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Accommodating Students with Disabilities: An Office of Accessibility Overview for

Faculty and Teaching Assistants

Presented by:Debbie Arbogast

Accessibility SpecialistOffice of Accessibility

UT Learning CollaborativeAugust 20, 2009

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Fast Facts

• 1 out of every 11 first year college students report having a disability (National Center for Education Statistics, 2002)

• Students with a Learning Disability makes up 45% of all SWD’s in a Post-Secondary setting (Nat’l Ctr. On Education Statistics, 1999).

• College SWD’s are less likely to complete their degree than students without disabilities (Higher Education Opportunities for Students with Disabilities: A Primer for Policy Makers, 2004)

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Post- Secondary Disability Legislation

Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act

No otherwise qualified person with a disability in the United States…shall, solely by reason of disability, be denied the benefits of, be excluded from participation in, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

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Post- Secondary Disability Legislation Cont.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and ADA Amendment Act of 2009

A civil rights statute prohibiting discrimination against persons with disabilities in employment, public services, and places of public accommodations.

Defines disability as a person who (1) has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities, (2) has a history of having such an impairment, or (3) is regarded as having an impairment.

Requires that we provide “reasonable” accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.

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Office for Students with Disabilities

At each university or college there should be a designated person or office responsible for determining who is a qualified student with a disability and what reasonable accommodations may be necessary. (Gate keepers)

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Office of Accessibility (OA) Eligibility

• Disability Documentation

• Documentation Review

• “Reasonable accommodations” are determined on case by case basis based on the disability documentation provided and substantial limitations presented

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What Does “Qualified” Mean?

For students, a qualified individual is a person who: with or without reasonable modifications to rules, policies, or practices; the removal of architectural, communication, or transportation barriers; or the provision of auxiliary aids or services, meets the essential eligibility requirements for the receipt of services or the participation in programs or activities provided by the University.

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What is a “reasonable” accommodation?

• It is easier to define what is not reasonable than to define what is.

• Accommodations are considered un-reasonable when they:

-Fundamentally changes the nature of the course or

curriculum-Poses a safety threat to self or others-Presents an undue financial hardship-Presents an undue administrative hardship

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Principles of ACCESS (adopted by Dept. of Education grant #P333A990046)

A – Accessibility Faculty members play a major role in making their classrooms accessible to all students

C – CommunicationIt is imperative that students with disabilities, faculty members, and OA communicate on a regular basis

C- ConfidentialityAll instructors and OA staff must respect a student’s right to confidentiality

E- Eligibility for Accommodations OA is the office designated to determine eligibility for federally mandated

academic accommodations and servicesS- Student Responsibility

Students have a responsibility in ensuring they get the necessary servicesS- Support

Both faculty and OA work together to support students in their legal right to

access an education

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Types of Disabilities Served Through OA (Hidden and Visible)

• Learning Disabilities (Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia)

• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD) • Emotional/Psychological• Deaf and Hard of Hearing• Blind and Visually Impaired• Mobility Impaired• Chronic Health Impaired• Traumatic Brain Injury/Acquired Brain Injury

Faculty/TA Advocacy Memo

• Student with disabilities should present you with their advocacy memo which identifies what academic accommodations they have been found eligible to receive upon completion of their intake assessment with the Office of Accessibility.

• Please note that students become eligible for services throughout any given semester.

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Temporary Medical Conditions

Students with documentation of a Temporary Medical Condition may request

academic assistance from the OA.

Examples of these types of situations include:

Broken leg and/or dominate arm or hand

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General OA Information

• Academic Accommodations are free of charge to eligible students with documented disabilities

• Academic Accommodations are granted on an individual case by case basis.

• Accommodations are available for Undergraduate, Graduate, Law and Medical students

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General OA Information Cont.

• There is no special education in college• Those thought to have a disability but have never

been tested can contact the UT Psych Dept. for possible disability assessments - fees involved

• Interpreter requests can be completed and submitted on line via our website

• Disability documentation guidelines /verification forms are also available for download off the office website

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Types of Academic Accommodations that are Facilitated by the OA to assist

Faculty/TA’s

• Braille Print Conversion• Sign Language Interpreters• Speech-to-Text Services (Typewell)• Exam Facilitation

Extended time- Scribes - Readers Distraction Reduced Environment

• Volunteer Note taking Assistance• Lab Assistants/Research Assistants • Text in Alternative Format (E- Text)

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Accommodations that need Collaboration between Faculty/TA’s and OA

• Acquisition of exams for OA/Test Center facilitation• Assistance in the identification of class volunteer

note taker• Class handouts/Guided Notes• Advance notification of classroom technology that

students may have to access for their instruction (Adaptive Technology)

• Video Captioning• Enlargement of materials• Material for Braille Conversion

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Sample Syllabus Statement

• “Any student who feels s/he may need an academic adjustment/accommodations in this course based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss your specific need(s). For additional information about academic adjustments/accommodations for students with documented disabilities please contact the Office of Accessibility at 419.530.4981, TTY/VP: 419.530.2612 Rocket Hall 1820.”

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Volunteer Note taker Request Sample Announcement

The Office of Accessibility is looking for a volunteer in

this class willing to share a copy of their class notes with another student. This is an excellent community service opportunity and a way to help improve your own learning. If you are interested in assisting your classmate or would like additional information, please see me at the end of class today.

Volunteer note takers will be given a gift certificate to the Barnes & Noble Bookstore at the end of semester for their assistance with this academic accommodation

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OA Main Campus Testing Accommodations

Students who are eligible for testing accommodations must submit Testing Accommodation Form (TAF) to you which is to be filled out by you and the student identifying the dates of your exams/tests/quizzes and returned to the Test Center FH 1080 (Office of Accessibility - satellite)

• Forward Bancroft exams to Testing Center FH 1080• Forward Scott Park exams to ASC 1200• Email to OAtesting@utoledo.edu (secure OA website)

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Helpful Tips for Instructing Students with Disabilities

Note: These are tips that can benefit all students.

• Provide Power Point Print Outs

• Distribute samples of finished papers as examples, or post a model at the front of the class or on the web

• Write key points on the board or overhead

• Make copies of your notes readily available (guided notes)

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Additional Tips to Enhance Classroom Instruction

Do:– Slow down your speech and simplify instructions– Review key points– Face students and not the board when possible– Watch carefully for facial expressions indicating

misunderstanding or confusion– State concepts in a number of ways rather than simply

repeating what was said– Ask students, not just those with disabilities—

questions during your lectures to test their understanding

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Some Final Thoughts…

• Pity Grades

• Over-Accommodating

• Code of Conduct Issues

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The Office of Accessibility (Main Campus)

Rocket Hall 1820

419.530.4981 – Voice

419.530.2612 – TTY/VP

419.530.6137 – Fax

Mail stop 342

http://www.utoledo.edu/utlc/accessibility/

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Health Science Campus –Disability Services Office

Disability Services for the Health Science Campus are provided through and in conjunction with the Academic Enrichment Center

For further information please contact: Jeannine Rajan

Director, Academic Enrichment Center and Student Disability Services

419.383.6118 Voice   419.383.3150 Fax

Mail Stop 1046