When I was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) during undergrad, my neurologist told me that I had to re-evaluate how I would be taking classes and consider updating my classroom accommodations for POTS while I worked on getting symptoms under control. While I already received disability accommodations for another condition, some items were updated to reflect how POTS impacts how I access the classroom environment. Here are examples of disability and classroom accommodations/modifications I receive for POTS and an additional neurological condition; think of this post as a menu of options, not a checklist or universal description of POTS experiences or access needs.
Can I get a Disability Services file for POTS?
Yes, you can get a Disability Services file and disability accommodations for POTS at the college level. My primary disability is low vision/visual impairment, and I had an IEP in high school that focused on vision-related accommodations, and I also received accommodations related to a chronic migraine and Chiari Malformation diagnosis. However, the POTS diagnosis played a role in getting accommodations for remote learning approved, and I also had to modify some of my existing accommodations for the new diagnosis.
Living in college dorms with POTS
I went through diagnostic testing for POTS after moving out of campus housing. However, I did receive disability housing accommodations for my other conditions, and would have qualified for housing accommodations with a POTS diagnosis alone. Examples of accommodations can include:
- Climate controlled room with heating/AC
- Building with an elevator
- Shower chair or wheelchair-accessible shower
- Lower-level room location
- Close proximity to ResLife staff, such as resident advisor
- Priority housing selection; some colleges guarantee on-campus housing for multiple years if students are approved for disability-related housing accommodations
- Keeping the same room assignment for multiple years (usually for non-freshmen)
Related links
- How To Create A Disability Services File
- How To Choose A Dorm And Pick College Housing
- Dorm Room Disability Hacks For Chronically Ill Students
Registering for classes with POTS
Students who have a file with Disability Services often receive priority registration for classes, which can make it easier for students to plan out their schedule. When scheduling classes with POTS, some examples of things to consider include:
- Class location. Can the building be accessed on foot or with Disability Transportation services? Can I realistically walk here on a particularly hot day?
- When the class is offered. If a class has multiple sessions, I can ask the professor if I can attend a later session if I can’t get to my other class in time, or make sure that I have time for meals before or after class
- Classroom layout. Are there chargers nearby? Is there space for mobility aids or other assistive technologies?
- Temperature. If needed, make sure the building and/or classroom has air conditioning!
- Online/asynchronous classes that can be completed any time of day/night, or live online classes that do not require sitting in a classroom.
- Seating options and/or desks, including accessible seating.
- Time between classes. Is there enough time to get between buildings or classes safely?
Related links
- College Scheduling Hacks For Students With Chronic Illness
- Using Disability Transportation Services In College
- How To Schedule College Classes
- Tips For Taking Online Classes As An On-Campus Student
Positioning and seating accommodations for POTS
POTS can affect a student’s ability to stay in one position for long periods of time. Examples of positioning and seating accommodations I use for POTS include:
Permission to take stretch breaks
My professors offer stretch breaks to everyone every 30 minutes or so, especially in 3-hour lecture classes. In online classes, I often play lectures on my computer or on an external monitor, or play them on a portable device so I can move around or adjust the screen. My professors are fine with students turning off a webcam for a few minutes to take a break if needed.
I don’t use this accommodation very often because breaks are available for everyone, but it can be helpful during exams in private testing areas.
Preferential seating
I need to sit near an outlet so I can charge assistive technologies, as well as sit in the front row to accommodate low vision. Some students who use mobility aids such as wheelchairs or canes might also need to sit in specific areas; preferential seating accommodations can help ensure that students have an accessible place to sit.
Sitting during presentations/limiting movement
To avoid unsteadiness from standing too long, professors often allow students to present sitting down if needed. Some professors may also allow students to pre-record presentations in advance so they don’t have to present live; this will vary between classes, but most of my undergraduate and graduate courses allow students to pre-record outside of class time.
Some students may also find it helpful to have papers handed to them instead of having to get up, retrieve the paper, and then sit down. Since almost all of my assignments were digital or paperless, I didn’t use this strategy.
Related links
- Preferential Seating and Low Vision
- Ways I Use My Google Chromecast For Virtual Learning
- How To Create Accessible Workspaces For Chiari Malformation
- Implementing Shared Folders For Accessible Materials
Notetaking and assignment accommodations for POTS
Some people with POTS experience brain fog, difficulty with taking notes, or other processing issues. This can extend to notetaking accommodations or modifications to how assignments are presented, which include:
Copies of notes/items presented on the board
My professors would share copies of presentations, items that are presented on the board, and similar documents. I would take my own notes and use these as a supplement to ensure I captured all of the information covered in class.
Use of a tablet for assignments/digital formats
I prefer to read assignments on my iPad instead of a computer because I can hold the screen at a comfortable angle under my glasses and complete assignments while lying down. I had to request a separate accommodation for using my tablet during tests.
Extended time for assignments and/or timed assessments
If I think I will need extended time for something, I tell the professor within 24 hours of when I first receive the assignment, and have 150% extended time to complete it. For example, if an assignment is due in 2 days, I have 3 days to complete it without penalty. It’s worth noting that I am not required to use extended time accommodations if I don’t need them; I can still turn in items earlier if I finish sooner.
