Although it is tempting to ask a person with a disability about their medical condition, it is best to refer them to the right people. If an accommodation is requested by the student it makes it easier for the instructor to assist. However it is never appropriate to suggest someone has a disability because they are struggling in class.

Universal Design makes it easier for institutions to plan ADA compliant devices such as ramps.

Reasonable accommodations can be made to the appropriate ADA school representative by the student w a disability. 

Psychological/Mental disabilities are included in the protected class under the ADA.

I learned that if Federal funding is allowed to ONE student, it must be available to all students. Specifically during the 1980's; Pell Grant citing. ADA compliance in 1990 and amended in 2008 grants rights to disabled students to have access with reasonable accommodations under Title II for public institutions and Title III for private ones.

Although students with disabilities only have the "right" to access, the spirit of the Law is such that institutions should accommodate students needing assistance as much as possible.

I found it surprising that the Dept of Homeland security can walk through FERPA. I also found it noteworthy that HIPPA regs may not apply to institutions of higher learning, if that institution provides medical care for its student.

Employees who were formally students of the institution are not automatically allowed to view their records. The same process applies. 

Faculty members need written consent to view another student's record. The student can provide written consent or can deny.

FERPA

Excellent. I learned that there are federal laws protecting the student's academic records. As an instructor, I will guard against disclosure of private information, including grades, to third parties. A student's records should be released only to the student, unless an employer needs it, and even then, it is the student's responsibility to procure such records.

Comment on Rebecca Hayward's post: Wow! Are you an Executive? Your writing is awesome.

One of the most important issues covered in this module is the definition of "consent"