How to Connect

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I arrange for accommodations at College of Charleston?

  Request for accommodations are handled through the Center for Disability Services.  You will complete the CDS Application and provide documentation of your disability. 

   

• What if I have been accepted to iCharleston or Charleston Bridge?

  iCharleston
  
  If you have been accepted to the iCharleston program for your first semester and need accommodations at that institution due to a disability, please reach out to our staff through the iCharleston program at ichs@cofc.edu for more information on this process. 
  
  After successfully completing your courses and the iCharleston program requirements, you can begin the process of connecting with the CDS. Often times, this occurs in late November or early December.

  Charleston Bridge

  
  Please note that students originally admitted to the TTC Charleston Bridge for the Fall 2024 semester will instead be a provisional student and will be part of College of Charleston's First Year Impact Program. If you are seeking accommodations please follow these instructions.

  
  
  

• What kind of documentation is required? Who can provide me with it?

  The type of documentation required depends on the type of disability. Documentation may be provided by a licensed or certified medical or mental health professional qualified to evaluate your disability. Referrals for testing in the Charleston area are available through the Center for Disability Services. Students are responsible for the cost incurred for this evaluation.
  
  Read our guidelines for documenting a disability.
  
  
  

  IMPORTANT: Please note that you should not delay meeting with us out of concern for not having the right paperwork. We will discuss specific third-party documentation needs during the Welcome Meeting and steps you can take after the meeting. Our first priority is meeting with you, not reviewing the paperwork. Please email snap@cofc.edu if you would like to schedule a meeting prior to submitting documentation.
  
  
  

• Why is documentation necessary?

  The documentation serves two purposes: it confirms the student’s disability, and it indicates the recommended accommodations. The College will use this information to tailor reasonable and appropriate accommodations to your specific needs.

   

• When should I submit my documentation?

  Incoming should submit their documentation for academic accommodations to the Center for Disability Services once they have their College of Charleston ID and email. Documentation for housing accommodations should be submitted by May 1 (February 15 for returning students). This will allow the Center for Disability Services to evaluate student needs and have appropriate accommodations in place as quickly as possible. Waiting until you arrive on campus may cause unnecessary delays.

   

• What happens once my documentation is submitted to the CDS?

  Once the CDS Application and the documentation have been received and reviewed, a CDS staff member will contact the student to schedule a Welcome meeting. The information shared by the student during this meeting will serve as the primary source to determine reasonable accommodations and develop an accommodation plan. If academic accommodations are determined, a Professor Notification Letter (PNL) will be developed. During the Welcome meeting, students should be prepared to discuss the impact of their disability in the academic environment, and if applicable, their history of accommodations. This information along with the results of the documentation review will help determine reasonable accommodations for the student. Since each student and each disability is unique, we cannot determine appropriate accommodations before the initial meeting is conducted.

   

• What happens at the Welcome meeting with a CDS staff member?

  Before attending a welcome meeting, students must complete a CDS Application. A welcome meeting is a student's first meeting with the Center for Disability Services (CDS) and is typically 45-60 minutes. The student will meet with a CDS team member to talk about their disability, the barriers they have experienced as a student, what support they’ve had in the past and the accommodations they request at College of Charleston. If a student is granted accommodations during the welcome meeting, the student will also receive information about the next steps that they should take before faculty or staff implement the accommodations. However, accommodations may not be determined at the conclusion of a welcome meeting. Depending upon the information provided during the welcome meeting, CDS staff may need additional information from the student in the form of a follow up meeting and/or additional documentation.

   

  Before the meeting

  The student should:

  • Gather and provide documentation that meets CDS documentation guidelines.

  • Brainstorm questions and concerns to share with the CDS team member. 

  • Prepare to discuss their disability and the educational barriers they experience.

  
  During the meeting

  The CDS team member and student will: 

  • Review the documentation and information provided in the CDS Application. 

  • Consider how accommodations may reasonably address barriers to equal access.
    
    

  After the meeting

  • Via College of Charleston email, the student will receive a summary regarding key points captured in the welcome meeting and any further guidance CDS suggests. 

  • The student should understand next steps in the accommodation process. 

  • The student may wish to refer to any relevant resources recommended by CDS. 

  • The student will know the accommodations received and how to move forward with those accommodations. 

   

  Note for Parents:

   

  Parents are permitted to join welcome meetings at the discretion of their student. The Center for Disability Services is positioned to work directly with the student. Therefore, CDS will need to gather information directly from the student's perspective.

   
• What is a Professor Notification Letter (PNL)?

  The Professor Notification Letter (PNL) outlines the academic accommodations you receive. Students are responsible for sharing their PNL with their faculty member(s), ideally at the beginning of each semester, if accommodations are anticipated in a particular class.

   

• What if I'm not sure I need accommodations at the college level?

  Sometimes, students will decide to wait and see if they need their accommodations. We do not advise this strategy. It is better to have the accommodations in place from the beginning rather than to wait and see if they are needed. If you wait to request accommodations, there is always the risk of falling behind in your classes. Having accommodations available at the beginning of the academic year gives you a greater chance of success. Please note, accommodations are not retroactive.

   

• Will my disability and accommodations be kept confidential?

  All information regarding your disability is considered confidential. Only with your written consent will information concerning your disability and/or the accommodations you receive be shared on a need-to-know basis with others in the institution.