Students who self-identify as having a disability may utilize Disability Services to gain equal access to programs, activities, and services during their time at Penn. Getting started with Disability Services begins with submitting an accessibility request, but our toolkit answers questions about the process and connects you with resources within the Weingarten Center and across campus.
We recommend that students with disabilities register with Disability Services upon matriculation into the University, but students may register at any time during their studies at Penn. It may take up to four weeks to review documentation and approve accommodations.
Register with Disability Services
Step One: Complete an Accessibility Request
Log into MyWeingartenCenter to complete your accessibility request. You will be asked to:
- Identify your disability or disabilities
- Describe the accommodations yo
u are requesting
You can start the process even if you don't know if you have a disability or what accommodations you may need.
Step Two: Submit Documentation of a Disability
When completing an accessibility request, you have the opportunity to submit documentation relevant to your disability or disabilities. Please review the Weingarten Center's Documentation Guidelines.
Uploading documentation is not required to submit an accessibility request. Disability Specialists can provide resources that may help guide students to get documentation for the first time or obtain updated documentation.
Step Three: Schedule an Initial Appointment with Your Assigned Disability Specialist
After completing your accessibility request, you will be assigned to a disability specialist and recieve an email from them within one to three business days. You will not be able to schedule an appointment until you have been assigned to a disability specialist.
FAQs about Getting Started with Disability Services
Newly accepted students receive a PennID number and are prompted to create a PennKey username and password. Once your account is set up, you can log in to the MyWeingartenCenter portal and submit your accessibility request.
Only your disability specialist and other Weingarten Center staff members have access to information regarding your disability. Professors and advisors receive information about a student’s accommodations in the form of an accommodation letter at the authorization of the student. Neither a student’s disability nor their accommodations show up on transcripts.
All students are welcome and encouraged to speak with a Disability Services professional to discuss their experiences and challenges and ask questions about the process. When submitting an accessibility request, you can select “no disability identified” when asked to identify your disability. When asked to describe the accommodations requested, you may indicate that you are unsure or just want to speak with someone.
The most common academic accommodations address testing, note-taking, accessible materials and other classroom accommodations. To learn more, review Most Common Academic Accommodations on the Working with Disability Services page on our website. Non-academic accommodations include housing, dining, and transportation. Visit the Campus Accessibility page to learn more about resources.
Even if you do not have documentation or are concerned it is out of date, it is recommended that you submit an accessibility request and meet with a Disability Specialist. Uploading documentation is not required to submit an accessibility request. Disability specialists can provide resources that may help students to get documentation for the first time or obtain updated documentation.
Students gather all relevant medical records and documentation and upload them through the MyWeingartenCenter portal. This can be done when submitting an accessibility request or later if new documentation is obtained.
Once your accessibility request is received, you will be assigned a Disability Specialist within 1-3 business days who will email you to introduce themselves. Once you have been assigned, you will be able to schedule an “initial appointment” with your Disability Specialist through the MyWeingartenCenter portal. During busy times of the academic year (e.g., the first weeks of the semester), your Disability Specialist may not have appointments immediately available or may not have appointments that fit your schedule. In this case, email your Disability Specialist whose contact information can be found on our About page.
If you need to discuss potential changes or additions to your accommodations, you should log into MyWeingartenCenter, click “Complete an Accessibility Request,” and select the “Supplemental” tab to submit an additional request. Then, schedule a “follow-up appointment” with your disability specialist to discuss your needs and accommodations.
Once you have approved academic accommodations, you will need to complete a “semester request” each term. The semester request form asks which approved accommodations you would like to apply to each of your courses. After you submit a semester request, letters are sent to each of your course instructors with information about the approved accommodations you have selected.
Resources for Success at Penn
Learning Consultations
Undergraduate Tutoring
Support Resources
Guides for Your Disability Toolkit
Resources for Families
Neurodivergent Student FAQs
