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Accessibility and Advocacy Resource Office (AARO)

Dean of Students

The Accessibility and Advocacy Resource Office (AARO) at Indiana State University collaborates with students and the campus community to provide equal access to education and housing for all students. AARO provides accommodations to students experiencing barriers to equal access due to diagnosed temporary or chronic disability(s). AARO also provides advocacy services through the Confidential Victim Advocate for students who are the victim/survivor of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and/or stalking/harassment.

To request academic or housing accommodations, please complete the following steps:

  1. Complete the Accessibility and Advocacy Resource Office (AARO) Intake Application.
  2. Attach documentation to the intake application (See below for documentation requirements).
  3. Accommodation requests will not be reviewed until the intake application and documentation are received. Once both the intake application and documentation are received, the Accessibility and Advocacy Resource Office (AARO) staff may connect with students to determine reasonable accommodations. Please note that it can take up to two weeks for a response from office staff. Watch your ISU email for correspondence from ARO staff or notifications via Maxient.

Documentation Requirements

Please submit documentation in pdf form. All documentation must contain the following: specific diagnosis (or diagnoses); description of the limitation(s) and/or impact(s) of the condition(s); outline the accommodations requested; and address how the accommodations directly reduce or alleviate those condition(s), limitation(s), and/or impact(s). Documentation may include one or more of the following types of documents, which may be combined to address the above required information.

Please note we require a completed AARO form for all Housing Accommodation Requests.

That documentation can be a formal letter on office letterhead from the medical provider that includes the following information

  • IEP/504 plan
  • Medical records
  • Full evaluation/diagnostic report (e.g. ETR, MFE)
  • Cognitive/learning assessments (e.g. Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale, Woodcock-Johnson III)
  • Accommodation provider form: please note that while this form is a guide to ensure accommodations providers give all the types of information, care providers will likely need to attach additional pages to thoroughly address the question due to space constraints.
  • Letter from a healthcare professional on official letterhead containing:
  • A Statement of Diagnosis
  • A Statement of Recommended/ Prescribed Accommodations that match the accommodations you have asked for on the intake application. For example, if you are requesting a private room, your accommodation provider must include that recommendation.
  • Also required is A Statement of how the recommended / Prescribed accommodations will help to alleviate conditions of the diagnosis. 
  • The Letter must also contain legible name and signature of accommodation provider along with address and contact information for verification purposes.

To report an accessibility issue, you can call the Office of the Dean of Students during business hours, 8:00 to 4:30 Monday-Friday, at 812-237-3829. Accessibility issues may include out-of-order elevators, accessible doors failing to open, or blocked/slippery ADA ramps. Please be as specific as possible regarding the accessibility concern.

You can also email AARO at isu-AARO@indstate.edu with accessibility concerns.

Once notified of a concern, AARO staff will reach out to appropriate staff to address the issue.

  • Students who wish to request accommodations must fill out the intake form and attach supporting documentation.
  • Students should watch for emails regarding their accommodations, including official correspondence through Maxient. AARO may request additional documentation or in-person meetings to discuss requested accommodations

Regarding Academic Accommodations:

  • Students should reach out to AARO about changes in class schedules so appropriate faculty is informed of approved accommodations.
  • Students must communicate with instructors regarding their approved accommodations. AARO sends out official faculty notices each semester, but students should communicate to Faculty as needed.
  • Students with Participation Access accommodations (extended deadlines, excused absences, etc.) must communicate with faculty PRIOR to missing class/assignments. Those communications should be via email for documentation purposes.
  • Students must renew their accommodations each academic year.

Regarding Housing Accommodations:

  • Students must complete paperwork with The Office of Residential Life before bringing AARO-approved Emotional Support Animals to campus.
  • Rooms are assigned by The Office of Residential Life based on the current inventory. AARO cannot assign rooms, nor can we alter room assignments.

Students have the right to appeal decisions made by the Accessibility and Advocacy Resource Office (AARO). An appeal of approved or denied accommodations must be made in writing within five calendar days following the date notice is received by the student. A student may be notified of the decision via meeting with staff members, email, or phone. The University has determined that University provided electronic mail is the official form of communication; therefore, the five-calendar-day timeframe begins at the time the email is sent. To complete an appeal, please send the information (name, student ID number, ISU email address, and the details of your appeal) to Indiana State University ADA Coordinator, Dr. Heather Webb, at Heather.Webb@indstate.edu.