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Transcript of Accommodating Students with Psychiatric Disabilities Al Souma, Disability Support Services Seattle...
Accommodating Students with Psychiatric Disabilities
Al Souma,
Disability Support Services
Seattle Central Community College
DO-IT, University of Washington
What is Mental Illness?
Mental illness is a term that refers collectively to all diagnosable mental disorders causing severe disturbances in thinking, feeling, relating and functional behaviors. These disorders result in substantially diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.
Postsecondary Students with Disabilities
More than 400,000 students enrolled in U.S. postsecondary institutions report having a mental illness or emotional disturbance.
(National Center for Education Statistics, 1999)
ACCOMMODATION
THE
REMOVAL OF
BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION
The Emphasis is on ACCESSNOT on outcome
Laws Requiring Reasonable Accommodations
1973 Rehabilitation Act, Section 504
1990 Americans with Disabilities Act
Symptoms of a Mental Health Problem
Chronically missing class Assignments consistently late Extreme highs or lows in mood, anxieties Problem concentrating, remembering Marked personality change Confused or disorganized thinking Thinking or talking about suicide Denial of obvious problems
Major Depression
Mood disorder Depressed mood over long period Lack of pleasure in activities Thoughts of suicide Sleep and appetite changes Low self esteem Feeling guilty and/or worthless
Bipolar Affective Disorder
Previously Manic Depressive Disorder Mood disorder Revolving periods of mania and
depression Either grandiose, euphoric, highly
productive/creative, or depressed, withdrawn, hopeless
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Anxiety Disorder Exposure to traumatic event Flashbacks Dissociations
Schizophrenia
Thought Disorder Delusions, hallucinations, paranoia Difficulty with daily functional tasks Poor interpersonal relationships Concrete thought processing Need for structured routine
Anxiety Disorders Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Excessive worry in general
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Consuming fixation and ritualistic behaviors
Panic Disorder Overwhelming physiological event
Social Phobias Incapacitating fear of social interactions
Specific Phobias Intense fear of specific object, event
Medication Side Effects
Drowsiness Fatigue Excessive thirst Blurred vision Hand tremors Initiating Interpersonal contact
Functional Limitations
Screening out environmental Stimuli Sustaining concentration Maintaining stamina Handling time pressures and multi-tasks Interacting with others Fear of authority figures Responding to negative feedback Responding to change Severe test anxiety
Strategies for Inclusion in College
Teach to various learning styles--visual, auditory, kinesthetic
Increase experiential learning activities Increase knowledge and acceptance of
mental illness Be prepared to set behavioral limits Know campus mental health resources Work cooperatively with students Assist students with time management
Principles of Accommodation
Address individual needs Respect student’s desire for confidentiality Engage in joint problem solving Make all accommodations voluntary Review accommodations periodically Be flexible in enforcing policies Identify accommodations clearly
Accommodations are NOT Reasonable if they...
Pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others
Make substantial changes in essential elements of the curriculum
Require substantial alteration to educational opportunities/course objectives
Pose undue financial or administrative burden
Possible Classroom Accommodations
Preferential seating, near door Assigned classmate as assistant Beverages permitted Prearranged or frequent breaks Tape recorder, note taker Early availability of syllabus, text Text, assignments in alternate formats Personal and private feedback
Possible Examination Accommodations
Change in test format (Written to oral and vise versa, dictation,
scripted, typed)
Permit use of computer software Exams in alternate format (portfolio, demo)
Extended test taking time Individual proctoring Separate, quiet room for testing Increased test frequency.
Possible Assignment Accommodations
Substitute assignments in specific circumstances
Advance notice of assignments Allow assignments hand written Written rather than oral, or vise versa Change format: drama, role-play,
sculpture Assignment assistance--ask Extensions on assignments
Resources ADA: American Disability Association (1-800-514-0303
(voice) TTY 1-800-514-0383)
Anxiety Disorder Association of America (http://www.adaa.org/)
AHEAD (http://www.ahead.org)
Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (http://WEB.bu.edu/sarpsych)
DO-IT The Faculty Room (http://www.washington.edu/doit/faculty/)
Judge Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law (http://www.bazelon.org/)
Office of Civil Rights: Region 10 (206-220-7900)
National Alliance for the Mentally ill (NAMI) (http://www.nami.org)
National Institute of Mental Health (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/)