WNY Collegiate Consortium and Disability Advocates

How do students with disabilities apply to college?

The same way all other students do! They research the schools that interest them, go visit those colleges, meet students and staff, and ask questions. The questions in Activity 7 (pages 97-101) of Effective College Planning will help the student know what to ask and who to ask.

How are services arranged?

Early in the process of planning for college, students should contact the Student Disability Services office at the college they plan to attend. Student Disability Services staff will talk to the student about her disability and needs. They will also ask for proof of the disability from a medical doctor, VESID/CBVH counselor, school records or other appropriate source.

Can any student with a disability access any accommodation?

All services are arranged for each student on an as-needed basis. The nature and extent of accommodations are different at each college. The range of services includes sign language interpreters, notetakers, special equipment (books on tape, tape recording of classes, closed captioning for TV), and alternative testing such as extra testing time, test given in an alternate location, test readers or use of a computer.

What does ‘as needed’ mean?

‘As-needed’ means that accommodations will vary from course to course, teacher to teacher and semester to semester. Section 504 requires ‘reasonable accommodation’ which means that the accommodation must be effective, it does not necessarily mean that it will be exactly what the student requested. It is to the student’s benefit, whenever possible, to access accommodations that can be employed in the workforce. Therefore a tape recorder may be a better accommodation than a human notetaker–unless the faculty member writes on the board or uses overhead transparencies!

While every student’s accommodations are different and unique, the following chart demonstrates the kinds of accommodations that are often used to assist students with specific types of disabilities.

EXAMPLES OF ACADEMIC ADJUSTMENTS, MODIFICATIONS, AUXILIARY AIDS AND SERVICES

EXAMPLES OF ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS OFTEN USED BY STUDENTS WITH SPECIFIC DISABILITIES

If a student will need accommodations, it is crucial for him or her to meet with the Disability Services Staff as early as possible. This will help with planning for appropriate services, accommodations or auxiliary aids. All students who self-identify must provide adequate documentation of disability before accommodations can be provided.