Prepare for your Initial AEC Appointment

Questions to consider:

  1. Think about how to describe your disability.
  2. How does your disability impact your day-to-day functioning? How does it impact you in school?
  3. Have you used accommodations in the past? What has been helpful?
  4. What barriers do you experience in the academic environment?
  5. In what areas have you experienced difficulty?
  • Reading
    • Visual tracking/losing place while reading
    • Comprehension
    • Reading speed
    • Reading lengthy text
    • Sustained reading
  • Writing
    • Spelling, grammar, or punctuation
    • Difficulty organizing and putting thoughts on paper
    • Sustained writing
    • Handwriting
    • Speed of writing
  • Math
  • Speed of processing information
  • Taking tests
    • Running out of time
    • Distractible
    • Anxiety
    • Understanding test questions
  • Attendance
    • Cannot perform routine activities of daily living and/or selfcare to the extent that it impacts attending courses
  • Sitting/Standing/Walking (for X amount of time)
  • Physical mobility
    • Access in classrooms
    • Access to/from buildings
  • Hearing
  • Seeing
  • Speaking
    • Word-finding
    • Public speaking
    • Difficulty with verbal expression
  • Self-confidence in school
  • Motivation
  • Attention /concentration
    • While studying
    • During lecture
    • During tests
  • Academic/study skills
  • Time management
    • Procrastinating
    • Organizing time
    • Estimating how long something will take
    • Getting started
    • Completing tasks on time
  • Memory
    • Short-term memory challenges impacting learning
    • Long-term memory challenges impacting retention of new information
    • Difficulty remembering directions given orally
  • Coordination
  • Restlessness
  • Thinking
    • Flight of thoughts
    • Easily distracted in thought
    • Difficulty focusing
  • Fatigue impacting X (i.e. stamina, motivation, speed of completing tasks, etc.)
  • Sleep (i.e. hypersomnia, insomnia, etc.)
  • Other

Consider what accommodations you’d like to discuss: 

Common accommodations include the following:

  • Assistive Technology
  • Alternative Formats (Braille, enlarged font, tactile graphics, reader services, etc.)
  • Assistive Listening Device
  • Notetaking Support
  • Priority Registration
  • Extra Time on Exams
  • Reduced Distraction Exam Environment
  • Sign Language Interpreting or Transcription
  • Adjusted Attendance
  • Adjusted Deadlines
  • Other

Consider the various University experiences outside of the classroom that may require accommodations, or other important areas to discuss:

  • Taking comprehensive exams
  • Clinical/practicum as part of your program
  • Study abroad
  • Clubs/community building opportunities
  • Are you on Academic Warning, Probation, or Disqualified, or is there anything unusual about your academic history?
  • Are you looking for resources for any other types of services (i.e. tutoring, psychoeducational testing, therapy, etc.)?