Accessing Disability Services at Public Postsecondary Institutions in.txt

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Accessing Disability Services at Public 
Postsecondary Institutions in Kentucky 


Diandre Glover Thomas 

 Program Coordinator, KY Autism Training Center 


Learning Objectives 

�To understand the difference in education 
laws and access to accommodations in 
high school and college. 


 

�To learn about college disability resource 
centers, disability documentation and 
student self-advocacy. 


 

�To learn about accommodations in college 
and how to access those services. 



Education Laws in High School 

 The Individuals with Disabilities 
Education Act (IDEA) that gives 
students with disabilities the right to a 
free appropriate public education in 
high school does not apply to students 
with disabilities attending 
postsecondary institutions 

 

www.idea.ed.gov 


Education Laws in College 
Students with disabilities at postsecondary 
institutions are covered under the 
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and 
Section 504 (Subpart E) of the 1973 
Rehabilitation Act 

 

 

www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transition.html 
Equal Opportunity is a RIGHT 

girlraisinghandinclass.jpg
Colleges cannot discriminate 
against a student with disabilities. 
They must work with students that 
have disabilities to allow them the 
same opportunities as other 
students. 


What does this mean? 
Under IDEA laws high school students have the 
RIGHT to a free appropriate public education. 
However, a college education IS NOT A RIGHT. 
� College students apply for admission 
� College students are accepted into the institution 
� College students pay tuition 



Comparison of High School and 
College Disability Services 

 


High School 

College 

 

 

Identify 

School district identifies 
a student with disability 
who is eligible for 
services 

Student has to self �
identify their disability 
and need for services 

 

 

 

 

Document 

School district develops a 
legal document called the 
Individualized Education 
Program (IEP) that 
schools must follow 

Student provides 
college disability office 
documentation of their 
disability to request 
services 

 

 

 

 

Access 

Student needs are 
identified by the school 
district in the IEP and 
school provides services 

Student must self-
advocate and work with 
the college disability 
office to identify 
appropriate services 




What happens to the high school 
Individualized Education Program (IEP)? 

studentinclass.jpg
The Individualized 
Education Program (IEP), 
504 plans or Transition 
plans are not used at 
postsecondary 
institutions. 


However�.. 

girlraisinghandinclass.jpg
The IEP may be useful to help a 
student communicate with the 
disability resource center about 
services that worked well for 
them in high school when 
planning their accommodations 
for college. 
Video: Facing College Life with Autism 

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/topvideos/2012/04/26/exp-exp-autism-college-students.cnn 


Four Key Points in the Video 

 
�Self Identify 


 

guyinclassmiling.jpg

Four Key Points in the Video 

 
�Self Identify 
�Disability Resource Center 


 

guyinclassmiling.jpg

Four Key Points in the Video 

 
�Self Identify 
�Disability Resource Center 
�Student Self-Advocacy 


 

 

guyinclassmiling.jpg

Four Key Points in the Video 
�Self Identify 
�Disability Resource Center 
�Student Self-Advocacy 
�Accommodations 


 

 

guyinclassmiling.jpg

Self Identify 

teacherwithastudent.jpg 
The first step in accessing 
disability services at a 
postsecondary institution is to 
self identify as a student in 
need of accommodations 

Disability Resource Center 

teacherwithastudent.jpg
Disability resource centers 
administer and oversee student 
disability services on campus. 
These services include but are not 
limited to: 
� Documentation procedures 
� Arranging accommodations 
� Informing students of their rights 



What to expect? 

Expect a two step process that 
consists of: 
� Submission of written 
documentation to the disability 
resource center 
� Meeting with the disability service 
coordinator to plan accommodations 


notebookandpencil.jpg

 

 

girlinlibrary.jpg
Written documentation 

Each college has their own set of 
standards for documentation and 
students need to contact the 
disability office to find out the 
documentation requirements. 


What is documentation? 

 

 

Documentation provides the college with a written and 
verified description of a student�s disability. Every 
college is different but in general documentation 
describes: 
� The nature of the disability 
� Date of first diagnosis 
� Information about relevant tests and results 
� Information pertaining to the severity of the disability 
� The current method of treatment 
� Recommendations to help the student in the classroom 



Meeting with the Disability Office 

teacherwithastudent.jpg
A meeting will be arranged 
between the disability resource 
center coordinator and the 
student. 

 

During this meeting the student 
needs to effectively communicate 
their needs to the disability 
service coordinator 

 

 


Student Self-Advocacy boytakingnotes.jpg
In college it is the student�s 
responsibility to know 
about their disability, what 
accommodations they need 
and explain why those 
accommodations are 
needed. 

