2. Working Together: Faculty, Staff And Students With Disabilities

3. Increase in Number of College Students with Disabilities 2004 National data – 11% Factors: Survival Rate Assistive Technology Awareness K-12 Special Education

4. Presentation Outline Legal Responsibilities Strategies Campus Resources Handouts available on information table

5. Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act & 1990 Americans with Disabilities 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.

6. Person with a disability: any person who has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities including walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working; has a record of such an impairment; or is regarded as having such an impairment.

7. Examples of Disabilities Spinal Cord Injuries Loss of limbs Multiple Sclerosis Muscular Dystrophy Cerebral Palsy Hearing Impairments Visual Impairments Speech Impairments Specific Learning Disabilities Head Injuries Psychiatric Disorders Diabetes Cancer AIDS

8. Student Responsibility  Self identify that he or she has a disability (preferably at admission or the beginning of a semester)  Indicate the need for accommodation  Provide appropriate documentation at the student’s expense to establish the existence of the disability and the need for accommodation  Meet with the Disability office at the beginning of each semester

9. 8 University Obligations Provide reasonable accommodations for the student’s known disabilities Afford student equal opportunity to participate in programs, activities and services (including extracurricular activities) May not discriminate based on disability Provide auxiliary aids and services

10. TU Process Once accommodation needs are established with Disability office: Students will provide their professors with a letter, preferably at the beginning of each semester, notifying the professor of accommodations specific to that student (See copy of form as a handout) Professor will sign the form & return it to the student. (for verification and documentation purposes) Professor then provides the listed accommodations (discuss with Pauline if there are questions on how to implement)

11. ACCOMMODATION THE REMOVAL OF BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION Allowing

12. Examples of Accommodations TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS Extended Time ( usually up to 1.5x) Alternative Testing Location (Separate Location) Oral testing Assistive/Adaptive Technology (computer) Scribe/Reader CLASSROOM ACCOMMODATIONS Peer Note-taker* Audio Tape Recording Lecture Book on cd or electronic version Extended time for in-class assignments Assistive Listening Equipment Preferential Seating Extended time on classroom assignments

13. General Suggestions Use the syllabus statement (see TU template) Talk with the student about accommodations – do not ask about their specific disability Select teaching materials early Use materials available in electronic formats Use alternative testing arrangements Ensure desks & chairs in rooms are friendly to students with disabilities Refer students to the Office of Student Disability Support Services (Magnolia Bldg)

14. Positive language empowers. When writing or speaking about people with disabilities it is important to put the person first. The person with a hearing impairment The student in a wheelchair The Language of Disabilities

15. Additional Information can be found: On the Thomas University website under Student Services by phone ext. 249 or by emailing ppatrick@thomasu.edu Handout available on information table