At Cedar Crest College, every student deserves to thrive. If you have a disability or health condition that affects your college experience, we're here to help!

The Student Accessibility Services Office helps students with conditions like ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, mental health conditions, chronic illnesses, physical disabilities, vision/hearing disabilities, brain injuries, and more. We also support temporary conditions like concussions or injuries. Don't see your situation listed? Every situation is unique—let's talk about how we can help you!

Although accommodations may be requested at any time, it is advisable for incoming first year and transfer students to request accommodations a few months in advance of the beginning of your first semester at Cedar Crest! 

Step 1: Schedule a Meeting

• Meet with the Director for a confidential conversation about your condition and how it affects you, and what support might help you.

Step 2: Provide Documentation

• The Office of Student Accessibility Services will need paperwork showing your diagnosis. If you don't have this yet, we can help you figure out what's needed. The following section outlines what types of documentation is acceptable!

Appointments with Student Accessibility Services can be set up here. 

You may have documentation sent directly to the college to the attention of Student Accessibility Services by mail (Cedar Crest College, Student Accessibility Services, 100 College Drive, Allentown PA 18104), fax: 610-606-4673, or via email to advising@cedarcrest.edu. 

Please note that the forms posted below are offered for the student's/treating provider's convenience and can serve as a guide should the treating provider wish to write a letter or provide some other type of documentation.

• Condition Verification Form
• Meal Plan Accommodation Request Form
• Emotional Support Animal Doctor Verification Form
• Emotional Support Animal Process Form
• Emotional Support Animal Owner Responsibilities
• Temporary Condition Verification Form

Documentation Requirements

• Contains a diagnosis for a disability
• Contains a signature from an appropriate licensed professional
• Verifies how your condition impacts your daily life and learning
• Specific examples of challenges you face (i.e. extra time for tests due to ADHD)
• Professional recommendations that suggest why an accommodation is necessary for equal access to educational or campus opportunities, or equal access to on-campus housing. 
• Recent information on how your condition currently affects you 

Potential Sources of Documentation

• Student Accessibility Services Disability Verification Forms
• Educational records, such as an IEP or a 504 Plan
• Diagnostic reports, including psychological evaluations or letters from healthcare providers
• Letters or records from federal, state, and local agencies (including Social Security Disability determinations, Division of Rehabilitation Services, and Veteran’s Affairs) that verify and describe disability

Documentation that will NOT be accepted

• Handwritten letters
• Patient records or notes from patient charts
• Documentation provided by a family member
• Diagnoses on prescription pads

We review all requests individually. While your documentation and doctor's recommendations are important, we work with you to determine which accommodations will be most effective for your specific situation at Cedar Crest.

• Your needs may change—and that's okay! Your accommodations can be adjusted if your condition changes, you're diagnosed with something new, or an accommodation isn't working. Just keep us in the loop.
• We work as a team. Once you're approved, Student Accessibility Services will coordinate with your professors, housing, dining, and other departments to make sure everything runs smoothly.
• Health Services is here, too. Our campus health center provides short-term care for illness and counseling. If you have ongoing medical or mental health needs, make sure to set up local care while you're at college.
• Transferring schools? Let Student Accessibility Services know! We can give you copies of your documentation and a summary letter showing what accommodations you had here.
• Taking time off? If you graduate, take a leave, or step away from Cedar Crest, your file goes "inactive." When you return, just give us a week's notice to reactivate your accommodations.
• Learn about the Differences Between High School & College Accommodations

Questions? Please contact Academic Services (advising@cedarcrest.edu or 610-606-4628).