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Learning and Teaching Center > Students’ Responsibilities

Any student who has been diagnosed with a learning, physical, or medical disability should be aware of his or her responsibilities in requesting academic accommodations through the Learning and Teaching Center.  (Students with psychological disabilities should contact Counseling Services at 847-735-5240 for information on requesting accommodations.)  Please use the following information as a guide of the steps you should take to ensure timely academic accommodations.

Providing documentation:
Documentation of a disability should be provided as early as possible in your academic career at Lake Forest College—ideally at the beginning of your first semester or as soon as you have been diagnosed.  As a general rule, documentation should not be more than three years old, though you should consult with the Learning Support Specialist about the timeliness of your specific documentation if you have questions.  Documentation should include: diagnosis, tests performed to determine a diagnosis, educational implications, recommendations, and the evaluator’s credentials.

At the beginning of each semester:

  • Schedule a meeting with the Learning Support Specialist.  During the meeting, you will go over your schedule for the current semester and your anticipated accommodation needs.  It’s important to meet each semester because your courses, instructors, and accommodation needs may change.
  • You will receive copies of your accommodation letters for your faculty members.  It is your responsibility to deliver them to your instructors.  This should serve as your opportunity to discuss your needs with your instructor and, if necessary, to schedule a time for the two of you to meet with the Learning Support Specialist for any clarifications.

During the semester:

  • Changes may be made to your accommodation plan if necessary.  Your discussions with your instructors about your accommodations should be ongoing, but if you need additional documentation or other support from the Learning & Teaching Center, schedule an appointment with the Learning Support Specialist.
  • Note-taking needs are usually accomplished by the student in need of a note-taker asking a peer in the class for copies of the notes.  If other arrangements need to be made, you should discuss your request with your faculty member and/or the Learning Support Specialist.
  • If you are approved for testing accommodations, please consult the separate Test-Proctoring Guidelines.  Please be aware that it is your responsibility to initiate the request for test-proctoring 1-2 weeks before your test.