Accommodation

A modification, adjustment, or support provided to enable a person with a disability to participate equally in education, employment, or public services. In the United States, accommodations are mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Common examples include extended time on exams, flexible deadlines, assistive technology provision, modified work environments, and alternative format materials. Research shows that accommodation frameworks designed primarily for undergraduate education — such as extended test time and note-taking services — are often inadequate for the self-directed, unstructured demands of graduate education and professional work, where challenges involve sustained self-regulation, long-term project management, and navigating implicit institutional norms.