Disability Services - FAQs

Accommodations: What They Are & How They Work

An accommodation is a legally mandated change to a class based on eliminating barriers that are experienced due to your disability.  While the college cannot change the requirements of a class and what is expected for you to do from a curricular standpoint, there are ways to address needs you have while you complete your required work.

Please note that these accommodations are not special treatment, they are your Civil Rights. 

Examples:

  • Extra Time for Testing
  • Testing in a Reduced-distraction Area
  • Note taking Assistance
  • Extended Deadlines for Assignments
  • eBooks
  • Class Materials Offered in Different Formats 
  • Early Availability of Class Materials
  • American Sign Language Interpreting

These accommodations and many others can give you the tools you need to succeed. Please note that the CAADS office is also available as a study area for you. In CAADS, we have CCTV, JAWS, Kurzweil and other software that can assist you while you are on campus. (Software is also available at satellite campuses.)   

Once your professor knows what you have as accommodations, the changes to your class will happen. For example, if you get extra time for a test, the next time you take a test, you will see that the extra time has been added. If you plan to take a test in CAADS, please notify us and your instructor of your plans as soon as you know. 

Please note that you are in control of how much of the accommodation plan that you use. You may opt to use all of them for all classes (recommended), but you are free to not use any of them or only some of them, if you choose.

Contact

Phone: 423-697-4452
Email: Dss@chattanoogastate.edu

Hours & Location

Hours

Monday - Friday (8am - 4:30pm, and by appointment)

Location

CAT 54

How to Register

If you are someone with a disability, you must self-refer to CAADS in order to receive services. You may contact us at dss@chattanoogastate.edu. You may also call us at 423-697-4452.

  • We will need to get two items from you in order to set up your first appointment:
    Intake Form
    Medical Documentation: A letter signed by your diagnosing professional will suffice if it is on their letterhead with a diagnosis and description of barriers and recommended accommodations.
     
  • If more information is appropriate and needed, please use one of these forms that can be completed by your diagnosing professional:
    Medical
    Psychiatric/Behavioral Health
     
  • Don't have documentation from a diagnosing professional?
    CAADS staff may also use your IEP or 504 paperwork from high school if current and if the diagnosis is indicated.
     
  • Don't have any documentation?
    Please reach out to CAADS staff to learn more about community resources and other ways of getting registered with us.
     
  • Once these are received...
    It's time to set up your intake appointment to discuss what accommodations you will be eligible to receive. Please note that the documentation may be hand delivered to our office, scanned and emailed to DSS@chattanoogastate.edu, or faxed to 423-697-2693.
Who We Are

The Center for Access and Disabilities Services (CAADS) is here to help those who have disabilities reach their academic goals.  Our Director and Counselors have many years of experience in helping students to develop accommodation plans that have helped many students to succeed in college classes. 

CAADS adheres to federal laws that oversee the processes for developing accommodations for students who self-refer to us regarding their disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973-Section 504 are the two primary Civil Right laws that promote access for people who have applicable disabilities. To learn more about these laws, please click here.

The staff members of CAADS strive to make this office student-centered and friendly. You will find that you will be treated with respect when you reach out to us. We want to see you succeed

Tiger Access
Tiger Access logo

Tiger Access is an 8 term, 4 semester, 2-year inclusive higher ed program resulting in a certificate of completion. It provides programming for students ages 18-28 with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). Students are fully immersed to receive the whole college experience. They audit 2 college classes per semester based on their interests and goals. They also take a Workforce Development class each term for continued academic, career, and independent living instruction to provide them with opportunities for independence and gainful employment.

Tiger Access application