Talk to your instructors about what accommodations you need in the classroom. Request a meeting with the DS office with your instructor present. (Note, you do not need to disclose your disability to your instructor.)
Connect with other students who have advocated for what they need. Ask them what worked.
Be specific when discussing why you need the accommodations you are requesting.
Be prepared to explain the barriers you are encountering and how the requested accommodations will remove those barriers.
Learn and use resources about laws that schools and DS offices must follow for providing accommodations for deaf students.
Become familiar with your school’s grievance (sometimes called appeal or student complaint) process.
This may be available in the DS Student Handbook on their website or given to you during your initial meeting. Ask for a copy from the DS office if you cannot locate one online.
Save all emails and document all contacts made with the DS office, including dates and type of requests in the order they happened. Write down important notes about each situation.
Keeping a copy of this information will be helpful if you need to file a grievance or submit a complaint.
