Amidst Increasing Demand, The Student Accommodations Office is Working to Expand Services

During this semester, Student Accommodations and Disability Resources, formerly called the Access Center, served roughly double the number of students typically served during Spring Semesters. This is following an uptick in students utilizing accommodation resources across the WSU system over the last 2 years.

Student Accommodations and Learning Specialist Chloe Nale said that the majority of student accommodations usually revolve around test taking, including giving students a quiet, uninterrupted space to take their exams, as well as extending the duration of the exams.

“Some people can’t be in a room with too many others because of the environmental stimulus,” Nale said. “So when they come into the testing center, we’re able to give them a quieter environment where they can focus on their test.”

Additionally, Nale said that classroom accommodations can include access to Powerpoint slides, recording lectures so students can process at their own pace, as well as specialized furniture.

In regards to outreach, Student Accommodation and Disability Resources has been expanding their reach through orientation, being featured on WSUV’s Resource of the Week, as well as providing a statement to be shown in class syllabi.

“And our communication is also getting better with the professors and faculty as well, because that’s another big part of the job is making sure that students have access to their accommodations through their professors,” Nale said.

In her role in coordinating student-based skill workshops, Nale has found that a common struggle for students with disabilities are issues with executive functioning, whether that be in organizing and prioritizing assignments or in managing due dates.

Nale said for the future she is looking forward to setting up one-on-one workshops for students needing help with executive function skills, as well as other areas of skills which are taught early on but aren’t prioritized in a college setting.

Nale said there will be an upcoming pilot workshop in April aimed at teaching students how to prioritize assignments in the month before finals, an area where many students can struggle with.

Senior Director of Engagement and Well-Being Eric Scott echoed similar sentiments, saying that the areas he sees most students asking for more support in are time management, prioritization and study skills.

“For a student with a disability that maybe received accommodations in the K-12 setting, once they get to college, it can feel like you’re left on your own,” Scott said. 

Scott said he was excited to fully realize what the Student Accommodation and Disability Resources office can be in Fall 2026.

“Ultimately, students with disabilities are as successful as their peers, and we want to make sure that we give the training and education needed.”

For students who are looking to utilize special accommodations and resources, they will need some form of medical documentation of their physical or mental disability, which can come from a healthcare provider or from counselors on campus. Afterwards, students can either visit the on-campus office in VNET 110 or fill out an online application to schedule a consultation meeting. The application can be found on their WSUV page.