Related links
- Eight Things You Need To Know About Your Disability Accommodations
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Tablets
- Why I Prefer My Schoolwork Digitally: Updated Edition
- All About Extended Time Accommodations
- How I Receive Accessible Quizzes and Tests in the Classroom
- How To Make Things On The Board Easier To See
Attendance accommodations for POTS
I love going to my classes, but living with POTS can make it difficult for me to get to classes sometimes, especially if it is very hot outside. I was approved for the following attendance accommodations for POTS:
Permission to record class lectures/access recordings
Instead of having me record my own lectures, my professors would make recordings of lectures available for all students on the course website 24 hours after class time. Individual colleges and universities have policies for student recordings, and Disability Services will provide additional details as needed. After I disclosed this accommodation to my professors, they chose to create their own recordings to make accessible to everyone, or gave me access to videos they recorded for their online classes that cover similar material.
If I had to record lectures on my own, I would use the audio recording tool built into Microsoft OneNote or Notability.
Attending classes remotely
When my POTS was poorly controlled during undergrad, I attended in-person classes remotely for the second half of the semester using web conferencing tools on my professor’s computer and having my brother bring an iPod Touch with FaceTime to each of my classes (he was a student at the same university). I would also meet with individual professors during office hours and complete assignments on the course website.
Some classrooms have a Meeting Owl camera that can be used for videoconferencing into an in-person class, and I used this strategy for presentations.
Receiving an incomplete grade for classes
I couldn’t finish all my assignments for my classes before the end of the semester due to ongoing health issues, so I requested an incomplete (I) grade in my classes so that I would have an additional 6-12 weeks to finish my finals and turn in work. I made a plan with my professors for turning in assignments, and they submitted a grade update to the registrar after I turned everything in. If I needed additional time to finish assignments, my professor could apply for an IX grade (incomplete extension), which would give me an additional semester or longer to finish outstanding assignments and exams. If I did not complete assignments before the deadline I set with my professors, the I/IX would convert to an F, or put a hold on my graduation application.
Related links
- How To Use Dictation As Assistive Technology With Mainstream Devices
- Free Science Websites For Low Vision Students
- Options For Attending College Classes Remotely
- Tips For Siblings Going To The Same College
- Tips To Stay Organized In Virtual Classes
- What If I Miss Assignments Or Classes In College?
Exams and testing accommodations for POTS
Since I have approved accommodations with Disability Services, I can take exams, quizzes, and other timed assignments in the Disability Services Testing Center. My testing accommodations closely resemble the accommodations that I receive in the classroom, including:
- Extended time (150%) to accommodate for a slower reading speed or using assistive technology
- Flexibility with scheduling exams or assignments; if needed, I can take them on a different date/time with professor permission
- Ability to take breaks or walk around a small room
- Taking exams digitally or with Guided Access
Related links
- What To Bring To The Disability Services Testing Center
- Testing Accommodations For Low Vision Students
- How To Use Guided Access For Testing And Exams
- Remote Testing Accommodations For Low Vision
Miscellaneous accommodations for POTS
Other miscellaneous classroom accommodations for POTS that I’ve received include:
Permission to have food/drink in class and/or exams
Since a lot of my classes were in computer labs, I would either time snacks during breaks or step out of the classroom/away from the computer if I needed to eat or drink something. I avoid bringing items that have peanuts or tree nuts since these are common airborne allergens.
Clothing modifications
There isn’t a strict dress code at most colleges, but I did make some modifications to my band uniform to accommodate for POTS, and would also choose clothing for class that would help me keep symptoms under control. For example, temperature dysregulation can make it difficult to wear cold weather clothes in indoor environments, so I would change shoes/socks in the bathroom or remove layers as soon as possible so that I didn’t feel like I was overheating in class.
If I start to overheat, my vision “blacks out”, blurry vision and double vision become even more exacerbated, and I have trouble making sense of what I am looking at in my environment.
Related links
- Organizing A Dorm Mini Fridge With Low Vision
- Managing Chronic Migraines in College
- Adapting Band Uniforms For Sensory Processing Issues
- How I Use The Stylebook App With Low Vision
- How To Store Emergency Medical Information For Android and iOS
List of disability classroom accommodations for POTS
- Housing accommodations (which are separate from classroom accommodations)
- Priority registration and options for taking virtual classes
- Permission to take stretch breaks/walk around classroom
- Preferential seating
- Limiting movement/physical activity
- Copies of notes and other materials
- Digital copies of assignments
- Use of a tablet or computer for notetaking or assignments
- Extended time for completing assignments and/or exams
- Permission to record lectures
- Flexible attendance/attending class remotely
- Extended time for completing assignments during the semester
- Use of the Disability Services Testing Center
- Permission to have food/drink
- Modifying uniforms or other clothing
More resources on classroom accommodations for POTS
- Disability and Classroom Accommodations For Chiari Malformation
- Managing Chronic Migraines in College
- Disability Accommodations For Graduation
Published October 26, 2020. Updated May 2025
APA Citation
Lewis, V. (2020, October 26). Disability and Classroom Accommodations For POTS. Veroniiiica. Retrieved September 16, 2026, from https://veroniiiica.com/classroom-accommodations-for-pots/