Post-Secondary Disability Facts
IDEA no longer applies. Post-secondary institutions are governed by the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) which is a federal civil rights law designed to provide equal opportunity for people with disabilities. The ADA ensures equal access and opportunity, and also protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination.
- There is no “special education” in college. Instead, institutions provide disability support services (DSS) to qualified individuals.
- DSS are usually provided through offices or centers, with titles like: Office of Disability Services (ODS), Disability Support Office (DSO), Disability Resource Center (DRC), Office of Access Services (OAS), Access Services Center, and so on, and so on…
- The ADA defines “disabled” as any individual with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; and who has a record of such an impairment; and is regarded as having such an impairment.
- “Reasonable and appropriate” accommodations for disabled students are changes in the academic environment that permit qualified persons with a disability equal access to educational opportunities.
- Instructors do not have the right to view or request documentation from a student registered with a disability services.
- Criteria that may lead to DS denying an accommodation include:
- factors that impose undue hardship on program resources
- fundamental alterations of academic programs
- the type of program operation
- It is the responsibility of the student to identify him/herself as disabled and to request assistance from DS.
- How should students “identify” as disabled under the ADA?
- With current documentation diagnosing the disability, students meet with a disabilities specialist, and DS determines if the student qualifies for accommodations; if so, a letter/form is issued for each registered course.
- Faculty’s role in the academic adjustments/accommodations process:
- The instructor discusses the accommodations with the student and makes suitable arrangements for the accommodations as appropriate while addressing any and all questions regarding the provision or appropriateness of the recommended accommodations to the disabilities specialist.
- DS have assistive technology (AT) available for qualified disabled students.
- The ADA and Section 504 only ensure access; success in college is up to the student.