The Disability Resource Center (DRC) coordinates academic accommodations, which are determined on a case-by-case and highly individualized basis. Your accommodations will vary based on the faculty course design. We encourage students to make an active decision about the use of accommodations at the very start of each semester. Proactive planning and early communication is the key to successful services and course accommodation implementation.
At times, disability accommodations will be provided directly by the faculty. In such cases, the DRC will work with you and our faculty partners to ensure smooth coordination of the accommodations. In the online learning environment, the accommodations are coordinated through the DRC. We work directly with your course instructor and the FIU Online Instructional Designers to try our best to ensure all possible measures for accessibility are taken in any format needed.
Opt-in
Each and every semester on-campus and fully online students have the opportunity to request or decline academic accommodations. Whether it's status-quo or changes are needed, requesting accommodations through the DRC is simple!
- Fill out the Notification Of Academic Accommodations
- Email your completed form to drcexams@fiu.edu
- This form then authorizes the DRC to notify your professors (and instructional designers) of your accommodations.
- Follow up with the DRC to request other accommodations such as testing.
Feel free to contact us by phone 305-348-3532 or email at drc@fiu.edu for further information.
PLEASE NOTE: This form is only for students that have already registered with the DRC to receive accommodations. If you have NOT yet completed your registration with the DRC by attending a Welcome Appointment and submitting your documentation, please contact our office at 305-348-3532.
Testing accommodations
DRC services include the provision of accommodations to students with disabilities for course tests and exams. These services are available to students who qualify for certain types of accommodations. Common examples of test accommodations include extended time, scribe services, limited distraction testing rooms, Braille test conversion, and the use of assistive technology.
Adaptive technology
The Disability Resource Center has a state-of-the-art assistive technology computer facility that houses both PC and Macintosh computers with mainstream and assistive technology. Study tables, scanners, wireless capabilities and printing are also available for student use during hours of operations.
The computer lab is used by students to support their coursework and as a group or individual study space. The lab also serves as a product demonstration and training facility for students, faculty, staff and community members. Students often visit the Center to try out technology before making a purchase to make sure they find a good technological solution.
In addition, the assistive technology resources below are also available for all faculty and staff at FIU. The DRC is here to provide consultation regarding adaptive technology and accessibility at anytime!
Request accessible textbooks
Please understand that not all format types will be available for the requested title (for example, a PDF/EPUB file may need to be substituted with text-to-speech software for an audio book request). The Disability Resource Center will do their best to fulfill the requested format type for required course materials.
What steps should you take each semester?
- Determine what REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS are used in your course. Optional and Supplemental textbooks cannot be requested.
- If purchasing textbooks, try to select electronic formats. The FIU bookstore already offers digital access to various titles. Please take advantage of this option.
- If electronic materials are not available, request the textbooks from the DRC as soon as possible. The acquisition and conversion processes are extremely time consuming, please submit the Electronic Textbook Request Form at least 4 weeks before the start of the semester. Make sure to upload proof of purchase for each of the textbooks requested. The DRC recommends purchasing NEW copies of textbooks because some publishers will not honor a used textbook.
- Allow 7-14 business days for the DRC to contact you with any follow-up questions or status updates. DRC collaborates with publishers and outside agencies to receive the material in the requested format. If the necessary format is not available, then the DRC converts materials in house which requires a longer processing time. In some cases, textbook acquisition and conversions can take 4-6 weeks.
- The time frame to convert a textbook to an alternative format can vary based on the number of textbooks requested by each student and what specific textbook is being requested. In addition, the number or pages and amount of content in each textbook can also increase the turnaround time.
Please note that all electronic files will be uploaded to One Drive and shared with you via your FIU email. Books are saved onto one file and not separated into chapters or folders.
Housing Accommodations
The Disability Resource Center, in partnership with Housing and Residential Life, welcomes you to learn more about the process of requesting reasonable accommodations for your on-campus living space. Our goal is to ensure that you are supported throughout your time here at FIU, and your on-campus living experience is one of the ways we are able to do so. We are here to help make your home at FIU one that is specifically designed to serve your needs. For more information on ADA accommodations, examples, and how to ensure your reasonable and appropriate housing accommodations, please follow the link below.