 

 


Advocacy 

High School 

College 

 The student is the primary 
advocate and must be able 
to communicate: 

 

�Information about their 
disability 
�How their disability impacts 
school activities 
�What accommodations they 
need 


 The parent or guardian is 
the primary advocate. 
During this time students 
need to: 

 

�Learn about their disability 
�Understand why they need 
the accommodations they 
are utilizing 
�Learn how to self-advocate 



Self Advocacy in High School 
Teachers and parents 
should be open to 
dialogue with the student 
to help them become 
familiar with their 
disability and effective 
interventions used in high 
school. 

 


Self Advocacy in High School 

http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/,, root,regs,300,D,300%252E321 
(section 7) 

Students who desire to 
attend postsecondary 
institutions should have an 
IEP team meeting to discuss 
postsecondary goals. The 
student should be invited to 
attend this meeting 


Programs in Kentucky 

 Supported Higher Education Project in Kentucky (SHEP) 


�SHEP provides assistance to students with learning disabilities by helping 
them to develop an educational plan based on the student�s goals and 
interests. In addition, they provide mentors, a variety of academic and social 
supports, and assistance with the college application, admission and financial 
aid process. 


 

�SHEP is a project of the University of Kentucky's Human Development 
Institute and they also currently partner with Bluegrass Community and 
Technical College, Eastern Kentucky University, Northern Kentucky University 


 

http://www.shepky.org/ 

 

 

 

shepky_logo2_-300x225.png

Programs in Kentucky 

Western Kentucky University Kelly Autism Program 

Circle of Support Program for College Students 

 

 Students must apply and be accepted into Western Kentucky University. After 
students are admitted to the university they can apply to the Kelly Autism 
Circle of Support Program. The program provides three areas of support: 
private room, study tables and mentoring. 

 

http://kap.wku.edu/College_Students-KAP_Circle_of_Support.html 

 

 

KAP-banner-up_01.jpg

Accommodations girlinclasswithbooks.jpg
Accommodations are tools used 
to help students complete college 
coursework and compensate for 
disabilities. 

 

They do not change the integrity 
of the work students accomplish 
in class. 


studentsworkinclass.jpg
Also�.. 

 College accommodations vary 
from student to student 
depending on the type of disability 
and the degree to which it creates 
a barrier to prevent a student from 
completing course assignments. 

 

 


Before College Ask About 

classofstudents.jpg 
�Pre-college counseling services, assistance with 
admissions and financial aid applications 



Before College Ask About classofstudents.jpg 
�Pre-college counseling services, assistance with 
admissions and financial aid applications 
�Accommodations on the SAT college board tests or 
the ACT test. 



Before College Ask About 

classofstudents.jpg 
�Pre-college counseling services, assistance with 
admissions and financial aid applications 
�Accommodations on the SAT college board tests or 
the ACT test. 
�Contact the disability resource center about 
accommodations for the college placement test. 



Before College Ask About 

classofstudents.jpg 
�Pre-college counseling services, assistance with 
admissions and financial aid applications 
�Accommodations on the SAT college board tests or 
the ACT test. 
�Contact the disability resource center about 
accommodations for the college placement test. 
�Housing and parking accommodations 



Example of Academic Accommodations 

�Pre-admission counseling 
�Disability-related academic advising and planning (supplemental to academic 
advising) 
�Supplemental note takers for eligible students 
�Textbooks on tape or electronic format for eligible students 
�Testing accommodations for eligible students (may include additional time, 
reduced distraction environment, and other appropriate accommodation) 
�Advocacy which may include intervention with faculty and instructors as 
appropriate 
�Provide faculty information about autism spectrum disorder 
�Career advising and personal counseling is provided through the Counseling 
Center 
�Tutoring (math , general , computer and study skills) through the REACH 
(Resources for Academic Achievement) program 
�Writing support provided through the University Writing Center 


University of Louisville Disability Resource Center Accommodations for Students with ASD 

http://louisville.edu/disability/ 


Three Steps to Access Services 

Identify 

 Student contacts the disability resource center and identifies as 
having a disability and in need of accommodations 

 

Document 

 Student submits required documentation to disability resource 
center and meets with the coordinator to arrange accommodations 

 

Access 

 Student maintains contact with the disability resource center to 
arrange accommodations each semester 

 

 


Stay Informed 

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Students should sign up to receive 
information from the disability resource 
center through listserv emails or social 
networks such as Facebook, Twitter or 
Google+. 

 

This will help a student stay informed 
about campus activities, opportunities 
for volunteer work or internships and 
any changes that have occurred. 


Relax 

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Don�t forget to meet new friends 
and have fun! 


 Questions??? 
Contact 
Diandre Glover Thomas 
Program Coordinator, KY Autism Training Center 
diandre.gloverthomas@louisville.edu 
More information available: 
http://louisville.edu/education/kyautismtraining/