Students must take the initiative to contact SAS and submit a request for accommodation services. SAS must determine that you are an eligible student with a disability in order to receive accommodation services at UC Merced. SAS will review documentation of your disability, including information about your current functional limitations, to determine whether you have a limitation in a major life activity (according to the ADA) that meets the eligibility service requirements of SAS.

SAS will review your documentation after you have submitted the Student Accommodation Request Form. You should send in your documentation as soon as possible after that to expedite the determination of eligibility, particularly if you are requesting accommodations for the placement exams given prior to orientation. The student accommodation request form can be found at the following link or at the student accommodation request tab found at the top of the page Student Accommodation Request Form.

The documentation should have comprehensive information about your current functional limitations. For learning disabilities, assessment testing documentation should typically have been completed within the last three years. For conditions that change quickly, the documentation may need to be from the last 6-12 months. If you have questions, you can speak with SAS regarding elements that should be covered in your documentation. A blank Student Documentation Form can be found at the following link Student Documentation Form.

The time it takes to review documentation and determine eligibility varies depending on a number of factors, such as the number of requests SAS has at that time, the complexity of the documentation and whether it contains sufficient information. The process is most likely to be delayed if the documentation is not complete, because you or SAS will need to contact your diagnosing professional for more information. Providing complete documentation as requested will expedite the process.

You can find the disability housing accommodation policy and request submission procedure information at the following link Disability Housing Accommodations. You can also contact the Associate Director of Residence and Student Life for more information at: housing@ucmerced.edu.

Under FERPA, students have the right to privacy, and parents cannot access their child's accommodation details. However, parents can still provide support by helping their child navigate the process, especially during the initial stages of documentation submission.

If your child feels that their accommodations are not being properly implemented, you can help by encouraging them to reach out to SAS. If issues persist, parents can contact SAS directly to inquire about how to support their child in receiving the necessary accommodations.

The SAS website is a resource for both parents and students. You are welcome to contact SAS if you have concern for your student's safety or well-being. Otherwise, since we are an adult learning environment and your student is protected under FERPA, we will refer you back to your student. Parents can find helpful resources at the following link FERPA Parent Guide.