Register with DAISS

All UAlbany students are responsible for identifying themselves as needing an accommodation, then obtaining and submitting documentation that demonstrates their disability, so their needs can be reasonably met.  

UAlbany students are diverse and so are their disabilities. Some of the most common disabilities for which students have accommodations include ADHD, PTSD, learning disabilities, medical disabilities, mobility disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, sensory disabilities and recovery from addiction.

All information and documentation related to a disability are confidential, not part of the academic transcript and not released without the student's written consent.  

No matter your situation, we are here to work with you. Review the different types of accommodations to learn about what is available. 

DAISS can assist students experiencing a temporary, debilitating injury or condition.

Examples include broken bones, injuries requiring surgery, acute illnesses, concussion-related impairments, and medical complications related to pregnancy and childbirth.

Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case and course-by-course basis. Approved accommodations depend on the nature of each course and how the student is affected by their temporary condition.

Temporary accommodations may include, but are not limited to:

• Note-taking assistance
• Testing accommodations (e.g., extended time, separate location, assistance with written exams)
• Access to assistive technology or audiobooks
• Flexibility with attendance and assignments
• Accessible parking

To request a temporary accommodation, please follow the instructions below to register with DAISS. If you’re unable to submit the online form, please contact DAISS directly:

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 518-442-5501

Timely communication with DAISS, faculty and other campus offices is essential to ensure appropriate support. Note: Since temporary conditions can arise at any time during the semester, the timing of the request may affect the accommodations available.

DAISS staff will work with you to determine the best possible temporary accommodations as soon as possible. 

If you need to bring a service animal to campus but do not need other disability-related accommodations, you are not required to register with DAISS. 

However, we encourage you to connect with DAISS so we can provide support and guidance as needed. For example:

• If you plan to live on campus with a service animal, you must submit an updated vaccination record to DAISS annually.
• If you plan to bring a service animal to class, you may request a service animal letter from DAISS to share with your instructors if you wish.

Please visit the Service Animals accordion on the Accommodations webpage for detailed instructions. 

Academic Accommodations

You must be registered for classes before you request academic accommodations. Once you're registered for classes, you may request academic accommodations at any time.  

Please keep in mind that, the earlier you make a request, the earlier in the semester your approved accommodation(s) can be implemented. 
 

Housing Accommodations

You must request housing accommodations by June 15 for the fall semester and by December 1 for the spring semester to give Residential Life enough time to implement approved accommodations.  

Requests submitted after these deadlines may not be fulfilled for the upcoming semester.  

However, since housing accommodations are implemented based on availability, DAISS recommends you start the housing accommodation process early:

• Current students should begin the housing accommodation process by October 1 of the current academic year to increase the likelihood that approved housing accommodations can be put into place for the next academic year.  
• New students should start the housing accommodation process as soon as possible after submitting their enrollment deposit to increase the likelihood that approved housing accommodations can be put in place for the upcoming academic year.

If your need for accommodation arises while you're already living in on-campus housing, you should request a housing accommodation as soon as possible. 
 

Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Accommodations

You must request ESA accommodations by June 1 for the fall semester and by December 1 for the spring semester to give Residential Life enough time to implement approved accommodations.  

Requests submitted after these deadlines may not be fulfilled for the upcoming semester.

If your need for accommodation arises while you're already living in on-campus housing, you should request an ESA accommodation as soon as possible.

Requests may take one to two weeks to process after you meets with DAISS staff. You may not bring your animal to campus until the date listed on your approved accommodation letter. 
 

All Other Accommodations

You may request other types of accommodations at any time. Please keep in mind that, the earlier you make a request, the earlier your approved accommodation(s) can be implemented.

Once you've completed the registration process, you'll receive an accommodation letter that confirms you're registered with DAISS and list your approved accommodation(s).

Accommodation letters don't include any information about your diagnosis or disability. You may choose to disclose additional information, but you are not required to provide information about your diagnosis or disabilities to anyone besides DAISS.

You can access your accommodation letter any time in the Accommodate portal.

To ensure your approved accommodations are implemented, you'll need to work with the appropriate individuals and/or offices:

• Academic Accommodations: You are responsible for sharing your accommodation letter with your instructors.
• Housing Accommodations: DAISS will notify Residential Life when a housing accommodation is approved. Next:  
  • Accommodations related to a current housing assignment: Residential Life will contact you to discuss implementation.
  • Housing accommodations for the upcoming year or semester: Please follow Residential Life’s instructions as you apply for academic year housing.
• Parking Accommodations: DAISS will notify Parking Services when a housing accommodation is approved, and Parking Services will follow up with you via email about implementation.
• Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Accommodations: DAISS will notify Residential Life when an ESA accommodation is approved, and Residential Life will notify your roommates and/or suitemates. You may not bring your animal to campus until the date listed on your accommodation letter.

Students with the following accommodations should also review these policies for additional steps and information:

• Flexibility in Attendance & Assignments Policy
• Personal Care Assistant Policy

Certain accommodations require periodic renewal once they have been approved, including:

• Approved housing accommodations are automatically renewed every year and shared with Residential Life.
• Approved flexibility in attendance and assignments accommodations are reviewed and renewed each semester. DAISS will send you an updated letter upon completion.
• Approved Emotional Support Animal (ESA) accommodations must be renewed annually. You’ll receive an email from DAISS requesting a recent letter from your veterinarian confirming your ESA’s good health and updated vaccinations. That email will include submission instructions.

Documentation is most often a letter from the licensed medical or mental health professional treating your condition. This may include a:

• Doctor (MD or DO)
• Nurse practitioner
• Psychiatrist or psychologist
• Licensed therapist or clinician

You may also submit:

• A recent psychoeducational or psychological evaluation (often conducted in high school)
• An IEP or 504 Plan (incoming first-year students only)
  • Note: IEPs or 504 plans can serve as helpful supplements but may not be sufficient on their own, as they often outline past accommodations without explaining the medical or psychological basis for those supports.
• Documentation from a previous college or university (transfer or graduate students)
  • If you were registered with disability services at another institution, they may be able to share your documentation directly with UAlbany upon your request.
• Accommodation letters from your home institution (visiting students)

Your documentation must:

• Identify the nature and extent of your disability, using current professional standards and assessment methods
• Demonstrate substantial limitations to one or more major life activities
• Provide evidence of current functional limitations and/or barriers to accessing University programs or services
• Be written and printed on the provider’s official letterhead

This means your documentation must include:  

• A specific diagnosis or disability
• A clear recommendation for one or more accommodations
• A detailed explanation of how the recommended accommodations address the functional impacts of the disability (Note: Statements such as “student has X disability and therefore needs Y accommodation” are not sufficient.)

How recently your healthcare provider must have signed your documentation depends on the nature of your disability: 

• Within the past year for psychiatric disabilities (such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, etc.)
• Within the past five years for learning disabilities (such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, etc.)
• No time limit for permanent physical or sensory disabilities (such as blindness, deafness, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, etc.)