Michigan Association on Higher Education

and Disability

presents…

Accessing Accessing Disability Support Disability Support

Services Services

at the at the Post Secondary Post Secondary

LevelLevel

Federal MandatesFederal Mandates Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

(IDEA), Re-authorized 2005(IDEA), Re-authorized 2005 Entitlement ActEntitlement Act

Vocational Rehabilitation Act, 1973 Section Vocational Rehabilitation Act, 1973 Section 504504

Civil Rights ActCivil Rights Act

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 1990Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 1990 Civil Rights ActCivil Rights Act

Entitlement vs. Civil Entitlement vs. Civil RightsRights

The institution is The institution is responsibile to find, responsibile to find, assess and assess and remediate disabling remediate disabling conditionsconditions

The implications of The implications of an entitlement act an entitlement act result in a broader result in a broader range of services range of services and equipmentand equipment

IDEAIDEA

The key to Civil Rights The key to Civil Rights is equal access is equal access (leveling the playing (leveling the playing field)field)

The responsibility is The responsibility is shifted to the shifted to the individualindividual

Services are aimed at Services are aimed at equal opportunity and equal opportunity and access to programsaccess to programs

504 and ADA504 and ADA

IDEAIDEAIndividuals with Disabilities Education ActIndividuals with Disabilities Education Act

The law that provides for students with The law that provides for students with disabilities in the K-12 system emphasizing disabilities in the K-12 system emphasizing special education and related services…to special education and related services…to prepare for further education, employment, and prepare for further education, employment, and independent living.independent living.

Retains the major provisions of earlier federal Retains the major provisions of earlier federal laws in this area, including: FAPE, LRE, due laws in this area, including: FAPE, LRE, due process, procedural safeguards. process, procedural safeguards.

Ends when students exit secondary education.Ends when students exit secondary education.

Entitlement ActEntitlement Act

Section 504Section 504 No No otherwise qualifiedotherwise qualified individual with disabilities in individual with disabilities in

thethe United States... United States...

shall, solely by reason of his/her disability, be shall, solely by reason of his/her disability, be excluded from the participation in, excluded from the participation in,

be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.receiving federal financial assistance.

504 plan from High School does not carry over to 504 plan from High School does not carry over to higher education.higher education.

Civil Rights Civil Rights

““Otherwise Qualified” Otherwise Qualified” and “and “QualifiedQualified””

Student must be able to meet technical and academic Student must be able to meet technical and academic standards of program regardless of disability. (504)standards of program regardless of disability. (504)

Means an individual with a disability who, with or Means an individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the employment position that essential functions of the employment position that such individual holds or desires. (ADA)such individual holds or desires. (ADA)

Institutional “student code of conduct” applies Institutional “student code of conduct” applies regardless of disability.regardless of disability.

Disability status does not excuse violation of Disability status does not excuse violation of unacceptable behavior in regard to SCC.unacceptable behavior in regard to SCC.

The Americans with The Americans with Disabilities ActDisabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is modeled after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and modeled after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Its purpose is to establish a clear and Its purpose is to establish a clear and comprehensive prohibition of discrimination comprehensive prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability...on the basis of disability... to extend to to extend to people with disabilities civil rights similar to people with disabilities civil rights similar to those now available to people without regard those now available to people without regard to race, color, sex, national origin or religion.”to race, color, sex, national origin or religion.”

