Accessibility and Disability Services

We're here for you.

UCLA Extension is committed to providing equal access to all academic programs and co-curricular activities for qualified applicants and students living with permanent or temporary disabilities.

Definition of "Disability" at UCLA Extension

As stated in the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment (2008), a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, including but not limited to: caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating and working.

While some disabilities are obvious, others are not. General examples of disability categories include but are certainly not limited to:

Mobility Difficulties
Hearing or Vision Loss/Impairment
Learning Challenges
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Psychological Diagnoses
Cognitive Issues (e.g., ADHD, Traumatic Brain Injury)

The following categories are only considered disabilities under certain circumstances: pregnancy, obesity, and substance abuse.

Accommodations

Types of Accommodations

Accommodations are personalized to meet the needs of each UCLA Extension student based on the information specified in their current, verifiable medical documentation.

Examples of accommodations include but are not limited to:

Alternate media for course materials
Assistive‑listening devices
Audiotaping of courses
Captioning services
Course-registration assistance
Exam proctoring
Extended time for exams and quizzes
Notetakers
Service dogs*
Sign-language interpreters

*Under ADA Revised Requirements (September 2010), service animals are defined as dogs trained as working animals to perform special tasks for a person living with a disability. Dogs (or other animals) whose sole function is to provide emotional comfort and support do not qualify as a service animal and will not be allowed in UCLA classrooms.

How to Request Accomodations

Requests for accommodations must be made at least five working days prior to the start of each academic quarter. We cannot guarantee acceptance of retroactive accommodations.

Submit your request for accommodations to our Office of Disability Services (contact info at bottom of page). Include current medical documentation on official letterhead from a qualified professional.* “Current” is defined as documentation that is no more than three years old. Your documentation will be reviewed by team members from UCLA Extension and the UCLA Center for Accessible Education to determine your eligibility for services.

You will receive notification from our Office of Disability Services once a decision has been made—typically within two working days, provided all documentation submitted is complete. The Office of Disability Services will notify your instructor(s) of all approved accommodations. Details of your medical documentation are held in strictest confidence and will not be shared with UCLA Extension instructors or staff members outside of the Office of Disability Services.

*UCLA Extension does not accept documentation from a professional who is a parent or relative of the student.

Do I Have to Resubmit Medical Documentation Every Quarter?

It is not necessary to resubmit medical documentation every quarter, unless your documentation will be three-years-old by your next quarter of enrollment.

Bunche Hall on UCLA Campus

UCLA Extension makes every effort to schedule courses in locations that are structurally accessible. If you are a student living with a disability and your course location is Bunche Hall on the UCLA campus, please contact us at least five days before the start of the quarter to ensure arrangements are made for your successful access to the building.

Information for UCLA Extension Instructors

If you are approached by a student who discloses a disability, please know that you are prohibited by law from discussing possible accommodations or providing medical or other counsel to the student. Instead, please refer the student to speak with our Office of Disability Services at the contact information below.

Taping Extension Programs

Recording Extension courses and programs may be allowed for specific purposes to support the learning and teaching of enrolled students, however it is general Extension policy to not permit recording for non-commercial or commercial public distribution. Audio and video recording of courses to create a personal study aid may be permitted by the instructor with the understanding that the process will not be distracting, nor used for commercial exploitation, and public distribution by any means is prohibited. The privacy of other students and participants must be respected. Recording may be required by the UCLA Extension Director of Student & Alumni Services to accommodate a disability in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Further details can be found in our Academic Affairs policy AA111.