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1.
How are
students with disabilities identified?
[top of page] It is the responsibility of the student
to register with Disability Services and provide documentation in order to
receive accommodations. Appropriate and current documentation must meet
Board of Regents’ criteria and specifically justify requested accommodations.
Disclosure is not mandatory unless accommodations are requested, however,
accommodations cannot be provided retroactively if a student discloses the need
for accommodations at a later date. Students are urged to register with
Disability Services in a timely manner to allow time to assemble appropriate
documentation.
2.
What is considered a
disability?
[top
of page] According to the Americans with
Disability Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a disability
is a mental, physical, or emotional impairment which substantially limits one or
more major life activities.
3.
What type of
documentation is required?
[top of page]
The University System Board of Regents’
policy specifies criteria for the documentation of Learning Disabilities and
Attention Deficit Disorder. Other types of disabilities are documented
with a letter from an appropriate medical professional. This documentation
must be typed on letterhead stationery, state the diagnosis of the specific
disability (including prognosis if appropriate), describe the nature of the
disability and its impact on the student’s education and recommendations for
reasonable accommodations to equalize the student’s opportunities at the
post-secondary level. If the documentation is not current or is
inadequate, the student will not qualify for accommodations.
4.
What is current documentation?
[top of page]
Since reasonable accommodations are based upon the current
impact of the disability, the documentation must address the current level of
functioning and the need for accommodations. With regard to a learning
disability, documentation must be within three years of the student’s
application for accommodations.
5.
How do I get classroom accommodations?
[top of page]
Students provide documentation to, and
meet with, the Coordinator of Disability Services to establish appropriate
accommodations. Students then have a responsibility to meet with
instructors and provide them with the Accommodations Memo/Accommodations Form
issued by Disability Services. Students are responsible for meeting with
the Coordinator of Disability Services in a timely manner to request
Accommodations Memo's/Accommodations Forms for each semester.
6.
What are the students’ responsibilities?
[top of page]
Students are required
to: Identify themselves and provide appropriate documentation of their
disability. Request accommodations in a timely manner each semester.
Follow all Disability Services policies.
7.
What are the responsibilities of the faculty?
[top of page]
Faculty members will
make academic modifications that are reasonable and justified as listed in the
Accommodations Memo/Accommodations Form issued by Disability Services.
8.
If I register with Disability Services, will it show up on my
permanent record?
[top of page]
No. What is
considered a student’s permanent record is maintained by the registrar’s office
and is separate from records maintained by Disability Services. Records
are held in strict confidence and information is released only with permission
from the student.
9.
Will a high school Individualized Education Plan (I.E.P.) or 504
Plan provide sufficient documentation of a disability?
[top of page]
No, I.E.P. and 504
Plans provide valuable information, but documentation from a licensed
professional is required.
10.
Do I need to request accommodations every semester?
[top of page]
Yes,
the Accommodations Memo's/Accommodations Forms are valid only for the
semester in which they are written.
11.
Do accommodations give students with a disability an unfair
advantage?
[top of page]
No. Accommodations are based on
the nature of the disability and the academic environment. The purpose is
to provide the student with a “level playing field”, not provide an unfair
advantage.
12.
Are course substitutions or waivers allowed based on a
disability?
[top of page]
Course substitutions are
allowed under strict circumstances with specific recommendations from the
documentation. Courses essential to a student’s major are not usually
considered for substitution.
13.
If I sustain a temporary disability am I eligible for services?
[top of page]
Although temporary disabilities are not
covered under ADA/504, some services may be provided on an a case by case basis.
If possible, appropriate temporary accommodations should be worked out with each
instructor. Although temporary disabilities are not covered under ADA/504,
some services, i.e. note-taker, scribe, extended time, may be provided under
special circumstances on a temporary basis.
SPECIAL NOTE: Temporary disability
parking permits are issued by the Office of Public Safety.
14.
Where are the disability access entrances/exits on campus?
[top of page]
Please click on the following link to see
the Disability Access Map.
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