Comments on: Disability Accommodations Vary Widely At Nation’s Colleges http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2009/10/30/disabilities-college/5988/ Developmental Disability News Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:18:17 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: DebbieMoss http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2009/10/30/disabilities-college/5988/comment-page-1/#comment-770 DebbieMoss Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:50:25 +0000 http://www.disabilityscoop.com/?p=5988#comment-770 Never underestimate the power of a committed student to change the way services are given. When I arrived at my 4-year College, I began a program in Education and learned about Americans With Disabilities laws. Upon finding out that my college did not have a learning disabilities tutor, I informed the school that they were in violation of ADA (which I realized now wasn't so true)and they needed to hire someone. They hired a part-time Learning Disabilities tutor and students would come up to me and thank me for getting them the services they need. It's been my experience that while my college wanted to be helpful, the college didn't know what student's needs were. My advice ADVOCATE! Never underestimate the power of a committed student to change the way services are given. When I arrived at my 4-year College, I began a program in Education and learned about Americans With Disabilities laws. Upon finding out that my college did not have a learning disabilities tutor, I informed the school that they were in violation of ADA (which I realized now wasn’t so true)and they needed to hire someone. They hired a part-time Learning Disabilities tutor and students would come up to me and thank me for getting them the services they need. It’s been my experience that while my college wanted to be helpful, the college didn’t know what student’s needs were. My advice ADVOCATE!

]]> By: taniamorse85 http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2009/10/30/disabilities-college/5988/comment-page-1/#comment-741 taniamorse85 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:02:23 +0000 http://www.disabilityscoop.com/?p=5988#comment-741 I went to a community college for my Associate's before transferring to a university for my Bachelor's. Just these two schools showed a significant range of accommodation. At the community college, there was a 'Disability Programs and Services' center, but they hardly did anything. They had a service to drive students in wheelchairs up the hills of the campus to most of the buildings, but you had to schedule your appt. to do so several hours before your class if you wanted to arrive on time for your class. They wouldn't tell you this, but it became evident rather quickly. Other than this one accommodation, there really wasn't much of anything else they offered. In my opinion, the only good thing about this center was the name change they eventually underwent. They went from 'Disability Programs and Services' to 'Disabled Student Programs and Services.' Of course, you would only know about the new name if you went inside the center. They never changed the outside sign or letterhead, and the school referred to it by the old name. At my university, things were much better. There were a wide range of educational accommodations that they offered, and they would keep in contact with each student who used their services to ensure their needs were being met. They definitely made the university experience easier and less stressful. Also, unlike my community college, this university was in full compliance with the ADA's Code of Federal Regulations. Since I used a wheelchair, this was extraordinarily helpful. In fact, at the university's Office for Students with Disabilities (yay, a person-first name!), you could inform them of ADA violations, and they would be fixed within a week! Not surprisingly, even though I spent three years at each school, my time at the community college seemed to last longer than the time at the university. I guess that proves the saying, "Time flies when you're having fun," because my time at my university was the best three years of my adult life so far. I went to a community college for my Associate’s before transferring to a university for my Bachelor’s. Just these two schools showed a significant range of accommodation. At the community college, there was a ‘Disability Programs and Services’ center, but they hardly did anything. They had a service to drive students in wheelchairs up the hills of the campus to most of the buildings, but you had to schedule your appt. to do so several hours before your class if you wanted to arrive on time for your class. They wouldn’t tell you this, but it became evident rather quickly. Other than this one accommodation, there really wasn’t much of anything else they offered. In my opinion, the only good thing about this center was the name change they eventually underwent. They went from ‘Disability Programs and Services’ to ‘Disabled Student Programs and Services.’ Of course, you would only know about the new name if you went inside the center. They never changed the outside sign or letterhead, and the school referred to it by the old name.

At my university, things were much better. There were a wide range of educational accommodations that they offered, and they would keep in contact with each student who used their services to ensure their needs were being met. They definitely made the university experience easier and less stressful. Also, unlike my community college, this university was in full compliance with the ADA’s Code of Federal Regulations. Since I used a wheelchair, this was extraordinarily helpful. In fact, at the university’s Office for Students with Disabilities (yay, a person-first name!), you could inform them of ADA violations, and they would be fixed within a week!

Not surprisingly, even though I spent three years at each school, my time at the community college seemed to last longer than the time at the university. I guess that proves the saying, “Time flies when you’re having fun,” because my time at my university was the best three years of my adult life so far.

]]>