Implementing ADA

1
Implementing ADA

• On Campus

2
Increasing Needs

• Approximately one in 11 students on todays
  college campuses has a disability, triple the
  number in 1978 and the numbers will continue to
  rise for awhile.
• Unlike K-12 education, colleges do not have to
  identify and provide programs for students with
  disabilities they do have to provide reasonable
  accommodations without fundamentally altering the
  program.

3
The Law

• The ADA does not guarantee equal results,
  establish quotas, or require preferential
  treatment for persons with disabilities over
  those without
• ADA should accommodate the disabling condition
  without compromising the integrity of the
  academic program
• -level the playing field
• -be reasonable in relation to the course
• The law is becoming increasingly restrictive
  concerning who may claim disability services

4
Who is Protected?

• Any individual who has a physical or mental
  impairment which substantially limits a major
  life activity has a record of having such an
  impairment or is regarded as having such an
  impairment.
• Professors do not have to make determinations of
  qualifications.

5
What is the Institutions Responsibility?

• Must make reasonable accommodations in order to
  provide students with disabilities an equal
  opportunity to participate in the institutions
  courses, programs and activities
• Must make academic adjustmentsto ensure that a
  student has an equal opportunity to participate.
  
• Must ensure disability statements appear on every
  syllabus
• Must ensure services are provided consistently.

6
When a Student Requests Accommodations

• Ask if he or she has applied for services with
  the Learning Center Disabilities Coordinator
• If not, provide directions and support to
  contacting the Center
• If so, you should receive documentation from
  the LC recommending accommodations for the
  student.
• Do not provide accommodations without the
  appropriate documentation returned to you.

7
Once student has provided documentation from the
Learning Center

• Talk with the student as to how to best implement
  the accommodations - CONFIDENTIALLY
• Keep a copy for your own records and refer back
  to it as needed.
• If at any time you have questions regarding the
  accommodation plan, call the Disabilities
  Coordinator while continuing to provide the
  accommodations.

8
What is a faculty members responsibility?

• Compliance with the law happens in the classroom.
• Although it is not the responsibility of the
  faculty to determine the validity of the
  accommodations, concerns should be immediately
  reported.
• Protect the privacy rights of the student they
  are not required to give information to peers
• May have to provide information about texts and
  videos early so alternate print can be obtained

9
Faculty members should not

• Philosophical debate fairness with disabled
  and/or non-disabled students.
• It is a law.
• Decide not to provide the approved accommodations
  
• This leaves you open to liability

10
Faculty members should not

• Leave a student without accommodations
• Refuse to provide the accommodations granted
• Insist on personally reviewing documentation
• Make assumptions about a persons ability to
  pursue a particular program or career path

11
In case of disagreement

• If a faculty member believes that an
  accommodation provided with permission of the
  Learning Center fundamentally alters the nature
  of the course or program, he or she must notify
  the Learning Center

12
Can faculty make decisions to provide
accommodations?

• Faculty members have the right to respond to any
  student requests for accommodations as they deem
  appropriate, but this cannot be called an
  accommodation and cannot be provided in the
  Learning Center.

13
Are SWD required to meet the same standards?

• Yes. SWD must meet the same admissions and
  retention standards as is required of other
  students.
• They are graded in the same manner
• The reasonable accommodations refers to an
  accommodation that allows a swd equal
  participation in and benefit from all educational
  programs and activities.

14
What if students request accommodations
retroactively

• Students can request accommodations at any time
  during a semester or their college career. They
  cannot insist that they be delivered
  retroactively, however. Services begin at the
  time of determining eligibility.
• This often happens with time extensions. Time
  extensions are reviewed carefully and are not
  endless.