Civil RightsCivil Rights

Individual with a DisabilityIndividual with a DisabilityIs regarded as having such Is regarded as having such

an impairment;an impairment;Has a physical or mental Has a physical or mental

impairment that substantially impairment that substantially limits a major life activity;limits a major life activity;

Has a history or record of Has a history or record of such impairment; such impairment;

Understanding the Understanding the transitiontransition

((K-12 vs. College)K-12 vs. College) School must assessSchool must assess

Once diagnosed the Once diagnosed the students must receive students must receive services (entitlement)services (entitlement)

Parents can receive Parents can receive information about their information about their childrenchildren

Parents can initiate Parents can initiate communication with communication with teachersteachers

Students receive Students receive assistance with technologyassistance with technology

Student must discloseStudent must disclose

Student must provide Student must provide acceptable acceptable currentcurrent documentation before documentation before becoming eligible for servicesbecoming eligible for services

Parents cannot receive Parents cannot receive information about their information about their children (FERPA)children (FERPA)

Students must initiate Students must initiate communication with communication with instructorsinstructors

Students must know how to Students must know how to use technologyuse technology

Reasonable

Effective: Effective: producing the intended producing the intended

or expected effector expected effect

reasonable vs. preferentialreasonable vs. preferential

Reasonable Accommodation

Any modification or adjustment Any modification or adjustment that will assure equal that will assure equal opportunity to rights and opportunity to rights and privileges of all programs and privileges of all programs and services offered by a post services offered by a post secondary institution.secondary institution.

All accommodations are based on All accommodations are based on documented needdocumented need..

Reasonable Accommodations Examples

Academic adjustments such as Academic adjustments such as extended time to complete tests, extended time to complete tests, coursework, or graduationcoursework, or graduation

Tape recording of classesTape recording of classes Taped textbooks, e-text, note taking Taped textbooks, e-text, note taking

assistanceassistance Alternative testing and evaluationAlternative testing and evaluation

Academic Adjustments NOT Required

If it would fundamentally alter the nature of If it would fundamentally alter the nature of the programthe program

When the academic requirements are When the academic requirements are essential to a program of study or to meet essential to a program of study or to meet licensing requirementslicensing requirements

If it would be an undue burdenIf it would be an undue burden

significant difficulty or expensesignificant difficulty or expense

Auxiliary Aids and Services Examples

Qualified interpreters, Qualified interpreters, note takers, note takers, real time transcription services, real time transcription services, written materials, written materials, assistive listening systems, assistive listening systems, closed captioned decoders,closed captioned decoders, open and closed captioning, open and closed captioning, TTYTTY

NON Examples Attendants, Attendants, individually prescribed devices individually prescribed devices

(glasses, canes, wheelchairs, (glasses, canes, wheelchairs, hearing aids, computers, etc.),hearing aids, computers, etc.),

readers for personal use or readers for personal use or study study

other devices of a personal other devices of a personal nature.nature.

Student Obligations Self identify that he or she has a Self identify that he or she has a

disability disability

Indicate the need for Indicate the need for accommodationaccommodation

Provide appropriate documentation Provide appropriate documentation at the student’s expense to at the student’s expense to establish the existence of the establish the existence of the disability and the need for disability and the need for accommodation accommodation

Institutional Obligations Provide reasonable accommodations for Provide reasonable accommodations for

the student’s known disabilitiesthe student’s known disabilities Afford him/her an equal opportunity to Afford him/her an equal opportunity to

participate in the institution’s participate in the institution’s programs, activities, and services programs, activities, and services (including extracurricular activities) (including extracurricular activities)

May not discriminate based on disabilityMay not discriminate based on disability Provide auxiliary aids and servicesProvide auxiliary aids and services

Issues to Consider When Choosing a College

Are there people on campus who have Are there people on campus who have experience with your type of disability?experience with your type of disability?Disability services office Disability services office Financial aidFinancial aidAcademic advising Academic advising Health centerHealth centerAcademic support servicesAcademic support services

Is there a separate admissions process?Is there a separate admissions process?

Choosing a college, cont.

Are there separate programs and Are there separate programs and are there additional charges?are there additional charges?

How sensitive are faculty?How sensitive are faculty?

Are there specialized tutoring Are there specialized tutoring programs and what are the costs?programs and what are the costs?

Specific Specific considerationsconsiderations

based on disability…based on disability…

Issues Learning Disabilities and

Attention Deficit Disorders Can a student take a Can a student take a

reduced course load reduced course load and still be and still be considered full time?considered full time?

