Graduate Students with Disabilities: Support and Accommodations

At Penn State, Student Disability Resources (SDR) is committed to ensuring that all students with disabilities—whether permanent or temporary, visible or hidden—receive timely and appropriate accommodations. This includes graduate and professional students, whose academic experiences often involve complex and individualized needs.

Specialized Support for Graduate Students

To better serve graduate students, SDR has implemented a graduate school liaison model. This model provides tailored support and fosters collaboration with graduate faculty and departments. The designated specialists are:

Susan Anderson
Team Lead
sma17@psu.edu

Cheryl Anderson
Doctoral Student Liaison
cha3@psu.edu

Kathryn Costley
Master's Student Liaison
kaa6072@psu.edu

These specialists ensure accommodations are effectively implemented across all aspects of graduate education, including coursework, research, assistantships, and exams. As this is a newly introduced process, graduate students currently working with other specialists are welcome to request reassignment to a graduate liaison by contacting SDR at upsdr@psu.edu.

While this model continues to develop, Susan, Cheryl, and Kathryn are available to engage with students, faculty, and staff to enhance services and strengthen coordination with the Graduate School.

Types of Accommodations for Graduate Students

Accommodations are determined through an interactive process and are tailored to each student’s needs and the distinct components of graduate education. Graduate students may receive accommodations in the following areas:

Registration Process

Graduate students seeking accommodations should begin by contacting Student Disability Resources (SDR) to initiate services.

Steps to Register

  1. Complete the Online Intake and Submit Documentation
    Complete SDR’s online introductory questionnaire and provide documentation of your disability. Documentation is necessary to establish disability status and eligibility for federal protections. SDR can assist with identifying resources for obtaining a diagnosis if necessary.

  2. Schedule an Initial Appointment
    Contact SDR to schedule an introductory appointment and apply for services. The student must initiate this process to begin receiving services.

  3. Engage in the Interactive Process
    Participate in a collaborative discussion with a disability specialist to determine reasonable accommodations for specific components of your graduate program. This process can occur at any point during a graduate program, but please note that accommodations cannot be applied retroactively.

Issues with Accommodations and Discrimination Complaints

If you experience challenges or conflicts related to receiving reasonable accommodations, please reach out to your disability specialist or contact Student Disabilities Resources (SDR) directly. SDR can assist with providing consultation, guidance, and mediation of accommodation-related conflicts. You may also refer others to SDR with questions about providing reasonable accommodations.

Penn State affirms its commitment to intolerance and nondiscrimination through University Policy AD91. Students who believe they have experienced discrimination may contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access.