Prospective DASS Student FAQ

You can find a list of typical accommodations on the types of accommodations page.

You must be a student who has committed to attending SMU and paid a deposit before DASS can begin reviewing your file. Once you have done this, please follow the step-by-step instructions to apply for accommodations and services to have SMU's DASS team review your documentation. If you are a new SMU student beginning classes in the Fall Semester, we recommend starting the accommodation process in June.

SMU students may request accommodations for any condition that can be considered a disability. There is a process for applying for accommodations and services and you, the student, will need to initiate that process. Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies (DASS) works with students individually to ensure they are able to execute approved accommodations with their professors. Additionally, DASS offers academic coaching for undergraduate students with LD/ADHD, which can help with the transition to college and beyond. This may include assistance with executive functioning issues, time management, organization, reading and study skills, and self-advocating. There are additional services, such as HDEV 1210: Academic Success and Personal Development, a 2-credit elective course with one section taught in the fall that is specially designed to help students with learning and attention disorders develop college-level academic skills. In addition, there is a student-run support and networking group called Students for New Learning (SNL). Finally, all SMU students can utilize the Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center's academic services, such as free tutoring, study skills workshops, and the Writing Center. There is also assistive technology housed in the A-LEC, as well as most of the campus libraries for students with disabilities to utilize. All services, including accommodations as well as academic coaching, tutoring, and study skills support, are provided to SMU students at no additional charge.

Students must first read the step-by-step instructions. Then they will complete and submit the Accommodation Request Form (available on the instructions page) along with their uploaded supporting documentation. Once both the documentation AND request are received, DASS staff will review the information and contact you within 2 to 3 weeks.

For additional information, please plan on attending one of DASS's virtual "Open House" information sessions during the summer. When available, the dates, times, and Zoom meeting information will be posted on the front page of the DASS website. Attending one of these sessions will give you direct contact with a DASS staff member who will inform you of the services available and how to utilize them. This is a critical step in transitioning to college as a student with a disability.

Maybe. SMU does need to understand the current impact(s) of your condition; therefore, the most up to date documentation is the most helpful. Here are some suggested guidelines for giving us the most current, relevant information to understand your needs:

ADHD -- Every 3 years 
Learning Disabilities -- Every 3 years 
Physical and Systemic Illness or Injury -- Every 6 to 12 months, unless the condition is permanent
Psychological Disabilities -- Every 6 to 12 months 
Additional disabilities are discussed in the specific documentation guidelines on our website. 

Documentation is evaluated primarily by the Accommodations Coordinators on the DASS team.

Documentation is typically reviewed in 2 to 3 weeks, but can take a longer or shorter time depending on several factors, including: the complexity of the request, the thoroughness of the supporting information/documentation submitted, and the time of year. From mid-summer through the first two months of the Fall Semester, we receive hundreds of new accommodation requests, so we urge incoming students starting in the fall to submit new requests and documentation well before the start of classes.  

After the accommodation review process is complete, your DASS Coordinator will notify you by email via your SMU email address.

• If accommodations are approved, you will need to set up an intake meeting with your Coordinator through our online interface, DASS Link. You must be enrolled in at least one class to have an intake. Use DASS Link to schedule an appointment. If you need instructions about making appointments using DASS Link, you can find them here on our website. Once you've made the intake appointment, you’ll receive a confirmation from your DASS Coordinator to finalize the date and time.
• If an accommodation is not approved, your Coordinator will communicate that and let you know if additional information is needed to move forward.

No. The University has no way of knowing if a student has a disability and received accommodations until the enrolled student discloses the information to DASS. There are also different laws and expectations at the college level; therefore, not everyone who was accommodated in high school will qualify for accommodations at the college level. To get a better understanding of your rights as a student transitioning into college with a disability, please see the Office for Civil Rights’ website on these issues: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transition.html. Another excellent reference about college-level accommodations and services is https://www.understood.org/en/articles/7-things-to-know-about-college-disability-services.

There many changes to consider and ways to prepare for them. Please download and read this comparison table and our Roles and Responsibilities chart to get an idea of what some of these changes are.

A key tenet in disability services is confidentiality. Information shared by a student with the Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies (DASS) team is held in strict confidence. This information can include the original request for services, documentation submitted for review, conversations between students and DASS personnel, and arrangements for DASS-provided accommodations like test proctoring. Except for emergency reasons, information is exchanged only as necessary to provide services, or with specific individuals and/or offices for which the student has provided written permission. DASS may, at times, communicate with on-campus offices or individuals without written permission, if there is a clear educational need.  

Disability-related records are maintained confidentially in electronic format in DASS Link and are accessed by the DASS team. After students leave SMU, their electronic DASS records are archived in DASS Link.

For more detailed information, see the DASS Policies and Procedures page, specifically sections 9.0 Privacy and 5.2 Student Data.

Colleges and universities may have different procedures and documentations guidelines for students requesting disability-related accommodations. All SMU students apply for accommodations by following our step-by-step instructions. We encourage students to submit their request 1-2 months before the semester starts, if possible. 

Before completing the online accommodation request form, gather the documentation that supports your request for accommodations. This is likely the same packet you submitted to your previous school in order to be considered for accommodations. In addition, please provide a copy of your accommodation letter from your previous institution. If you received accommodations on the SAT or ACT, please provide that verification, as well. You can try to contact the disability services coordinator from your previous university or college to email a list of your accommodations and any other pertinent documentation to you. You will upload all of your disability-related documentation when you complete the online request form. 

We are most interested in the current impact of your condition. Since you’ve been in college already, take some time to share the day-to-day impacts when you complete the online form.

DASS and the A-LEC offer many resources for SMU students, including transfer students. For students with ADD/ADHD, learning differences, and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), DASS resources include academic coaching, a specialized section of HDEV 1210: Academic Success and Personal Development, and our Students for New Learning group. Students can also consult with DASS staff to improve self-advocacy skills. Student Academic Success Programs (SASP) offers a section of HDEV 1210: Academic Success and Personal Development specifically for transfer students, tutoring sessions for a variety of difficult courses, workshops to put new techniques to work, and a writing center to brainstorm and improve your writing. 

Yes, typically the SMU pharmacy can fill prescriptions for controlled medication, including psychotropic and ADHD-related medication. They have even received a waiver from the state of Texas in order to fill out-of-state prescriptions.