Apply for Accommodations
Accommodations and Accessibility Services provides reasonable accommodations, auxiliary aids and services to students with documented disabilities through an interactive process. Eligibility for services is determined on an individualized basis.
Email Statement
If you are new to NOVA and not yet enrolled in classes, you should use your personal email to communicate with Accommodations and Accessibility Services. Once the College activates your NOVA student email address, the department will only communicate with you through your NOVA email address.
Students Applying for Services for the First Time
- Review Documentation Guidelines
- Complete the application.
- The application is set to timeout without saving after 50 minutes. You must click “Submit” at the bottom of the page for your application to be received.
- When signed into the database, click "Accommodations" from the left navigation menu and select "Application".
- Submit the application and upload any readily available documentation.
- The "Documents" tab will only appear after the application is submitted.
- When signed into the database, click "Accommodations" from the left navigation menu and select "Documents".
- A counselor will review the application and follow up within 14 business days to discuss next steps.
- Check your email regularly for ongoing communication and contact us if you need help using the database.
Please do not delay applying for services out of concern for not having the appropriate paperwork.
Dual Enrollment Students
- Students approved to take Dual Enrollment classes at their high school location should email accommodations@nvcc.edu for support with completing the application process.
- Dual Enrollment students who are not fully processed in NOVA’s systems will not be able to submit an application without support.
- Students approved to take Dual Enrollment classes at a NOVA campus or through NOVA Online can click on “Apply for Accommodations” to submit the online application.
- Check your email regularly for ongoing communication and contact us if you need further assistance.
Visiting and Transient Students
It is generally sufficient to submit the most recent letter of accommodations from your home college. Counselors may request additional information at intake as determined necessary to provide accommodations.
- Complete the application and upload your most recent letter of accommodations.
- A counselor will review the application and follow up within 14 business days to discuss the next steps.
- Check your email regularly for ongoing communication and contact us if you need further assistance.
Access Your Accommodations Profile
The database allows students previously approved for accommodations to:
- View their responsibilities in using accommodations.
- Schedule an appointment to discuss needs and services.
- Download an approved Memorandum of Accommodation (MOA).
- Submit a MOA renewal request.
- Submit new requests for required services.
Renewing Accommodations
- A previously approved Memorandum of Accommodation (MOA) must be renewed every semester.
- Renewal requests should be submitted 24 hours or later after enrolling in at least one class.
- Prior to approval, students may be required to meet with their assigned counselor.
- Meetings are held to review accommodations, student responsibilities, and/or academic progress
- Either the counselor or the student can request a meeting at any time.
- Allow up to 7 business days to be contacted by a counselor or for the request to be approved.
- The approved MOA becomes available for download in the form of a .pdf the day after final exams end.
- View the Academic Calendar for important start and end dates.
The department may request disability documentation from a licensed or certified professional in considering an application for accommodations. Such documentation can be used to establish the existence of a disability, describe functional limitations, and recommend accommodations. An accommodation will not be considered reasonable if it creates a fundamental alteration to a program or service, even if a testing or treating practitioner recommends it.
Documentation should include:
- the name, address, title and professional credentials of the person completing the evaluation (ex. licensed psychologist, medical doctor) and the area of specialization;
- test, methods and/or criteria used, and when available, both the summary and specific test scores;
- the nature of functional limitations; and
- the current impact of the impairment on your ability to participate in NOVA's educational programs and services;
- and recommendation(s) of accommodations
The department may request information, including but not limited to:
- one's description of their needs,
- educational records from high school (eligibility testing, IEPs or 504 Plans),
- formal psychological or medical evaluations,
- letters from past medical, educational, or other service providers, and
- records of past accommodations and services from another college, high stakes testing organization, or local or state agency.
Documentation must be relevant to the requested accommodation(s). All documentation submitted to Accommodations and Accessibility Services is kept strictly confidential.
The following Fact Sheets are designed to provide additional information about select topics.
In the college setting, students have various rights and responsibilities. For more information about policies and procedures at NOVA that may apply to a student with a disability, please view the following information:
- College Policies
- Course Substitution for Students with Documented Disabilities
- Late Withdrawal for Mitigating Circumstances
- Student Grievances
- Student Handbook
- Tuition Refunds
Other available resources:
- Accommodations
- A reasonable modification to a policy, procedure, or practice.
- Approved
- The process of granting a student with a disability an accommodation to provide access to the college environment.
- Eligibility
- The process of determining if a student with a disability qualifies for accommodations based on disability documentation.
- Fundamental alterations
- A change that is so significant that it alters the essential nature of a course, program, or service.
- Functional limitations
- The restriction or lack of the physical, cognitive or psychological ability to independently perform activities of daily living.
- Impairment
- The loss or limited use of a body function that can be anatomical, physiological or psychological.
- Interactive process
- The collaborative effort between a counselor, faculty and staff, and the student to determine how to best implement an accommodation.
- Memorandum of Accommodation (MOA)
- A formal letter that is developed during the interactive process which lists any approved accommodations and guides the process of implementing identified accommodations in the College setting. Access to accommodations is a shared responsibility between faculty and staff and the student.