Office of Student Life
Disability Services

Orientation

SLDS Overview

Student Life Disability Services (SLDS) works with the university community to create accessible college experiences for students with disabilities. In this context, “disability” is a broad term that includes mental health conditions, ADHD, chronic health conditions, learning disabilities, temporary injuries, and sensory or physical disabilities. SLDS partners with students, faculty, and staff to create accessible learning environments and provide academic accommodations and support services.

Overview Resources:

 

Connecting with SLDS over the Summer

SLDS is open Monday–Friday, 8 am–5 pm. For quick questions, students and families can call for a brief consultation with an Access Specialist between 10 am–1 pm or 2 –4 pm, each business day.

Additionally, on each Day Two of Orientation, SLDS will have staff on-site for in-person visits between 10:45 am and 3:15 pm.


Getting Registered with SLDS

SLDS encourages students to register over the summer so they can start the autumn term fully prepared and avoid the start-of-semester rush.

For academic accommodations, the best time to register is after finalizing your class schedule during Orientation. Students seeking housing accommodations should register as soon as possible.

The registration process has three steps:

  1. Submit a New Student Application and upload disability documentation
  2. Receive a “Schedule Your Welcome Meeting” message in your BuckeyeMail
  3. Schedule and attend your Welcome Meeting with your assigned Access Specialist

Welcome Meetings are held virtually (Zoom or phone), with in-person options available upon request. During the meeting, you and your Access Specialist will discuss:
• Disability-related barriers you may experience in college
• Accommodations that address those barriers
• How to set up and use your accommodations at Ohio State

Visit the How To Register page for more information.


Requesting Accommodations for Orientation

Students and family members who need disability-related accommodations (such as alternative text formats or interpreting/transcribing) for Orientation should contact Jenny Osborn (Osborn.21@osu.edu | 614-292-3324) or complete the Orientation Accommodation Request Form at least two weeks in advance.


Requesting Placement Test Accommodations

Some Ohio State students take timed placement tests for math courses. SLDS is committed to providing equal access to these exams. If you need accommodations, follow these steps:

  1. Submit a New Student Application and upload required documentation.
  2. After receiving your “Schedule Your Welcome Meeting” email, call 614-292-3307 Monday–Friday between 10 am–1 pm or 2 –4 pm to speak with the drop-in Access Specialist, who will process your placement test accommodation request.

To receive additional accommodations at Ohio State, you must still complete the full registration by attending your Welcome Meeting. Scheduling this over the summer is strongly encouraged.