How To Initiate CAAR Services

Students with disabilities seeking resources through the Center for Access-Ability Resources should contact the Center to set up an Informational Interview. Informational Interviews will be scheduled with the first available Coordinator. During the Informational Interview, the student will discuss with the Coordinator barriers impacting the student’s educational experience at NIU and possible solutions to reducing those barriers. One solution may be implementing academic accommodations.

Preparing for the Informational Interview

Staff within the Center use the definition of disability as included in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the ADA of 1990, and the ADAAA of 2008. Students should come prepared to the Informational Interview ready to discuss how his or her disability limits one or more activities of daily living, and how this impact has been historically reduced or addressed. If the student has recently acquired a disability and has not had disability related educational services in the past, the student and Coordinator will review areas of concern and identify potential resources to assist the student.

The nature of the impact of the disability is typically referenced in documentation that students have. Documentation comes from a various sources, such as medical providers and school districts. Documentation varies depending on the nature of the disability, but usually includes information about what the disability is, how the disability was diagnosed, who made the diagnosis and when the diagnosis was made,  as well as the history of how the disability has impacted the student’s educational experience. Students without documentation are welcome to schedule an Informational Interview. During the interview, the Coordinator will discuss with the student options about what kind of documentation may be necessary and sources for obtaining such documentation.

Informational Interview

Students are welcome to invite individuals, such as family members, significant others, or legal guardians, to participate in the Informational Interview. The interview is usually scheduled for 60 minutes, and occasionally, a follow up meeting is necessary if all of the student’s questions are not answered during the initial meeting. Students will be introduced to the CAAR Student Handbook during the Informational Interview. Students may wish to schedule a follow up appointment to become better oriented with the handbook. Group orientations are typically offered the beginning of each semester, but students are welcome to request a review of the handbook and relevant policies at any time.

After the Informational Interview

If during the course of the Informational Interview, accommodations are identified that are reasonable and appropriate for the student, a notification letter will be drafted that can be shared with faculty members to assist the student in having the accommodations implemented on an ongoing basis. The notification letter is made available following the completion of the Informational Interview.  Students may request a copy of the notification letter.