Increasingly, more students are requesting accommodations each year, creating new challenges for schools in managing support. In April 2024, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that the percentage of college students with disabilities increased from 11% to 21%. Yet many campuses still rely on outdated systems that haven’t kept up with growing demand. A stronger accommodation workflow can better connect those systems.
A Disconnected Workflow Can Create Barriers to Support
An accommodation workflow that lacks connection limits how well support works for both students and staff. For students, each extra step adds uncertainty. They may need to explain the same information, complete the same details on multiple paper forms, or wait for updates that may never arrive. Even when requests move forward, the effort required can make asking for help feel harder than it should be.
Staff face a different side of the same problem. Requests scattered across emails, spreadsheets, and older tools are harder to track. Details may arrive incomplete or in the wrong order. That makes it difficult to see patterns, coordinate with faculty, or confirm when accommodations are ready. These issues also rarely happen from the get-go. Rather, they grow as campuses expand and introduce new tools to meet specialized needs as they arise.
Scattered Processes Can Slow Requests and Create Confusion
When departments rely on outdated accommodation systems, each step can add additional friction. One platform might hold forms, another tracks communication, and a third manages schedules, and so on. None of them shares information automatically, and some may not even be digitized. Staff often copy data between tools or repeat steps that should only happen once. That slows progress and makes it difficult to know what information is most up-to-date.
Minor breakdowns like these add up fast. A delay in one place can affect every step that follows, leaving both staff and students unsure what has been completed. When information is scattered, every update takes more time to verify. The work still gets done, but the path to reach it takes longer and demands more effort than it should.
These challenges often grow across departments. Disability services, housing, dining, testing, and other areas may each manage accommodations differently. Separate systems can create gaps in communication and an inconsistent experience for students. It also makes it difficult for universities to maintain accurate, unified data across the institution.
The Value of a Unified Accommodation System
A unified system keeps every step of the accommodation process connected. Students can submit requests, share documentation, and track progress in one place. Staff see the full picture without having to sort through emails or switch between tools. This connection reduces manual work, shortens turnaround time, and helps prevent errors. It also builds consistency, ensuring students receive clear and dependable support from start to finish.
That same connection can extend beyond student needs. Many universities are now expanding accommodations to support employees as well. A single, unified platform helps manage both student and employee cases while keeping processes consistent and data secure across the entire campus.
Clarity Comes From a Connected Accessibility Process
Clarity begins with staying connected. When systems share information in real time, staff can see where each request stands and what needs attention. They no longer have to piece details together from emails or separate tools. Students gain that same visibility. They can follow updates, see what has been received, and know what comes next. A seamless workflow turns that clarity into trust. That makes for a faster and more effective process for everybody.
How AMS Simplifies and Connects the Accommodation Workflow
A connected accommodation workflow begins with a single system that keeps everything organized. Orchestrate AMS combines requests, approvals, and documents into a single platform, letting staff manage each case from start to finish. Each record stays linked, helping offices stay organized and avoid mistakes when files are spread across tools. By connecting departments such as disability services, housing, dining, and testing, AMS replaces separate processes with a single, shared system. That consistency improves communication, simplifies work, and keeps data accurate across campus.
Students use that same connection to follow their own progress. Through a simple online portal, they can send requests, share documents, and view updates in real-time. Faculty and staff see the same records, so everyone stays aligned. AMS also supports employee accommodations through the same system, helping campuses manage all requests in one place with a clear, consistent process.
AMS integrates with key campus tools, including student information systems and sign-on systems, to ensure data accuracy and up-to-date information. That reduces manual work, strengthens coordination between departments, and keeps files secure in one location. With built-in reporting, staff can track requests and measure progress over time. Together, these connections create a more organized and reliable workflow that supports every student and employee.
