Prospective Students
Are you a high school student or incoming transfer or graduate student interested in learning more about the possible services provided through the Disability Resource Center?
Prospective students who are still in the application process with UIC are welcome to set up an informational session with their would-be assigned Disability Service Specialist.
Please contact our front desk at 312-413-2183 to schedule an info session.
Instructions for Students:
When you are on the phone with our front desk, please be ready to provide the following information:
- Your First Name and Last Name
- Personal Phone Number
- Personal Email
- Name of UIC College you are planning on enrolling into (e.g. College of Education, Engineering, Business, Liberal Arts and Science ... etc.)
*If you need accommodations for the placement test before your intake appointment, let your Disability Services Specialist know by contacting them via email. They can review your registration form and provide necessary accommodations for the placement test without a full intake if need be.
Got a question for us? Take a look at some of our most frequently asked question from prospective students:
You are also invited to visit our main FAQ page for more information.
IEP/ 504
One of the major differences between high school and college for students with disabilities is that at the college level, you MUST SELF-IDENTIFY by disclosing disability to the DRC in order to receive accommodations. This means that unless you contact the DRC, we will not know that you are a student with a disability, nor will we have any of your information or documentation.
Some of the accommodations on your IEP/504 from high school might still be possible to implement in college, but please do not assume that we know anything about your disability or your accommodations if you have not contact us directly.
Accommodations
The DRC determines accommodations during a one-on-one interactive intake with each student. Two students with the same disability may face different barriers, require different accommodations, and have different preferences for their accommodation plan.
We encourage you to meet with a Disability Services Specialist to talk more about your specific situation.
Our Guide to Accommodation page goes more in depth on some of the possible services/accommodations that a registered DRC student could potentially receive.
Privacy
All documentation and conversations with the DRC remain confidential unless a student gives us express permission to share. This means that you as a student are in the driver’s seat of who knows about your accommodations and your disability. Our Letters of Accommodation (LOAs) do not include any information about diagnosis, only details about accommodations to be implemented. Instructors and/or staff members should not ask for a student’s medical or diagnostic information – if this happens to you, notify the DRC right away and we can help to explain your rights to the faculty or staff member in question.
Incoming Students
The DRC is recommending that incoming students (enrolling in the Fall) schedule any possible intake appointments with their would-be assigned Disability Service Specialist (DSS) in April or mid-May.
Incoming students who are interested in obtaining a dorm at UIC are encouraged to formally submit their UIC Housing applications at their earliest convenience. Applications can be done prior to an intake appointment with the DRC. Requests for housing accommodations can be discussed during the student’s initial intake appointment.
*a note on gathering disability documents for housing accommodations*
While IEPs and 504s can be useful for Disability Service Specialist to review in the case of academic related accommodations – these documents, unfortunately, do not typically provide sufficient information for housing accommodation related requests.
Therefore, whenever possible, we recommend the student’s licensed care provider (primary care, specialist, psychiatrist, therapist, etc.) complete and sign the disability verification form explaining the need for housing related accommodations.