- Academic Programs & Support
- Academic Services
- Accessibility Resources
- New Student Information
New Student Information
Western Carolina University is committed to ensuring equal educational opportunities for students with disabilities and supports their civil rights as provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), its amendments (ADAAA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Among other things, this legislation requires that students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities.
It is the student’s responsibility to self-identify, provide documentation of a disability, and to request accommodations through the Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR). All accommodations are approved on a case-by-case basis after an analysis of the student’s individual needs based on an interactive process and review of their documentation. See OAR Documentation Guidelines for additional information.
Students are responsible for establishing an Accommodation Letter through the OAR and activating it in the Accessible Information Management (AIM) system each semester in order to receive accommodations.
Accommodations are not retroactive, and faculty are under no obligation to provide accommodations for individual student with disabilities if they have not registered through the OAR and provided an Accommodation Letter.
At Western Carolina University, accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis via an interactive intake meeting and takes into consideration the functional impact of the student's documented disability. Students utilize Accommodation Letters to inform faculty of their approved accommodations.
Accommodations are intended to reduce and eliminate barriers in the learning environment, supporting students with disabilities having equal access. Accommodations should not be interpreted as an alteration of academic standards and only become active when faculty receive the student's accommodation letter. It is the student's responsibility to provide their accommodation letters to faculty and as appropriate, to share helpful information. OAR staff will be available to meet with students and faculty upon request.
Examples of Accommodations:
- Accessibility Supports
- Alternative Testing Arrangements
- Alternative Format Textbooks
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing Access Services
- Note-taking Supports
- Allowance to use Laptop or other assistive devices and tools
- OAR Test Proctoring Center
- Extended Time
- Physical Mobility
- Priority Registration
- Special Agreements with Instructors
To register with the Office of Accessibility Resources and receive accommodations, students should use the steps outlined below to access the New Student AIM Portal and complete this process. For questions or additional assistance, please contact the OAR at accessiblity@wcu.edu or 828-227-3886.
Registration
Please read all 3 steps before you begin.
To register with our office click on the New Student AIM Portal button to the right of this page.
Or use this link: https://elbert.accessiblelearning.com/s-WCU/
Once you are in the New Student AIM Portal, click on New Student Application and complete the online registration form and upload your current documentation of disability into AIM. (see our Documentation Guidelines for more information).
NOTE: YOU MUST USE YOUR WCU CATAMOUNT EMAIL ADDRESS.
Once you have completed the registration form and submitted your documentation, you will be contacted to set up an interactive and engaging meeting via Zoom or in person to determine accommodations. Students with approved accommodations will then be provided an Accommodation Letter, which you will access through the Current Student AIM Portal.
