1. T HE A CCOMMODATION P ROCESS AT CSU Lindsay Varkula, M.A. Graduate Assistant Office of Disability Services Cleveland State University

2. P RESENTATION O VERVIEW  Federal law  Disability Services values  AHEAD and best practices for disability services in higher education  Registration/intake process  Types of accommodations and services

3. D ISABILITY L AW  1960s: People considered “crippled”  Few services and no legal protection  1973: Rehabilitation Act, Sections 501, 504, and 508  1990: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)  Civil rights law designed to prevent discrimination  Applied to individuals with a physical/mental disability that substantially limited a major life activity  2008: Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act (ADAAA)  Court rulings from 1990 – 2008 made the ADA “too restrictive”  ADAAA broadens previous definition of disability  Determine accommodations by worst case scenario

4. D IFFERENCES BETWEEN G RADE S CHOOL AND P OST -S ECONDARY D ISABILITY S ERVICES Elementary & High SchoolPost-Secondary  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)  Created in 1970 and updated in 1997  Required to identify, test, and accommodate students with disabilities (IDEA & Section 504)  Modifications of curriculum and expectations  Students progress at their level  Student bears the task of providing documentation to verify existence of a disability  Accommodations cannot alter the fundamental elements of a course or program  Can fail to proceed  Law guarantees ACCESS NOT SUCCESS  Completion of requirements for graduation or licensure

5. D ISABILITY S ERVICES V ALUES  Empower students to self-advocate  Focus on students’ personal strengths  Advocate for universal design  Educate the university community about disability compliance, issues, and responsibilities  Prepare college students with disabilities for careers

6. A.H.E.A.D.  Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD)  http://www.ahead.org/ http://www.ahead.org/  AHEAD creates Best Practices guidelines for working with individuals with disabilities in a higher education setting  CSU’s Office of Disability Services utilizes AHEAD guidelines

7. R EGISTRATION /I NTAKE P ROCESS  Documentation review  Minimum documentation requirements  Verification forms  Interview  Impact on performance  Knowledge of disability and diagnosis  Medication and side-effects  Determination of appropriate accommodations

8. M INIMUM D OCUMENTATION R EQUIREMENTS  Current (generally within the past 3 years)  Completed by a licensed professional  Includes a diagnosis

9. E XAMPLE V ERIFICATION F ORM : Medical Disability and Chronic Health Licensed medical professional Diagnosis Severity & potential changes/flare-ups Medications & side effects Influence on academics Other recommendations

11. S TUDENT A PPLICATION AND I NTERVIEW

13. A CCOMMODATION M EMOS  After registering with ODS, students receive memos  Students give memos to all instructors  A short conversation with instructors is recommended  ODS students must be given to all instructors at the beginning of each semester to receive accommodations  No accommodations can be granted retrospectively  Instructors are expected to provide all accommodations listed on memos  Instructors encouraged to contact ODS if accommodations are not effective  Instructors encouraged to contact ODS with concerns (attendance, exams, assignments)  Instructors encouraged to call ODS for recommendations/collaborative problem-solving

14. G RIEVANCE P ROCESSES For students Share concerns with ODS Appeal to the CSU Affirmative Action Office For faculty/instructors Contact ODS ASAP with any questions and concerns about accommodations Regulations under Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

15. A CCOMMODATIONS AND S ERVICES  Testing accommodations  Extended time  Distraction-reduced environment  Reader/scribe  Computer  Magnification  Alternative formats  Alternative text  Learning Alley and Victor Readers  Kurzweil and screen readers  Accessible course documents and websites

16. A CCOMMODATIONS AND S ERVICES  Computer programs  Jaws  Zoom text/Magic  Dragon Naturally Speaking  Word processer (spell/grammar check)  Inspiration and writing programs  CCTV and magnification devices  Recording devices/Pulse pen  Braille and tactile images  Ergonomic devices  Communication boards  Mobility aids (canes wheelchairs, walkers) Adaptive Technology

17. A CCOMMODATIONS AND S ERVICES  Note-taking  Sign Language Interpreting/FM systems  Alternative assignments  Attendance modifications  Residence halls  Service animals  Universal design  Physical barriers (example: lab classes)  Universal design in academics

18. U SING T HE O FFICE OF D ISABILITY S ERVICES AND O THER CSU R ESOURCES  Considerations for ODS students  Considerations for CSU faculty and staff

19. Office of Disability Services 2121 Euclid Avenue MC 147 Cleveland, OH 44115-2214 Phone: (216) 687-2015 Fax: (216) 687-2343 ods@csuohio.edu