BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY HAWAII DISABILITY SERVICES By Leilani Auna

Aim of Disability Assistance Services for students with disabilities exists to assist students in functioning in and graduating from BYUH in spite of physical, learning, or other disabilities.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Requires that equal access and reasonable accommodations are made for students with disabilities. It is designed to eliminate discrimination based on disability.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act “…no otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall solely by reason of his/her disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity of a public entity”.

Mission Disability Services exists to assist students in functioning in, and graduating from Brigham Young University Hawaii in spite of physical, learning, or other challenges. We coordinate efforts, services, and programs that are assistive, supportive, and empowering. We aim to always allow students to do for themselves all that they can do and then encourage and support them in their educational goals.

Students with Disabilities Mission Students with Disabilities Personal Effort Progression Services for Students with Disabilities Assistive Supportive Empowering Growth of Unique Capacities & Gifts

What can be considered a disability? Chronic Pain and Illness Disabilities Deaf and Hard of Hearing Emotional / Mental Health Disabilities Learning Disabilities and ADHD Mobility Impairments Visual Impairments Temporary Medical Conditions

Current Diagnosis of Students with Disabilities Reading & Writing Disorder Mathematics Disorder Learning Disabilities Sleep Apnea Stroke & Epilepsy Asthma Medical Disorder Visual & Hearing Impaired Quadriplegic (Wheelchair Bound) Cerebral Palsy Physical Disabilities Depression Anxiety (Claustrophobic) Bipolar Disorders Psychological Conditions ADD/ADHD Temporary & Permanent Physical Injury/Illness Others

How faculty can facilitate learning for students with disabilities? The suggestions are to…. Ask students for feedback Use aids to improve learning and use alternative modes of evaluations Make lecture notes available on the Web to allow students to review them after class Regularly evaluate students’ progress Make sure your room is accessible to wheelchair users and persons that have a physical disability * Refer students that have identified themselves as having specific challenges or disabilities to Services to Students with Disabilities.

Emphasis Emphasize in your syllabus how students can seek help from Services for Students with Disabilities. Please advise also that all information disclosed is kept confidential.

Services Offered Class Room Accommodations (i.e. front seat priority, wheel chair accessibility, etc) Testing Accommodations (i.e. distraction free room, extended time, oral test taking, alternative modes of evaluations etc.) Assistive Technology (e.g. hearing amplifiers, tape recorders, carbon paper, kurzweil 3000, etc.) Case Management (teach learning strategies, follow up with student’s progress, advocate for the student, etc.)

Services: Assistive Technology Text to Speech (Kurzweil)

Academic Accommodation Process Make an appointment to meet with a Disability Service Counselor Call (808) 675-3518 or email aunal@byuh.edu Submit official documentation of Disability and/or special needs to Disability Services for Initial assessment. If deemed eligible for academic accommodations, counseling services will send out accommodation letters to your professors, and provide you with a accommodation card. The student begins his/her studies at the university with a variety of helpful services in place. Changes to the service plan are made each semester as academic and other challenges change.

Letters of Accommodations

Housing Accommodation Process: Service Animal/ Emotional support animal, wheelchair accessibility, and all disabilities that require an exception to policy Make an appointment to meet with a Disability Service Counselor. Call 808-675-3518 or email aunal@byuh.edu Submit official documentation of disability and or special needs to Disabilities Services for initial assessment. If deemed eligible for housing accommodations, special need services will send a letter to Housing office Coordinate with Housing Office to plan Housing accommodations. (Housing then determines feasibility of accommodation). In exceptions to policy, submit letter of appeal to Disability Services Coordinator who will submit the letter to the University Disability Council.

Food Accommodation Process Make an appointment to meet with a Disability Services Counselor. Call 808 675- 3518 or email aunal@byuyh.edu Submit official documentation of disability and or special needs with completed Special Diet Forms to Disability Services for initial assessment. (Available from Counseling Services, Food services, or on the food service website. If deemed eligible for food accommodations, DS will send an accommodation letter to food services. Coordinate with food Services to formulate a Special Diet Plan In exception to policy, submit a letter of appeal to the Disability Services Coordinator who will submit it to the University Disability Council.

Who to contact: Services for Students with Disabilities Leilani Auna M.S.W., L.C.S.W. Director of Counseling and Disability Services Phone: (808) 675-3518 / 3999 Email: aunal@byuh.edu Room: McKay 181G Stacy T. Chen & Tashina M.K. Falevai B.S.W. Alumni Graduate Intern for Disability Services Phone: (808) 675-3518 / 4988 Email: ladychen@go.byuh.edu Room: McKay 181