WNY Collegiate Consortium and Disability Advocates

Academic Skills: Each student with a disability must be able, with or without accommodation to do the following:

1. Demonstrate competency of reading, writing, and math at the level necessary to meet the essential requirements for the academic program.

   This seems obvious, yet every year we face a disturbing number of parents who have been told that because the high school waived math or foreign language that the college will also waive these requirements. Other parents threaten us with lawsuits if we require their son or daughter with a learning disability to demonstrate writing composition skills. Others expect spelling to be completely disregarded. One parent threatened to sue the college if the student was required to take tests! Section 504 and the ADA require reasonable accommodation NOT a wholesale disregard for academic standards! Both laws reinforce a college’s right to maintain its academic integrity. ADA’s regulations specifically state that a college need not grant an accommodation or modification that would constitute a fundamental alternation of the program.

   OK. So what does that mean in real English? It means that students with disabilities in US colleges, with or without accommodations, are expected to demonstrate competence in written and spoken English. That competence might require a computer with specialized software or a textbook in electronic format. It means that a program like Architecture or Engineering will NOT waive or substitute math requirements that are essential to the program. It means that a student who wishes to become a medical transcriptionist cannot have spelling waived since there are huge differences between hyper and hypo conditions; however a student who is an art or design major might have the math or spelling waived.

2. Most instructors expect students to spend at least 3 hours outside of class doing assignments or reading for every hour spent in class. For example: if a student is registered for 12 credit hours, she should be spending a minimum of 36 hours per week outside of class doing assignments and preparing for classes. Often students with disabilities need to spend considerably more time than this to be successful. Consider the student’s disability and accommodation needs and, if appropriate, plan more time to complete the degree requirements. The student may want to consider a reduced course load.

   Attending college is a full time job. If a student cannot make the commitment at this time, she may want to consider enrolling part time or attending college at a later date.

Personal Skills or Attributes

• Positive attitude
• Mental and emotional flexibility
• Knowledge about academic policies and deadlines
• Effective and appropriate communication skills
• Good time management skills
• Organizational skills for self and tasks
• Clear sense of goals
• Personal independence
• Knowing when and how to seek help
• Strong commitment to completing a degree

Students with disabilities have other issues to consider in addition to those mentioned earlier. Not all postsecondary institutions provide exactly the same programs and services for students with disabilities. It is important to know that the college a student chooses can offer the kinds of programs and support services that she needs. The following is a list of questions to help students identify colleges that can meet specific needs. Not all of them will apply to every student, but those that do will help students begin a dialogue with the college’s Disability Support staff and will help generate other questions that the student does need to ask.