Disability Services Disability Services in Higher in Higher EducationEducation

Differences inDifferences inHigh School vs. CollegeHigh School vs. College

1.1. All students must meet same standardAll students must meet same standard

2.2. Responsibility shiftResponsibility shift

3.3. ConfidentialityConfidentiality

4.4. DocumentationDocumentation

All students must meet the same standard All students must meet the same standard (typically this means take same tests, write (typically this means take same tests, write same papers, etc.)same papers, etc.)

However, students with a disability can use However, students with a disability can use accommodations to meet that standard. (extra accommodations to meet that standard. (extra time, a reader, etc.)time, a reader, etc.)

Goal is for all students to have an “equal Goal is for all students to have an “equal playing field.”playing field.”

Meeting the same standardMeeting the same standard

Unlike high school, colleges are not Unlike high school, colleges are not responsible for identifying and evaluating responsible for identifying and evaluating potential students with disabilities.potential students with disabilities.

Students have the responsibility of Students have the responsibility of disclosing their disability to the disability disclosing their disability to the disability services office if they seek services office if they seek accommodations.accommodations.

Responsibility shiftResponsibility shift

Responsibility shift – Responsibility shift – cont.cont.

Student is responsible for self-advocacy. Student is responsible for self-advocacy. It is the student’s responsibility to ask for It is the student’s responsibility to ask for help when help is needed.help when help is needed.

Teachers may not always remind Teachers may not always remind students of incomplete or missing work.students of incomplete or missing work.

ConfidentialityConfidentiality

In high school often times students are In high school often times students are labeled as a special education student.labeled as a special education student.

In college, students are not labeled and In college, students are not labeled and are not served separately from other are not served separately from other students.students.

Confidentiality – cont.Confidentiality – cont.

In high school, school personnel talk In high school, school personnel talk freely with parents about student freely with parents about student progress and planning.progress and planning.

In college, personnel cannot discuss a In college, personnel cannot discuss a student without their written permission. student without their written permission. Faculty are only notified of required Faculty are only notified of required accommodations.accommodations.

DocumentationDocumentation

Students are responsible for obtaining appropriate Students are responsible for obtaining appropriate documentation of their disability from a qualified documentation of their disability from a qualified professional.professional.

Once in college, if students suspect that they have a Once in college, if students suspect that they have a disability but do not have appropriate documentation, disability but do not have appropriate documentation, the student is responsible for seeking an evaluation the student is responsible for seeking an evaluation and paying for that evaluation. The DSS office can and paying for that evaluation. The DSS office can provide you with a referral list in order to seek an provide you with a referral list in order to seek an evaluation.evaluation.

What is appropriate What is appropriate documentation?documentation?

Some schools may require more Some schools may require more documentation than others but all documentation than others but all schools will require you to provide schools will require you to provide documentation prepared by a qualified documentation prepared by a qualified professional. The student is responsible professional. The student is responsible for any fees associated with obtaining for any fees associated with obtaining required documentation.required documentation.

Who is a qualified Who is a qualified professional?professional?

This depends on the type of disability; for This depends on the type of disability; for medical conditions, a medical doctor; for medical conditions, a medical doctor; for psychiatric conditions, a psychiatrist, psychiatric conditions, a psychiatrist, therapist, psychologist, or social worker; therapist, psychologist, or social worker; for learning disabilities, a psycho-for learning disabilities, a psycho-educational evaluation from a school educational evaluation from a school psychologist or clinical neuro-psychologist or clinical neuro-psychologist.psychologist.

What should be included What should be included in the documentation?in the documentation?

Diagnostic statement identifying the Diagnostic statement identifying the disability.disability.

Description of diagnostic methodology Description of diagnostic methodology used.used.

Description of functional limitations.Description of functional limitations. Description of expected progression or Description of expected progression or

stability of the disability.stability of the disability. Recommendations for accommodations.Recommendations for accommodations.

Is an IEP or Section 504 plan Is an IEP or Section 504 plan acceptable documentation?acceptable documentation?

This may depend upon the college - Ask. This may depend upon the college - Ask. Usually an IEP or 504 plan alone, is not Usually an IEP or 504 plan alone, is not sufficient documentation for most sufficient documentation for most colleges.colleges.

Services provided in college are no Services provided in college are no longer governed by IDEA. College longer governed by IDEA. College presents different demands than high presents different demands than high school. What a student needs to meet school. What a student needs to meet these new demands may be different.these new demands may be different.

What are common What are common accommodations at the accommodations at the college level?college level?

Extended testing time (typically time and a half)Extended testing time (typically time and a half) Testing in a quiet areaTesting in a quiet area Readers for examsReaders for exams Note takersNote takers Use of a tape recorderUse of a tape recorder Use of a calculatorUse of a calculator Scribes for examsScribes for exams InterpretersInterpreters

Unreasonable Unreasonable accommodationsaccommodations

1.1. Fundamental alteration – accommodations can not Fundamental alteration – accommodations can not reduce academic standards of the college.reduce academic standards of the college.

2.2. Undue hardship – if accommodation costs too much Undue hardship – if accommodation costs too much or if organization does not have resources to respond or if organization does not have resources to respond to request.(This generally has not held up in court to request.(This generally has not held up in court when relating to colleges, the college’s overall budget when relating to colleges, the college’s overall budget is taken into consideration not the DSS budget)is taken into consideration not the DSS budget)

3.3. Personal service – services that a person with a Personal service – services that a person with a disability would use regardless of attendance at disability would use regardless of attendance at college.college.

What are unreasonable What are unreasonable accommodations?accommodations?

Independent living servicesIndependent living services Mental health servicesMental health services Rehabilitation servicesRehabilitation services Providing a personal aideProviding a personal aide Providing a wheelchairProviding a wheelchair Providing glassesProviding glasses

When should students When should students request services?request services?

The sooner the better.The sooner the better. Students may request accommodations Students may request accommodations

at any time, however it is recommended at any time, however it is recommended that students make an appointment with that students make an appointment with the appropriate individual as soon as the appropriate individual as soon as they sign up for classes.they sign up for classes.

Accommodations are not retroactive.Accommodations are not retroactive.