Disabilities included in this category include a wide range of health and systemic disorders, including but not limited to, diabetes, cancer, cardiac conditions, gastro-intestinal conditions, seizure disorders, renal disease, multiple sclerosis, lupus, sickle-cell anemia, fibromyalgia, AIDS, etc.

To obtain disability services and accommodations, students must register with SDS by providing current and appropriate medical or professional documentation and by meeting with an SDS coordinator for an intake appointment. Based on the individual student's documentation, the coordinator will assess the student's functional limitations and academic needs, and from those, will determine the necessary services and accommodations for which the student is eligible. After registering for classes each semester, students are responsible for scheduling an appointment with their coordinator to arrange reasonable accommodations and services for that semester.

The needs of students with chronic health disorders vary widely depending on the specific disability. While not all students in this group will need the same kinds of services, the following services and accommodations are typical for those who qualify:

• Strategic scheduling and advising to accommodate medical regimen or other medical needs
• Permission to audio record lectures
• Preferential classroom seating
• Verification of disability and special instructions to professor in the event a medical emergency should occur in the classroom
• Occasional and reasonable relaxation of attendance policy in cases where attendance is not an essential component of the course (See: Attendance Policies - http://www.memphis.edu/sds/pdfs/attendance_policies.pdf)
• Test Accommodations
  • Extended time
  • Low stimulus testing environment
  • Reader
  • Scribe
  • Computer or other special equipment