Getting Started with Disability Services

ETSU admits students without regard to disabilities. The university is committed to making physical facilities and instructional programs accessible to students with disabilities. Disability Services coordinates accommodations and services designed to provide access for students with disabilities.

While students are not required to disclose disability information during the admissions process, students are encouraged to begin the registration process upon being accepted and committing to attend East Tennessee State University. There is no deadline by which registration with Disability Services must be completed, although we encourage students to be proactive and register as soon as possible. 

Students who wish to register will self-identify by completing a student application, submitting documentation of disability, and participating in an intake appointment with a Disability Services staff member. Below are the steps in which students may follow to begin the registration process with Disability Services! 

Step 1: Begin by Filling Out New Student Application

Disability Services contact information can be found here. To register with Disability Services, students may register by clicking here to access our Student DS Portal! Students currently registered may access their current accommodations on our Student DS Portal from the link above, as well.

Watch the video below for a step-by-step tutorial on how to complete the New Student Application on our Student DS Portal. 
(Please note: some students may get an error message if they have never registered for classes at ETSU. Please call 423-439-8346 for assistance.)

Step 2: Complete Application and Upload Documentation

Use the Student DS Portal to upload required documentation as a PDF,  which is the preferred method.

Alternatively, documentation will be accepted through the following methods: 

• Fax: 423-439-8489
• Mail: ETSU Disability Services, PO Box 70605, Johnson City, TN 37614
• In-person: D.P. Culp Center, Suite 306 

Step 3: Intake Appointment 

The Student Intake appointment provides an opportunity to discuss how your disability impacts you as a student, as well as the accommodations needed to address the impact. Appointments may be conducted in-person, by phone, and/or via Zoom. During this appointment, the student is asked to describe the nature of their disability and how the disability impacts them in various settings. It is important for the student to describe accommodations they may have received previously and the effectiveness of those accommodations. 

Step 4: Determination of Eligibility for Accommodations

After completing the Intake appointment, the student's documentation will be reviewed to determine support for accommodations. The student will then be contacted with the outline of accommodations they are eligible to receive. An array of student accommodations are provided on an individual basis in order to address the barriers that impact a student's ability to learn, participate and perform in the educational environment. Accommodations such as classroom, testing, and housing accommodations are determined based on the student's specific needs. 

Step 5: Student Accommodation Letters

Student Accommodation Letters are sent to the student's professors, and must be requested by the student through the Student DS Portal. Student's should request their accommodation letters every semester as they begin new classes, in order to receive accommodations for their upcoming classes. Students should discuss with each of their professors the implementation of accommodations during office hours or by appointment. Student's do not need to disclose the nature of their disability. 

Watch the video below for a step-by-step tutorial on how to request Faculty Accommodation Forms through the DS Student Portal.