Disability Services

Disability Services is committed to providing services and support to ensure that students are able to access and participate in all of the activities, programs and services at USD. Our services are available to students with a qualifying and documented learning, physical or psychological disability.

Contact Us

Disability Services

North Complex Commons 116
414 E. Clark St.
Vermillion SD 57069

Office Hours

Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

605-658-3745

605-677-3172

disabilityservices@usd.edu

website

Disability Services

USD is dedicated to ensuring that students and campus visitors with disabilities have full and equal access to all the programs and activities USD offers, in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973) and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (2009). Accommodations are available to students with documented learning, physical or psychological disabilities.

We are in the North Complex Commons, located north of Cherry Street and between Mickelson and Beede and Olson and Richardson residence halls.

View Campus Map

Accommodation Process

Review the accommodation process below, and reach out to our office with any questions about the resources available to you.

The accommodation process begins with admission to USD. Admissions decisions are made without regard to disability. All prospective students, including students with disabilities, are expected to present academic credentials at or above the minimum standards for admission.

You are not required to disclose a disability during the admissions process.

You may meet with us at any point during the admissions process contacting your admissions counselor.

Once a student has been accepted to USD, the student must meet with us and self-disclose a disability in order to request and receive reasonable and appropriate accommodations while attending USD. Students must complete the student registration form.

Students may self-disclose their disability at any time during their academic career, however, students are encouraged to self-disclose their disability prior to the beginning of classes.

Student Registration Form

Students must provide us with professional documentation of their disability. Documentation requirements vary according to the unique and individual nature of each student's disability.

Learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), traumatic brain injuries and most psychiatric disabilities may require a full psycho-educational test battery as documentation.

Reasonable and appropriate accommodations are provided to allow full and equal access to all the programs and services for students with disabilities. USD is not required to lower standards or academic requirements or make modifications that would fundamentally alter the service, program or activity.

Accommodations are tailored to the unique and individual needs of each student and to the academic requirements of each class.

Possible accommodations include the following:

Alternate text format
Sign language interpreters
Notetakers
Assistive technology
Distraction free location for exams
Extended time for exams
Referrals to other resources

FAQ

Review some frequently asked questions about Disability Services at USD.

No. IEPs and 504 plans are specific to high school. At USD accommodations will be provided based on your disability and the documentation you provide to ensure you have access to all USD programs and services.

It depends. Often high schools provide students with modification rather than accommodations. Modifications at the high school level are often changes to the curriculum – allowing multiple choice instead of essay exams; allowing fewer questions be answered on an exam; not having to read all of the books for a literature class; etc. Modifications are not provided at the college level. Accommodations do not change the curriculum or format of exams. Accommodations are provided to ensure access to the class content and provide the opportunity to show you have mastered the class content.

Students are required to meet with Disability Services at the beginning of each semester to update their accommodation memo.

No. However it is recommended that you tell your professor about your disability and how the accommodations assist your access to the class.

Yes. Because the structure of classes differ, you may not need accommodations for all of your classes.

The student needs to contact Disability Services as soon as possible to discuss changes to the accommodations. Accommodations can be revised at any point during the semester.

Once you are registered as a student with a disability further documentation is generally not required. However, if there are changes to your disability or you require additional accommodations that are not indicated by the original documentation, further evaluation and documentation may be requested.

Understand your disability.
Accept responsibility for your own success.
Learn time management skills.
Acquire computer skills.
Research postsecondary education programs.

Encourage your child to register early during the process, especially if housing accommodations are requested.
Review documentation together so that your student is comfortable articulating both the diagnosis and requests for accommodation.
Support them during their college career, but allow them the opportunity to take charge of their education.

Students listening to a lecture and smiling.

Testing Center

The Testing Center at the University of South Dakota promotes student success and academic integrity with the operation of a secure, testing facility which provides services to on-campus, distance students and our surrounding communities.

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