Disability Services
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Overview
Self-Advocacy
Assistive Technology
Planning for College
Applying to College
Disability Services
Introduction
Getting Started
Resources
Activity 36
Activity 37
Activity 38-39
Activity 40
Activities 41-42
Activity 43
Summary
Adult Services
Introduction to the Office of Disability Services
College support and advocacy services for students with disabilities are provided through a college's Office of Disability Services (DS). The name of this office will vary from college to college. Disabled Student Services, Educational Access, Special Needs and Disability Services are often used names. To receive these accommodations and other assistance, a person with a disability must place a request with the DS office and provide the required documentation of the disability.Goals
The Student Will:
- Learn
about the law that applies to disability services in college.
In Activity 36, students compare laws that govern disability services in high school and college.
- Understand
the requirements and demands of college coursework.
In Activity 37, students gain insight into the difficulty of college classes by examining course descriptions and textbooks. - Learn
about disability services and how they vary from college to college.
Students compare disability services at colleges of interest in Activities 38 and 39. - Understand
how to qualify for disability services.
In Activity 40, students learn about disability documentation requirements. - Understand how to obtain support services.
In Activities 41 and 42, students arrange an appointment and speak with a disability services coordinator. - Establish eligibility for disability services.
After being admitted to a college, students present documentation and request accommodations in Activity 43.
Rationale for Introducing Disability Services
In public high schools, it is the responsibility of the school to meet the learning needs of all students. These same students must assume the responsibility for their learning needs once in college. To ease this transition, Accessing Disability Services engages students in activities that will increase their knowledge of support available at college. This requires students to be realistic self-advocates with an awareness of the law. Developing this understanding and practicing self-advocacy skills while in high school will help them once they are in college.
Many students don't know where to go to get assistance or what to say once there. In our interviews of Disability Services Coordinators in 1998, all reported that a student's failure to identify themselves early and arrange for accommodations was a major barrier to the success of new students with disabilities. Getting them started early will help to avoid this pitfall.
