Please note: This page contains information about requesting accommodations for the SOAR Program, placement testing, and for the school year, which are all separate processes. Make sure your read this entire page to understand each process. For any questions or concerns, contact us at soar@studentaffairs.wisc.edu or 608-262-4707.
Confidentiality: The SOAR Program takes the confidentiality of student records very seriously. Disability accommodation information will only be shared with staff members on a need-to-know basis. Requesting accommodations will NOT affect your admission, advising experience, or course selection.
Accommodation requests are processed after a student signs up for a SOAR session and may take several weeks.
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Request Accommodations for Placement Testing
This section applies to placement tests only. Please see the request Accommodations for the School Year section on this page for information about arranging accommodations for tests and exams during the academic year.
The online placement tests will be timed. If you have any questions, please email Tim O’Connor in Testing & Evaluation Services at tnoconno@wisc.edu. Please contact Tim prior to making a placement testing reservation.
Request Accommodations for the SOAR Program (For students and family members with disabilities)
We value disability as an aspect of diversity and want to ensure that you are able to fully participate in all programming available to you. SOAR staff members are happy to assist you and your guests with needs you may have due to a permanent or temporary disability or condition.
All accommodation requests must be made through Step 6 of your SOAR reservation. Please provide all relevant details about your accommodation request. If your needs have changed or you forgot to add an accommodation need, please update your SOAR reservation with your accommodation request. If you would like speak with someone about your accommodations needs contact the SOAR office at 608-262-4707 or soar@studentaffairs.wisc.edu.
All SOAR program videos will have captions available. Accommodations for SOAR program may include:
- Printed materials in electronic format (e.g. video transcript)
- Extended time for advising and registration to meet communication needs (e.g. hearing loss, visual impairment, Autism Spectrum Disorder, etc.) (Student only)
- Real-time captioning
- Sign language interpretation
Request Accommodations for the School Year
The McBurney Disability Resource Center provides services and accommodations for UW-Madison students with conditions such as:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Serious chronic health conditions (e,g., Crohn’s, chronic migraine, lupus, etc.)
- AD/HD
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Mobility, sensory, learning, and other traditional disabilities
Disability-related services and accommodations help ensure equal access to programs, services, and activities at UW-Madison. Examples include the following:
- Test accommodations
- Study and learning skills assistance
- Notetaking
- Assistive technology
- Scholarships
- Advocacy with faculty and staff for reasonable accommodations
- Counseling modules on academic anxiety and executive functioning
- Transition services
Disability information submitted to the McBurney Center is maintained by McBurney. Disability information or disclosure to other campus entities is maintained within that entity’s secure recordkeeping system. All disability information is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Students decide to disclose disability status to faculty and/or staff when relevant to the educational (e.g., advising, registration, etc.) or accommodation process.
You should begin the McBurney eligibility process now even if you are unsure if you want to use accommodations. Starting now will help avoid a lengthy delay in receiving services should they be needed.
Any disability-related information previously sent to other offices (e.g., Admissions, SOAR, placement testing sites, etc.) must be resent to McBurney to begin the service eligibility process for accommodations for the school year.