Service Animals and ESAs
Click here for an Accessible and Downloadable Copy of the DRC Service Animal Infographic
Please follow the process below if you would like to request to have your ESA live in FIU Housing with you:
If you would like to register your Emotional Support Animal (ESA) to accompany you in FIU Housing, please complete this form, along with all requested supporting supporting documentation.
In order to process your ESA accommodation request, the DRC requires the following documentation:
- Completed Intake Form
- Completed Housing Medical Accommodation Request Form
- Letter of Support from Medical/Healthcare Provider (see detailed description in Medical Accommodation Request Form)
Please note that Emotional Support Animals are NOT permitted in Housing until you receive communication from Housing confirming your request has been processed.
Once your initial documentation is approved, the DRC will send the request to Housing and you will be copied in the email and prompted to follow up on next steps directly with Housing staff.
If you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Bello at smbello@fiu.edu.
Disability Related Absences, Extensions & In-Field Experiences
CAT Labs
The DRC offers quiet Computer Assistive Technology Labs (CAT Labs) for all DRC-registered students on both the MMC and BBC campuses.
There are four CAT Labs at MMC and one large CAT Lab at BBC that are available to use during the library's business hours.
The CAT Labs contain accessible furniture, access to Windows computers with Internet, Microsoft Office, Adobe Reader, and assistive technologies such as JAWS and a CCTV.
Please keep in mind that specialty departmental software like Adobe InDesign and SPSS is not available.
Study Abroad
If you are planning to enroll in study abroad program and will need accommodation in your travels, contact your assigned Access Consultant.
Substitutions and modifications
If you have been denied admission and your educational and/or personal goals for success have been negatively impacted due to disability, you may wish to appeal the admissions on the basis of a disability.
If you would like to appeal this decision, please visit the Admissions website and follow the process identified by the Admissions Department.
If you would like to submit any additional documentation specifically related to your disability, please submit them to the Disability Resource Center, along with the completed Eligibility Review Form, to drcereview@fiu.edu. **Documentation can only be submitted after an Admissions Appeal Form has been submitted to Admissions.
Once documentation is submitted, please allow 7-14 business days for documentation to be reviewed.
Documentation to the DRC is only sent once admission has been denied and an appeal has been submitted to the Admissions Department.
- Please note that the DRC does not make admissions decisions. For additional information on the appeal process, decisions, and forms, please visit admissions.fiu.edu.
Course substitutions
Students who have a disability that prevents them from meeting Gordon Rule math or Foreign Language graduation requirements may request a substitution of the course. Granting a course substitution will depend on the nature and extent of the disability and its impact upon the student’s ability to successfully meet the requirement. Requests for course substitutions that would result in a significant modification of the program, those required for certification or licensure, or those that would be inconsistent with the student’s academic program or objectives may be denied.
Please read below for more information on the core mathematics and foreign language substitutions petition process:
It is strongly recommended that you initiate this process as early in your college career as possible. A sense of urgency will allow you time to fulfill any college requirements without consequences (e.g. academic holds, contracts, and probation) which could ultimately delay future registration or graduation.
Please note that a substitution of any kind may affect your ability to remain in or apply for certain majors that require the completion of what you are trying to substitute (i.e. Business Majors must complete MAC-2233 “Calculus for Business”, any math substitution at the core level will disqualify the student from being admitted to this major). Please consult your DRC Access Consultant for more information about this and what may be a fundamental alteration
It is the student’s responsibility to make sure an approved substitution course is on file with their advisor and the DRC before taking the substitution courses. Failure to do so may result in the courses not being credited toward fulfilling the degree requirements.
- Some of the classes most often used for the Core Math Substitution include CGS-2060, CGS-2100, MAT-1033, and MGF-1100
- Classes most often used for the Foreign Language Requirement are selected from the university’s Global Learning Course Offerings
Graduation modifications or substitution requirements
As per FIU Policy
Florida International University can provide reasonable substitution or modification for a graduation requirement for any otherwise qualified disabled student with a diagnosed disability.
Students who have completed 90 credits or more and have concerns about satisfying programmatic or university graduation requirements may request an appointment with your Access Consultant to review this policy and possible exceptions. FIU can work with qualified students with disabilities to provide substitutions and modifications to graduation requirements as long as it is determined that it will not result in a fundamental alteration to the program.
Please note that substitutions and modifications to graduation requirements that are supported by the DRC as per this policy must be presented for review to the academic program before final approval.