1. Office of Equality & Diversity
Disability Resources

2. Drexel University and Disability Resources
The mission of Drexel University’s Office of Disability Resources is to provide equal opportunities and equal access to education, employment, programs and activities for individuals with disabilities.

3. Drexel University and Disability Resources
Disability Resources Objectives
Ensure accessibility
Protect from discrimination
Protect confidentiality
Determine academic and program adjustments without compromising technical standards
Empower students
Educate the campus community
Serve as a resource for people with and without disabilities
We work with ALL people at Drexel who have disabilities – students, Faculty, Staff, guests
ODR works to promote disability education and awareness not only at Drexel but in the greater community.
Disability Awareness Week
Presentations to Student Organizations
Partnerships with on and off-campus groups
Presentations to Faculty and Staff
Collaborating with local employers to promote disability awareness

4. Drexel University and Disability Resources
Disability Resources approves both online and classroom course modifications and/or changes for individual students with disabilities such as:
Testing accommodations
Adaptive technology
Reading materials in accessible formats
Classroom and location modifications
Interpreters and other service providers
Captioning/Transcription
Work with students going on Co-op
What we do…

5. The Laws Governing Disability Resources
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) -1990
The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) -2009
October 11, 2016: DOJ amended ADA regulations to align Title II and III of the ADA with Title I of the ADA (employment regulations)
Other federal and state legislation
Drexel’s Reasonable Accommodation of Individuals with Disabilities Policy (OED-2)
Mandatory referral to Disability Resources if a person discloses a disability

6. Who is a person with a disability?
Someone with a medical, developmental, physical, or mental impairment who is substantially limited in one or more daily life activities ( 6 months or longer)
Law guiding our practice:
Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Federal and State Legislation

7. New Major Life Activities
Sitting
Reaching
Writing
Interacting with others

8. What are people with disabilities entitled to?:
Environments free from discrimination and reasonable accommodations

9. What are reasonable accommodations?:
Adjustments which provide equal access to education, employment, goods and services without fundamentally altering the learning outcomes or essential job functions.
I’m going to talk about some specific areas of accommodation that often raise questions in a bit.

10. What would be considered “unreasonable”?:
An accommodation that gives an unfair advantage – or disadvantage – to the student with a disability
Retroactive accommodations
An accommodation that keeps the student from learning or demonstrating as expected of other students
Pose an undue burden on the institution

11. Registering with Disability Resources
Students request accommodations based on their disability.
Students submit documentation that gives a specific diagnosis and addresses the functional limitations because of the condition.
The Disability Resources staff review documentation and determine if the requests are reasonable and appropriate for their courses, program of study, Co-Op job, clinical, etc.
Student and Disability Resource staff engage in an interactive process to determine accommodations.
Accommodation Verification Letter (AVL) is issued, detailing the approved accommodation(s) for the current term.
Our process…

12. Registering with Disability Resources
The student then must present the AVL to the persons or entities that will directly handle facilitating the accommodations.
Starting Fall Term 2017, Disability Resources will be sending the AVL’s electronically from Clockwork5, a new database.
The URL for instructors is:
**AVLs are good for one term only. Students must request a new AVL from Disability Resources at the beginning of a term to have an updated letter sent to the professor. The request can be made in person, by phone, or .
*Disability Resources is the only designated entity responsible for reviewing documentation and approving accommodations.

13. Rule of Thumb
Treat a student with a disability exactly as you would treat anyone else, with exception ONLY to the accommodations listed on the Accommodation Verification Letter (AVL).
A good example here are requests for EXTENSIONS
Fairness and Equality is key

14. When and How to Refer to Disability Resources
If a student has directly disclosed a disability, it is permissible to let the student discuss their condition.
It is mandatory to refer anyone to Disability Resources who tells you they have a disability (OED-2). You are not responsible; however, if that student chooses not to register.
If a student has not directly disclosed a disability, please offer all applicable campus resources, including Disability Resources, as possible assistance.

15. Confidentiality
It is essential that a student’s disability, symptoms, registration status (with Disability Resources) and all other disability-related information be kept confidential.
Do not share any of the above with anyone besides the student, Disability Resources, and those who have a verifiable “need to know”.
Should other involvement due to the disability become necessary, please communicate with Disability Resources first.
Conversations about a student’s AVL and accommodations should be done as privately as possible
AVLs should not be left out where someone else may see them

16. Questions? Office of Equality and Diversity Disability Resources
James E. Marks Intercultural Center
3225 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(PHONE)
(FAX)