Samuel Gonzalez

My role in supporting students with disabilities is to do my best to treat them the same way that I would treat other students and not let my preconceived notions or personal experiences regarding disabilities affect the quality or type of support I offer. My role is limited to the scope of that of an I.T. support specialist; I am not qualified to make decisions or recommendations (promises or assurances) regarding disability services or accommodations, but I am expected to have the knowledge to properly route a student to the department or person that is qualified to help the student… >>>

Documents regarding disability and proof of disability should be managed by as little people as possible. One such person would be the disabled services provider of the institution. This person would help provide and identify whatever accommodations are necessary. Assuming they have conferred with staff/leadership, they may be able to solely approve or deny a requests for accommodation.

Blindness is a critical condition because so much of what we "take in" comes from visual information, making learning difficult without the use of learning aids to convert the course curriculum into a usable format. Hearing disabilities are also a huge challenge as a lot of learning is done through lecturing and discussions. Helen Keller once said that being blind creates a barrier between people and things, while being deaf creates a barrier between people and people.

The ADA does not only provide rules regarding building disability access, but also to guidelines to protect students with disabilities by ensuring that they have the same access to learning and the curriculum as their differently-abled classmates.

Published content from student/school-sponsored activities, events and recognition lists are considered under FERPA and must addressed as part of its handling of Directory Information. Third party vendors and service providers that in practice deal with FERPA protected student information to provide services, also fall under FERPA. Other regulatory rules and statutes such as HIPPA, the Solomon Act and the Patriot Act can affect and supersedes requirement under FERPA depending on the way and by who the information is used like health or financial information. Technology is pushing society away from paper records to electronic ones and they are to be… >>>

Students must allow a school 45 days to comply with requests to review their records. There may redactions to their record for items like parental financial records, confidential letters and recommendation that the student waived their right to inspection, and educational records containing information about more than one student. Applying students are not covered by FERPA. Former students are covered, but schools are not obligated to honor nondisclosure of Directory Information. Alumni records are not covered unless they are subsequent educational records.

Students have a right to nondisclosure for any Directory Information. Schools need students' permission to disclose Nondirectory Information except in limited situations. Parents need student's written consent unless they establish dependency. Disclosures made directly to the student or other school officials within the same school do not prior written consent.

FERPA is designed to protect students educational record and privacy regarding them. It also gives them avenues to attempt to make corrections appeal responses to requests for amendment and even the ability to leave a statement in their own record. Some information like healthcare, law enforcement, sole possession does not count as part of a student's educational record. Schools have 45 days to respond to requests for change/review of educational records from students.

School is responsible to create a safe space to share experiences of sexual assault without fear of retaliation. Sexual crimes differ from others because they usually involve people who are close or familiar with each other, consumption of alcohol/drugs by one or both parties, disputes regarding consent, victims who behave different than victims of other types of crime, and investigations with little witness accounts and physical evidence. Consent is an agreement to engage in sexual acts that can be withdrawn at any time, doesn't mean that future acts are consented to, can only be given by people of statuary age… >>>

Title IX Coordinators and other responsible employees are charged with investigating any and all complaints of sexual misconduct to see whether the alleged misconduct happened at school or a school-sponsored event AND whether the conduct interferes with the complainant's ability to learn and participate. The investigation done by the school is separate from any criminal proceedings that might result from the misconduct. The point of the school's investigation is to keep students safe and maintain an environment free of misconduct that will interfere with their ability to learn by imposing changes and disciplinary action to stop the misconduct. The school… >>>