UAB Heersink School of Medicine is committed to fostering an accessible, inclusive learning environment for students with disabilities. Working with UAB's Disability Support Services (DSS), Heersink's Medical Student Services (MSS), and Undergraduate Medical Education (UME), students receive individualized accommodations to support full engagement in classroom and clinical experiences. Examples of these accommodations may include lecture transcription, extended testing time, and access to assistive technology devices, among others. Each accommodation is tailored to the student’s needs to reduce barriers and ensure equal access to the learning environment.
The process begins when the student connects with Disability Support Services (DSS). Valerie DuBose, associate director of DSS, serves as the liaison to the Medical Student Services team that works directly with medical students. Students submit clinical documentation of their disability and meet with a DSS case manager to develop an individualized plan. DSS considers both professional documentation and the student’s own experience to determine reasonable accommodations. “Accommodations are not to give a student any kind of unfair advantage. Accommodations level the playing field, so that students have equal access,” DuBose says. Accommodations may also be adjusted over time as students’ needs evolve, ensuring consistent support throughout their education.
With the framework set by DSS, students work with Medical Student Services to implement accommodations. Melinda Harrison, Ph.D., a senior learning specialist, reviews each accommodation notice for any circumstances requiring coordination with Undergraduate Medical Education to ensure access in all learning settings—whether that means seating near the instructor, a reduced-distraction testing space, or a stool in anatomy lab. Many students begin medical school with an understanding of what supported them in college, but are unfamiliar with the teaching formats and spaces they will encounter in medical school. Harrison helps students plan and gain early exposure to these environments to anticipate and address potential challenges.
For example, a student with limited mobility may manage preclinical spaces comfortably but find clinical settings more demanding; in those cases, Harrison coordinates a shadowing experience so the student can understand expectations and prepare accordingly. She also guides students through the national medical board exam accommodation process, helping them gather required documentation, understand guidelines, and navigate a detailed system that could otherwise add to their workload.
Cat Lewis, MSW, LICSW, is the case manager for Medical Student Services. In this role, she serves as a vital bridge between students and community support. "Our goal is to help students access every resource that can support their learning and wellbeing," Lewis says. She maintains close communication with students throughout their time at Heersink, connecting them with support and helping them navigate their Disability Support Services documentation.
Brook Hubner, Ph.D., director of Academic Success, highlights the importance of this partnership: “Our work is strengthened by the close collaboration among Undergraduate Medical Education, Disability Support Services, and Medical Student Services, whose shared commitment ensures students have equitable access to the learning environment.”
Harrison and Lewis also emphasize normalizing access and accommodation use. Students are reassured that residency programs and peers will only be aware of accommodations if they choose to share them, and are encouraged to be proactive: it is better to have accommodations in place and not need them than to need them and not have them.
Behind the scenes, DSS, MSS, and the Technical Standards Advisory Committee work together to promote equitable access for every student. The committee, which includes faculty, administrators, clinicians, DSS representatives, and a student representative, brings multiple perspectives to guide thoughtful solutions while maintaining professional standards. Harrison notes that the goal is to reduce barriers so that all students can succeed and thrive in their medical education, and DuBose emphasizes that this collaboration is key to making that support possible.
For additional information about the process of accommodations support at Heersink School of Medicine, contact