technology. If you have questions, concerns, or you are feeling frustrated with the technology you have been given, reach out for assistance.

• For assistance with smart pens, Echo Desktop, and notetaking apps, you can email the Notetaking Technology Coordinator directly.
• For assistance with McBurney Connect, making alternative format requests, alternative format accommodations, and Kurzweil 3000, you can email the Alternative Formats Coordinator directly.
• For assistance with requesting a peer notetaker or viewing notes in McBurney Connect, you can email the Peer Notetaking Coordinator directly.
• If you need any assistance with anything, including technology assistance, you can always contact us at our front desk as well, and they will connect you with the appropriate staff member.

Students have certain rights and responsibilities throughout the accommodation process. Confidentiality is an important aspect of providing accommodations, both for the McBurney Center and the instructors we work with, and we provide instructors with proper training on confidentiality as well.

All information shared with the McBurney Center is protected under FERPA. FERPA allows McBurney staff to share relevant disability information with campus staff who have a “legitimate educational interest”. This typically includes only the information needed to provide students with accommodations. We do not share a student’s medical diagnosis or documentation.

Students have a responsibility to communicate with their instructors regularly, discuss each of their accommodations with each of their instructors, ideally by the third week of class, and follow up as needed about any changes or concerns related to their accommodations.

Approved students have a right to use their accommodations, but also a responsibility to communicate if they feel those accommodations are not being fulfilled. Students should reach out to their Access Consultant if they have concerns or if they feel their approved accommodations are not being sufficiently fulfilled.