Can a student obtain Can a student obtain a substitution or a a substitution or a waiver for a course?waiver for a course?

Does the school Does the school have guidelines or have guidelines or criteria for criteria for documentation of documentation of LD/ADD?LD/ADD?

Classroom Classroom accommodations accommodations such as extended such as extended time, note takers, time, note takers, quiet room, books quiet room, books on tape.on tape.

Assistive technologyAssistive technology

Issues Mobility Disabilities

HousingHousing TransportationTransportation Mobility on Mobility on

campuscampus Personal Personal

assistanceassistance

Wheelchair Wheelchair repair referralsrepair referrals

Building Building accessibilityaccessibility

Health CenterHealth Center

IssuesBlindness and Visual

Impairments Classroom Classroom

accommodations accommodations such as such as overheads, overheads, board work, labs, board work, labs, test format, test format, videosvideos

Alternate format Alternate format for textbooksfor textbooks

Assistive Assistive technologiestechnologies

Availability and Availability and type of type of computer computer programsprograms

Funding sourcesFunding sources HousingHousing TransportationTransportation Campus mobilityCampus mobility

IssuesDeaf and Hard of Hearing

Note takersNote takers Teachers who Teachers who

speak English speak English as a second as a second languagelanguage

Captioned Captioned videosvideos

Adapted housingAdapted housing InterpretersInterpreters Real time Real time

captioningcaptioning Assistive listening Assistive listening devicesdevices TDD availabilityTDD availability

Issues Psychiatric Disabilities

Availability of Availability of local treatmentlocal treatment

Funding sourcesFunding sources Disclosure Disclosure

issuesissues Support groupsSupport groups

AbsencesAbsences Classroom Classroom

accommodationaccommodations e.g., extended s e.g., extended time, note time, note takers, separate takers, separate testing locationtesting location

Goal: Equal Access

Benefits, aids and services, to be Benefits, aids and services, to be equally effective, are not required to equally effective, are not required to produce the identical result or level of produce the identical result or level of achievement.achievement.

Accommodations must afford equal Accommodations must afford equal opportunity to obtain the same result opportunity to obtain the same result or to reach the same level of or to reach the same level of achievement.achievement.

Eight Ways College is Different than High

School

One… Academic Environment

More competitive – In four-year schools especially, the majority of students have taken college preparatory classes in high school.

More work – more reading, writing, and larger assignments. Less extra credit.

Quicker and Less flexible deadlines.

Two…Two… Grading

May be based on tests only.

You may receive a grade in the course with fewer tests and papers (but longer). There may be several chapters of material on each test.

Requires self-monitoring. Often must calculate yourself as the semester progresses.

Three…Three… Knowledge Acquisition

There is more reliance on note taking and reading comprehension.

Text and materials may be assigned but not taught in class.

Test items often includes material not taught or reviewed in class.

There is an expectation that students can “self teach”.

Four…Four… Support

The overall amount is significantly less.

The relationship with instructors is more impersonal and distant.

The student is responsible for contact and requesting the accommodations needed throughout the semester.

Five…Five… Responsibility

The responsibility is on the student.

No other person monitors homework completion.

No one to “check in” and see how you’re doing.

Six…Six… Stress

Significantly more stress due to the previous academic factors.

Time management issues, such as work, homework, residential living, family obligations.

Prioritizing commitments.

Seven…Seven… Distractions

College social life—more opportunities to socialize, more adult activities, more appealing activities than the classroom.

Residence halls--more to do, more people, more noise, potentially less rest.

Eight…Eight…The student is responsible for finding the The student is responsible for finding the

appropriate office on campus for appropriate office on campus for accommodations BEFORE the start of the accommodations BEFORE the start of the semester.semester.

The student must make an appointment to The student must make an appointment to register and request accommodations.register and request accommodations.

The student must have current The student must have current documentation that supports the documentation that supports the accommodation requests.accommodation requests.