Accommodation presentations, workshops, and trainings

Presentations, workshops, trainings, and consultations around the reasonable academic accommodation process for students with disabilities; for students, faculty, parents, and prospective students.

Available Programs

Introductory presentations for everyone

SDR 101 and the accommodations process

A high-level overview of what SDR does, how academic accommodations are determined through an individualized interactive process, and how SDR collaborates with faculty and departments.

Applying for services and documentation basics

An overview of the student steps to apply for SDR services and the purpose of documentation in establishing eligibility and identifying effective accommodations.

Rights, responsibilities, and confidentiality

A review of student and university rights and responsibilities, and the confidentiality standards that guide disability-related information sharing.


Faculty: Accommodation and best-practice workshops

These sessions focus on how accommodations work in real instructional and program settings. The specific accommodations used vary by student and are determined on a case-by-case basis.

Accommodations best practices

For faculty and staff. Covers assistive listening devices (FM systems), sign language interpreters, CART, and captioning, including shared responsibility for accessible course media.

Flexibility accommodations and Flex Form best practices

A practical session on flexibility accommodations (flexed attendance, due dates, and rescheduling exams or quizzes), how the Flexibility Accommodation Agreement Form (Flex Form) supports course-specific clarity on reasonable limits and expectations, and how to complete the Flex Form in a course-specific way.

Exam accommodations overview and implementation basics

Common exam-related accommodations and the role of the SDR Exam Center and instructor-administered accommodations.

Note-Taking accommodations and tools overview

Options such as instructor-provided notes and note-taking technology supports (for example, Jamworks and Genio), plus key expectations for accommodation use.

Department or unit consultation

A tailored discussion on common questions, consistent messaging, referral pathways, and collaboration with SDR and campus partners, including how to evaluate academic accommodation reasonableness in context and, when appropriate, how to identify equally effective accommodation alternatives that preserve essential requirements.


Future students and parents: Transition-focused presentations

Group sessions

These are group sessions designed for K-12 audiences and transition teams.

Preparing to transition to college with a disability

A high school-friendly overview of key differences between K-12 and college disability supports, what students can do to prepare, and how responsibilities shift in college.

Future students and family overview

An overview for prospective students and families on common misconceptions about post-secondary disability supports and transition resources.

Individual Consultations 

Incoming student can schedule an SDR information session by contacting our office to set one up.


Program details

Available formats

  • In-person
  • Virtual
  • Hybrid

Time ranges

  • 15 to 20 minutes: overview segment or guest speaker
  • 30 to 60 minutes: presentation with Q and A
  • 60 to 90 minutes: interactive workshop, case studies, or consultation

Live only; no recordings

SDR presentations cannot be recorded. By submitting this request, you agree the session will not be recorded and you will communicate this to attendees.

Book a program for

Penn State Faculty and Staff

K-12 Schools and Community Partners

Looking for a student panel

If you would like a student-led panel through our Peer Education Program, please use the Peer Education Panel request form

Contact:

For questions about SDR staff-led presentation requests, contact: upsdr@psu.edu or 814-863-1807.