OpInform 2018 Services & Support for a Successful Transition to College

What is a Disability? A physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activity Includes people who have a record of such an impairment, even if they do not currently have a disability Includes people who do not have a disability, but are regarded as having a disability Reference: Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990;  ADAAA as amended (2008) Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act of 1973

What Kinds of Support are Available? Academic/Student Support Personal Support Disability Services

Academic/Student Support

Academic/Tutoring Services On-Campus tutoring provided for many of the most popular courses Open to all students, regardless of aptitude or program STAR-NY

Living-Learning Communities Residential programs for students who share a common focus Variety of different experiences including: First-year experiences Sustainable living Science & Engineering Social Justice Leadership Global Studies

Opportunity Programs Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Provides access, academic support, and modest financial support Specialized support services Students must qualify: Academically (determined by campus) Financially (determined by State) Non-EOP Programs Similar to EOP but without the financial qualifications Will vary from campus to campus EOP: The State University of New York's Educational Opportunity Program provides access, academic support and financial assitance to students who show promise for succeeding in college but who may not have otherwise been offered admission EOP is designed for students who need special academic assistance as well as financial assitance. Educational Opportunity Program students may receive support services, such as academic, career, and personal counseling; tutoring and supplemental instruction. As part of a student's overall financial aid package, the Educational Opportunity Program provides financial assistance for non-tuition related expenses (e.g. books, supplies, etc.). Non-EOP Programs: These programs often provide the identical services to EOP, but are for students who may not meet the financial qualifications for EOP. These programs will vary from campus to campus. Two examples would be the Access to College Excellence (ACE) program at SUNY Oneonta or the MERITS program at SNUY Cobleskill.

Personal Support

Mental Health & Wellness 60 of the 64 SUNY campuses have an on-site Counseling and Wellness Office that has specialized training in: Mental health promotion, intervention & response Substance abuse prevention & response Violence & sexual assault prevention

Campus Safety New York State University Police (NYSUP) Available on all 4-year campuses Functions as a full service police department Community Colleges provide highly-trained Campus Safety Officers ID Access to Buildings Blue Light Phones Available in strategic locations on campuses NY-Alert Emergency alerts via text/email/phone or fax Warnings, protective actions, post-incident info

Disability Services

Fast Fact: College Students with Disabilities 11% of students self-identify as a student with a disability in higher education

College Readiness Critical skills Self advocacy and wellness Time management Study skills Daily living Geographic orientation for accessible routes to, and within, campus buildings Digital literacy

Advocacy: High School vs. College The school district is responsible for identifying a student’s disability. Student must self-identify with the appropriate campus disability/accessibility office. The school district develops Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) to define educational services. Student must identify their needs and request services. The school district provides free evaluations. The student needs to obtain evaluations at his or her own expense. Student is supported by parents and teachers. Student is responsible for seeking assistance from the Disability Services Office, which exists to ensure equal access to students with disabilities.

www.suny.edu/attend/get-started/students-with-disabilities/high-school-to-college/

The Role of Disability Service Offices Advocate for equal access - for both individual students and the institution as a whole Assist faculty members with understanding and implementing academic adjustments and auxiliary aids and services Oversee all accommodations for students identifying with their office as having a documented or undocumented disability

What is an Accommodation? Assigned by the appropriate office for a student with a disability in order to mitigate the impact of the student’s disability on their involvement in an activity (classroom, residence hall, etc.). Assigned for the purpose of assuring that the student is not subject to discrimination on the basis of disability. Reasonable accommodations do not and should not fundamentally alter the nature of the program, course, service, activity, and/or practice/policy.  

Types of Accommodations Academic adjustments and auxiliary aids and services: Modified exam administration Note-taking assistance Accessible formats of printed or web-based materials Interpreting, CART, captioning Modification to policies, such as attendance Course substitutions

Types of Accommodations Non-Academic Accommodations: Housing accommodations Animals on campus Dietary access and accommodations

What We Ask of You Assess your own beliefs and attitudes to disability Familiarize yourself about different disabilities Use affirmative and appropriate language Prepare students for self-advocacy Know and be able to articulate the differences between high school and college for students with disabilities Encourage students to seek accommodations in college Understand the role of assistive technology for individuals with disabilities

Advice for Students: Getting Started with Campus Disability Services Research Disability Services Office at prospective schools. Once committed, students should research process and plan to make an early request for accommodations. Have copies of the most recent psychological evaluation or other medical documentation that states the impairment and how it affects the student in living and learning environments. Review what accommodations have been used in the past and effectiveness. Follow the process identified by the Disability Office regarding how to initiate a request for specific accommodations.

Sources and Forms of Documentation Primary Documentation: Student’s Self-report. Previous educational experiences, history of use of accommodations, and what has been effective/ineffective in providing access. Secondary Documentation: Observation and Interaction. Tertiary Documentation: Information from External or Third Parties. Educational records, including Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and psychological evaluations; Medical records and reports from health care providers Reference: Association on Higher Education and Disability

Documentation Process Documentation must establish disability and indicate how disability may impact a student. Individual review Commonsense standard Non-burdensome process Current and relevant information Reference: Association on Higher Education and Disability

Applying to College: Considerations for Students with Disabilities Application Course substitutions/waivers Placement testing Campus visits Documentation Technology availability Transition programs Specialized programs Counseling, academic coaching, etc. Transfer

www.suny.edu/attend/get-started/students-with-disabilities/disability-services-offices/

Additional Resources Association on Higher Education and Disability: www.ahead.org Institute for Innovative Transition: www.nytransition.org/about Think College: thinkcollege.net Transition Source: transitionsource.org National Center for College Students with Disabilities (NCCSD): www.nccsdclearinghouse.org Disability Rights, Education, Activism and Mentoring (DREAM): www.dreamcollegedisability.org

Open Discussion Some suggestions to get you going. How do you identify and help students you suspect will need support in college? How do you communicate the necessity of self-advocacy for students transitioning to college?