Policy & Law
The student's "case manager" at college
Who is the student?
The goal of accommodations
What is to provide ACCESS?
Typical resources available to all students at a college
What are professors, advisors, academic deans department heads, campus peer mentors, disability/accessibility support services, Writing Center, STEM Center, departmental tutors?
This "goat" gymnast was diagnosed with ADHD at a young age and harnessed the hyper-focus, physical restlessness, and creativity as advantageous in her career development. She now holds a record-breaking 19 World Championship medals and four Olympic gold medals.
Who is Simone Biles Owens?
True/False: College professors are required to provide a student's accommodations no matter what
What is FALSE?
Typically, the student must be registered with the disability or accessibility office, the student must get an electronic or paper accommodation letter from the disability or accessibility office, and then give it to the professors prior to utilizing accommodations. Additionally, usually students have to submit test requests, alternate format book requests, notes requests, etc. in order to get the accommodation for a particular class.
Common academic accommodations utilized in college
What are:
Having a note-taker for class lectures
Making audio recordings of lectures
Using a laptop computer in the classroom
Taking exams in a distraction-reduced room
Utilizing extended time for testing
Accessing alternate format or audio books
True/False: Students registered with disability services all need the same accommodations.
What is FALSE?
Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis after assessing how the individual's disability impacts them. Even students with the same disability may receive different accommodations.
This musician, actor, and entrepreneur utilizes her wizardly platforms to destigmatize bipolar and lupus. Her makeup brand, Rare Beauty, donates 1% of its sales to the Rare Impact Fund, which supports access to mental health services for young people.
Who is Selena Gomez?
Ensuring that environments, both physical and digital, are designed to be usable and accessible to people with disabilities. This involves removing barriers and providing accommodations that enable equal access to facilities, services, and information.
What is accessibility?
This means ensuring that individuals with disabilities can participate in all programs and activities offered, whether they are public services, transportation, or recreational facilities.
The ADA has specific standards and guidelines for both physical and digital environments that must be followed to ensure accessibility.
True/False: A reasonable accommodation is to change a paper length from 8 pages to 4 pages
What is FALSE?
This is a modification. Typically in college there cannot be changes or modifications to course and program requirements.
True/False: The college will communicate with parents/guardians regarding a student's accommodations and disability supports.
What is FALSE?
While parents/guardians can support the student in beginning the process, generally the college will direct communication to the student, particularly once the student begins academic courses with the college.
Additionally, the FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) needs to be approved/signed by the student for the college to be able to legally communicate with the parents/guardians. This gives the college the opportunity to communicate, but does not require them to communicate.
This Canadian actor, American superhero, and Welsh Wrexham soccer team owner has lifelong experience with anxiety. He admits to overbooking himself when he's feeling anxious and spiraling, and he often overthinks situations, which can be both a benefit and a burden. He uses mindfulness, meditation and a focus on family to manage his anxiety.
Who is Ryan Reynolds?