1. U-Life Professional Development Day June 20, 2o12 Susan Shapiro Lisa Burton-Grika Student Disabilities Services Weingarten Learning Resources Center

2. Reflections on Students with Disabilities 1. What comes to mind when you think about a Penn student who has a disability? 2. What kinds of experiences have you had with students that have disabilities? 3. What are some of the strengths you have seen in your students with disabilities?

3. What is the Definition of Disability? An individual with a disability is a person with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. (Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as Amended in 2008)

4. Major Life Functions Include but are not Limited to: Walking Seeing Hearing Learning Thinking Concentrating Interacting with others Caring for oneself

5. What is Substantially Limited? Diagnosis alone does not guarantee accommodations Substantial limitation Manner Duration Severity Compared to most people.

6. Who are Penn Students with Disabilities? Long history Identified in high school Newly identified at Penn Disability but no accommodations ???

7. Demographics 806 students identified with SDS during the 2011 AY Equally distributed between males and females Over 3600 exams accommodated at SDS and faculty accommodated at least an additional 1,000 exams All undergraduate and graduate schools

8. Count of All Disabilities on Record *Students may have more than one disabilty.

10. TRENDS Students population is becoming more complex Greater number of students with anxiety Increase in number of contacts per student Heightened expectations of parents and students

11. Increased time evaluating documentation Increase in referrals and collaboration with Penn resources Challenges with student accountability Increase in auxiliary services (braille transcription, electronic text) Increased use of technology

12. Success for Students with Disabilities Independence Use Resources Capitalize on Strengths Self Determination Self Advocacy EMPOWERMENT