Disability Services
How to Register?
If you need disability accommodations while attending Central Washington University, you will work with the office of Disability Services. Disability Services serves students at the Ellensburg campus, all CWU Centers, and those enrolled in online courses. Our office works collaboratively with students, faculty, and other university departments to implement accommodations that provide equal access and support students both inside and outside of the classroom. Through an interactive process, we will discuss the barriers and challenges you experience related to your disability, and determine reasonable accommodations based on your individual needs.
Students requesting accommodations for the first time at Central Washington University must complete the three-step registration process outlined below.
Step 1: Complete the online registration form
This brief online form requests information about you and your disability-related accommodation needs. You may upload your disability documentation to this form prior to submitting it, or you may send it to Disability Services separately by email (ds@cwu.edu) or fax (509-963-2587) after submission.
After you submit the application, you will receive a confirmation email in your cwu email inbox. If you do not receive this confirmation or need assistance completing the registration form, please contact our office at ds@cwu.edu or 509-963-2214.
Step 2: Providing disability information/documentation
In order to accurately assess requests for disability-related accommodations, our office requires documentation from a qualified health provider.
We require that your medical or mental health provider complete the Disability Verification Form as it requests specific, detailed information often left out of a typical doctor's note. Information provided should be directly linked to the impact or functional limitations associated with the disability, how those may impact you in the university setting, and include a clear rationale based on level of impairment.
Detailed medical, psychological or neuropsychological evaluations or assessments that clearly state the diagnosed disability can meet the criteria of documentation as well.
Provider documentation, along with the information you share during your Access Planning Meeting, helps us identify barriers and determine appropriate accommodations through this interactive process.
Please Note: While recommendations about specific accommodations from medical providers will be taken into consideration, it is the responsibility of Disability Services to determine, through the interactive process, what accommodations are necessary to meet the requirement of providing equal access.
Disability Verification Forms:
Disability Verification Form - Academic Accommodations
Disability Verification Form - ESA
Disability Verification Form - Housing
We recognize that some students may have difficulty obtaining documentation. If you are having difficulty, or other questions, please contact our office directly at ds@csu.edu or 509-963-2214.
Remember: Documentation may be uploaded when you complete the initial Disability Services Registration Form You may submit documentation by uploading it with your initial application, bringing it to our office in Bouillon Hall 205, faxing it to (509) 963-2587, or emailing it to us at
ds@cwu.edu.
Disability Services
Bouillon Hall 205
400 E. University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926-7582
Step 3: Access Planning Meeting
Once your registration form and documentation have been reviewed, Disability Services will reach out to schedule an Access Planning Meeting. Through this interactive process:
- You will meet with an Access Specialist to discuss your disability and the barriers and challenges you experience.
- You will discuss strategies or supports that have been helpful to you in the past.
- Your Access Specialist will determine reasonable accommodations and discuss strategies to reduce disability-related barriers.
To help you prepare for your meeting, take time to consider the following questions:
What is your disability?
- Are there any cyclical or episodic flare-ups?
- Are you currently receiving treatment for your disability? If so, how does it affect your ability to function?
- How does your disability impact your learning, reading, writing, housing, dining, or use of technology?
- What barriers or challenges do you experience because of your disability?
- How have you modified tasks or environments to support your success?
- Is there any technology or assistive technology has been a help?
- What support services or accommodations have you found helpful in the past?
During your Access Planning Meeting, you will also:
- Learn how to request your accommodations at the beginning of each quarter through the Disability Services Portal. (This is critical because it notifies your faculty of your accommodations).
- Review Disability Services policies, procedures and expectations.
- Have the opportunity to ask questions.
Remember: You must request your accommodations each quarter in order for them to be implemented.
If you receive academic accommodations, it is your responsibility to request your accommodations at the beginning of each quarter through the Disability Services Portal. We will review this process during your Access Planning Meeting. Once you have requested them, Disability Services will notify your professors of your approved academic accommodations via email the day before the quarter begins. The first week of class, please follow up with each professor to confirm they received your request and discuss any necessary logistics related to the implementation of your accommodations.
If you have concerns about your accommodations, or need additional support, please contact our office or schedule an appointment with your Access Specialist. Call us at (509) 963-2214 or email us at ds@cwu.edu.
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