Student Registration Process

Keep in mind that accommodations may take time to arrange, some up to 2-4 weeks. Academic accommodation requests are accepted on a rolling basis; there is no deadline for submission. However, in order to receive prompt accommodations and services, students are advised to submit a request with documentation prior to the beginning of the semester. Accommodations are not retroactive. Students requesting accommodations should refer to RISD’s prescribed accommodation timeline in order to ensure they complete their requests in a timely manner and remain within reasonable accommodations.

We will provide students with accommodation letters to show to faculty within one week of your request, provided we have received all documentation and approved your request.

You must make your request for classroom relocation during the registration period, each and every semester. Exceptions are made for emergencies.

Make your request two weeks before you need them for your class(es).

For documents five pages or fewer, you must provide them at least one week before you need them converted to braille. For anything longer, send your materials to us with at least two weeks advance notice. Submit all documents either via email or on a CD.

For texts up to 50 pages, provide them to us at least one week before they are needed for class. We will not convert entire textbooks to large print unless it is required for the class. If the entire textbook is required, we will create a PDF or .doc file that you can read on compatible electronic devices.

Submit your materials to us 4–8 weeks before they are needed for class.

Make your request at least one week before each exam unless you’ve made other agreed-upon arrangements. We prefer to receive course syllabi stating exam schedules during the first week of the semester.

For both semester-long classes and one-time class events (e.g., an exam), provide at least two weeks advance notice.

Notify us at least two weeks before the semester starts.

Notify us at least two weeks before the semester starts.

If you are enrolled in the five-year BRDD program, you are considered an active student at both RISD and Brown, with full access to the resources and services of both institutions.

If you need accommodations or services due to a disability or medical condition, you should contact Brown’s Student Accessibility Services office in order to receive accommodations for Brown courses, as well as DSS for the courses you take at RISD.

When participating in study abroad courses and programs through RISD Global, you may encounter challenges related to accessibility and accommodations. Although RISD cannot guarantee the accessibility of all program sites, students with disabilities can and do participate in RISD Global Education programs. 

Just as laws and cultural norms differ from country to country, so might their disability accommodations and perceptions. Be aware that the level of accessibility, services and accommodation to which you have access at RISD may not be available to you at your course/program site or host institution. There may also be instances of other countries providing access and accommodations in different ways than at RISD and in the US.

When preparing to take part in global study, take time to learn how disabilities are regarded and accommodated in the country (or countries) to which you’ll travel and study. Think about how your disability will impact how you interact with new cultural environments.

Flexibility is key when studying abroad. Be sure to communicate your needs and, if necessary, consider alternative ways to meet them. You may consider:

• The resources of your host country, which may not be the same as those of the US.
• Your host country’s views on accessibility.
• How legal regulations—both domestic and international—apply when you travel.
• The cultural norms of your host country, which may be more or less accommodating of certain abilities.
• Whether any prescription medications you need are allowed abroad. If your medication is not allowed in your host country, speak to your doctor about alternative/supplemental medications that you may take while abroad.
• The consequences of stress from cultural adjustment and reliance on different medical practices. Pre-existing physical and mental health conditions may be triggered or intensified by the stress of adjusting to unfamiliar surroundings.
• The range of health care, counseling and support services available to you at your home campus, which may not be available overseas.
• The amount of walking or the regular use of public transportation, which may be significant. RISD cannot guarantee access to public transportation, buildings or public sites on any RISD Global program.

If you plan to take part in a study abroad course or program, work with our office and with your program coordinator/instructor to assess how your accommodations may work while abroad.

You are not required to inform your advisor or program provider of a disability if you choose to take part in global study. However, many accommodations require early planning, so make your request as soon as possible—preferably as you begin to plan your study-abroad experience—so that we may better assist you.

If you are participating in a RISD CE course/program, in RISD Pre-College or in Project Open Door, register with DSS by completing an application for services (PDF) and providing all required documentation. You will then meet us for an initial appointment for us to determine reasonable accommodations.

Keep in mind that, although we accept academic accommodation requests on a rolling basis (there is no submission deadline), they may take up to 2–4 weeks to arrange. In order to promptly receive accommodations and services, make your request at time of registration.

CE students please note, modifications cannot be made to program or course curricula. If you need access to the the CE office (345 South Main Street) please contact an enrollment assistant at 401 454-6200 or risdce@risd.edu for further assistance.

We consider any requests that include on-site accommodations related to physical environment, devices/adaptive technology, time extensions or other approved adaptations related to program completion on a case-by-case basis, according to applicable policies, regulations and procedures.

The accommodations you receive for classroom learning, such as extended time on exams or use of a note-taker, may not transition effectively to a workplace in which those accommodations do not effectively reduce an access barrier and, by extension, support you in performing an essential function of your field experience.

If you need to discuss accommodations related to field placement, please contact us by phone or email, or set up an appointment to meet with DSS.

Generally speaking, accommodations may not alter the “fundamental nature” of your degree program. The pedagogical needs of a class, including field education courses, are typically the key criteria in deciding a proposed accommodation’s appropriateness. We may also consider how effectively the field placement’s worksite can meet your accommodation request.

Please schedule a meeting with our office, your field placement coordinator and the department head of your major department in order to discuss the essential functions of your field placement position, reasonable accommodations for your placement, and any related limitations.

It is your right to not disclose a disability. However, if you choose not to disclose, it may be more difficult for you to justify or document the need for accommodations at your field placement site. You can also choose how much you want to disclose—practicum sites do not need to know everything about you if you choose to disclose. You may choose to only disclose the challenges you may meet in that specific work setting.