Office of Student Accessibility Services

Introduction

It is the policy of Delaware State University to provide accessible programs, services, activities, and reasonable accommodations for any student with a documented disability as defined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The Office of Student Accessibility Services (OSAS) staff work to ensure that students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to pursue an education.

University faculty and staff make a conscious effort not to discriminate in the recruitment, admission, or treatment of students with disabilities. Therefore, students are not enrolled in separate programs or courses, but are mainstreamed into the existing college structure. Classrooms and selected residence halls are accessible to mobility impaired students. Services are provided to help students make the best possible use of the University’s comprehensive academic resources.

OSAS is part of the Division of Academic Enrichment and is committed to helping each student pursue a chosen field of study to the full measure of his or her ability. Students with disabilities are encouraged to become active participants in the University community and to develop a sense of independence that will help them gain the leading edge when entering the job market.

Admissions

Students with disabilities are admitted through the same application process as students without disabilities. There are no separate admissions standards or procedures. Admissions counselors are available to answer any questions and offer recommendations.

Documentation

Students with disabilities must submit recent, appropriate documentation to the Student Accessibility Services Coordinator before requesting accommodations. Documentation with supporting recommendations from a physician, clinical psychologist, Individualized Educational Plan (I.E.P.), and/or 504 Plan is required. However, students without documentation who suspect they may have a learning disability may request a screening from the Coordinator where a referral may be required.

Student Advocacy

The Student Accessibility Services Coordinator serves as a campus resource and an advocate for students with disabilities. It is necessary for the student to schedule an appointment with the Coordinator at the beginning of each semester to design a support service program that fits each particular class and the individual’s needs.

General Procedures

Student requests services and submits recent documentation of disability.
Coordinator reviews documentation and recommendations to determine reasonable accommodations.
Student makes an initial appointment with Coordinator to become familiar with process then fills out Self-Identification form.
Student schedules another appointment with the Coordinator within the first few weeks of classes to discuss documentation and appropriate accommodations for each class, after student collects syllabi from classes
- Reasonable accommodations forms are completed for each class and given to student.
- Student takes forms and discusses his or her particular needs with each instructor.
- A Plan of Action is developed and put in writing with each instructor. Instructors may follow-up with questions to the Coordinator.
Student maintains contact with the Coordinator and remains actively involved in the accommodation process throughout the semester.
The student staying involved in the accommodation process with the Coordinator and the Faculty is critical for academic success.
Please see the OSAS Handbook [1] or http://www.desu.edu/academics/office-student-accessibility-services [2] for more information on documentation, accommodations and procedures.

Accommodations Checklist for Students [3]

Accommodations

The ADA does not require colleges or universities to lower academic standards or fundamentally alter the nature of the programs provided. Students with documented disabilities must meet all requirements for graduation. A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to a course, program, service, activity, or facility that enables qualified students with disabilities to have equal opportunities to attain the same levels of performance or enjoy equal benefits and privileges as are available to similarly situated students without disabilities. Reasonable accommodations and services may include, but are not limited to:

Academic support which focuses upon development of learning strategies
Reading, writing, and note taking services
Time management and organizational skills training
Use of specialized equipment
Arrangements for testing accommodations
Tutorial services
Interpreters for the deaf
Referrals to community agencies (Social Services, Vocational Rehabilitation, etc.)

Student Resources

Internet

Information

Accommodations Checklist for OSAS Students [8]
Summary of Legal Difference between Secondary and Postsecondary Education [9]
Unreasonable Accommodations [10]- list of what is not considered reasonable accommodations in college.
iPad Apps [11]- available through the App Store or iTunes. GREAT site!
Dr. Phil - unlikely sage for college students? [12]
Myths That College Students Should Stop Believing [13]

Employment and Internships

AAPD [14] - job board for person with disabilities
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission [15] - fact sheet addressing common questions about how the ADA protects applicants with disabilities
Workforce Recruitment Program
American Association for the Advancement of Science [16] - entry point jobs for individuals with disabilities
Emerging Leaders [17]
Dow Chemical Internships [18]
Job Accommodation Network [19] - for individuals with disabilities
We Connect Now [20]- We Connect is dedicated to uniting college students with disabilities in access to higher education and employment issues

Faculty/Staff Resources

Suggested Syllabus Statement

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

If there is any student in this class who is in need of academic accommodations and who is registered with the Office of Student Accessibility Services, please make an individual appointment with the course instructor to discuss accommodations as soon as possible. If any student who is not registered with the Office of Student Accessibility Services and needs academic accommodation, please go to the Office of Student Accessibility Services to register and receive accommodations. NOTE: If you need special accommodations, it is your responsibility to inform the Office of Student Accessibility Services (OSAS) of your situation so that accommodations can be made. The OSAS is located in room 218 in the William C. Jason Library (phone 302.857.7304)

Faculty Referral

Letter to the Faculty from OSAS [21]
Faculty Referral Form [22]

DSU Test Cover Sheets

Test Cover for the Office of Testing [23]
Test Cover for the Library [24]

Internet

UC Berkeley [25] - teaching tips for students with various disabilities
The Faculty Room [26] - a space for faculty and administrators at postsecondary institutions to learn about how to create classroom environments and academic activities that maximize the learning of all students, including those with disabilities. Video are included.
Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund [27] - A Comparison of ADA, IDEA, and Section 504
University of Washington Video Collection [28] – Videos for faculty and staff on disability related information
Open Colleges [29] - resources and information on how to teach students with Down's syndrome

Information

Parent/Guardian/Family Resources

Parental Role

At the Office of Student Accessibility Services, we understand that you as parents may be accustomed to playing a very active role in your student’s education. Also, we understand that parents of students with a disability have additional concerns beyond those of other parents.

While in the secondary education level (elementary to high school) as parents of a student with a disability, you may have worked closely with a multi-disciplinary team at the high school level or below, to make sure that your student received accommodations. At the post-secondary level or college, this model changes immensely. While the Office of Student Accessibility Services assists students with a disability on campus, there is no equivalent to the team approach to which you may be familiar to obtaining. This means that Office of Student Accessibility Services and the Delaware State University faculty are not responsible for identifying students with a disability or connecting them with OSAS. Students must identify first themselves to OSAS. Furthermore, since your student is attending college, and is at least (or almost) 18 years of age, he or she is viewed as an adult. The student is the only one who can initiate and participate in the process of applying for accommodations Therefore, the student staying involved in the accommodation process with the Coordinator and the Faculty is critical for academic success.

Finally, your role is to encourage your student to apply for the necessary accommodations, and then allow the student to take on the responsibility. Some of the experiences and independence your student will gain by going to college includes making the choice about whether or not to obtain disability accommodations.

Internet

DSU Counseling Services [33]- helping student meet their personal, social and academic needs (located in the Education and Humanities Building, room 123)
Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund [27] - A Comparison of ADA, IDEA, and Section 504

Information

Parent/Guardian/Family Resources [34]
Summary of Legal Difference between Secondary and Postsecondary Education [9]
Unreasonable Accommodations [10]- list of what is not considered reasonable accommodations in college.