Student Services I:Students with Disabilities & other

Special Populations

Fall 2014 High School & Community College Counselor Conference

Overview Services for Students with Disabilities Special Populations – AB 540 Students

SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Legal Differences from High School to University

High School

No Child Left Behind

IDEA

School District Requirements

Parental notification required

University

ADA

Rehabilitation Act Sections 504 & 508

CSU Requirements (different at other institutions)

FERPA – information privacy

Differences from High School to University

High School Identification by school Disability documentation

by school Parental involvement

required

University Identification by student Student must provide

disability documentation Parental involvement only

through student

Differences from High School to University

High School Rights Someone else advocates School responsible to

initiate services & accommodations

University Rights with responsibilities Self advocate Self initiation of services &

partner in provision

Challenges for Transfer Students Sometimes transferring to a larger institution Academic work becomes more demanding Universal design principles place

accommodations across the campus Students assume that policies, procedures, and

practices will be the same or similar to their previous institution

Things for Students to Consider Disability documentation requirements of the

campus – will the current documentation be sufficient?

Have prerequisite classes been met – substitutions and/or waivers are not always beneficial later?

Does the campus have other support services needed?

Accommodations – Case by CaseAccommodations are determined by the student’s functional limitations and the academic standards for each class – No IEP.

Extended time to take exams

A reader and/or scribe for exams

Notetaking Alternative media (Braille,

e-text, audio) Assistive technology

Peer mentoring & academic coaching

Tape recording of classes Accessible classroom

furniture Career preparation

services

Key Messages to Students & Parents There are big differences in what accommodations are

given and how they are applied Make contact with Disability Services early

(so students and parents will know what to expect – informed choice)

Register with Disability Services as soon as accepted (proper class registration & accommodations on placement tests)

Do not reveal disability information during application process

Parents need to become coaches to student rather than direct advocates

Additional Information About Services for Student with Disabilities CSUMentor site:

– www.csumentor.edu/faq/disabilities.asp California State University site:

– www.calstate.edu/SAS/disabilities.shtml Individual campus department websites

SPECIAL POPULATIONSAB 540 STUDENTS

Special Populations AB-540 Student Requirements

– Attended a high school in California for three or more years– Graduated from a CA high school or attained the equivalent of a

high school diploma, (Passed the GED or CA High School Proficiency Exam)

– Register or be currently enrolled in one of the three state institutions of higher learning

– File an affidavit with the college or university stating that he or she has applied to legalize his or her legal status or will do so as soon as he or she is eligible to do so

– All information provided by student will be kept confidential by the college or university

Special Populations AB-540 Student Eligibility

– Any student, except a person in non-immigrant status, who meets the specific requirements shall be exempt from paying nonresident tuition at all public colleges and universities in California Any student means U.S. citizen, legal resident and

undocumented person– An undocumented person is a non-citizen who entered the U.S. without

legal immigration status or who stayed after the period he/she was authorized to be in the U.S.

Special Populations AB-540 Student Eligibility

Non-immigrant status means visa holders [e.g., tourist (B visa) or student (F or J visa)]

Under AB 1899, students with T (Human trafficking survivors) or U (survivors of serious crimes) nonimmigrant status who meet the other criteria of AB 540 are eligible for in-state tuition, fee waivers, scholarships, institutional and state financial aid

Special Populations AB-540 Admission Application Process

– Encouraged to apply for admission during the priority filing period (Oct. 1- Nov 30)

– The SSN area should be left blank on the Admission Application May use the granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

number– The Residency questions should be answered according to their

personal residency situation If an undocumented student is charged non-resident tuition

but the student knows they meet the AB 540 guidelines, please have the student contact the campus and turn in a California NonresidentTuition Exemption Request Form otherwise known as an AB 540 Affidavit

Special Populations Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

– It allows students to work on campus– It does not establish California residency– It does not make students eligible for federal financial aid

(no FASFA)– It does not prevent students from applying for California

Dream Act financial aid (apply through CalDreamAct.org)– It does not change any AB-540 requirements or eligibility

QUESTIONS!

Thank

you!

www.calstate.edu