This has been clarifying in what disability is and how it looks today. We know that a "cat" is not a support animal. Also you may not know someone has a disablity by just looking at them Attention Deficit Disorder is considered a disability. This has been enjoyable and informative of what is considered a disability today
It is about equity not equality. Giving people with seen and unseen disabilities the opportunity to perform on an equitable field. However, outside of the k-12 education system, people with disabilities must advocate for themselves. This can be overwhelming as most have never had to do that. It will also be difficult for those coming from the k-12 system that were not held to the same standards of behavior or excellence from some institutions. (Wrong, I know, but it happens.) As instructors and staff of higher education institutions we must help them navigate the system to ensure their equity. in academics. It does not free them from consequences or the rewards.
I have learned that the term disability should not be used loosely. Some students who truly do have a mental or physical limitations should never fall into the same category as students with language barriers. Just because your first language is not the one your course is being taught in does not mean you are disabled, and the student should not be labeled as such. It just means you need help finding language resources to help with your understanding of the materials being taught.
I have learnt a lot with these few slides. Students must be accommodated as long as they have a disability. If the college has any federal funding it must comply with the ADA laws. Student has to request accommodations from the school or colleges
We are in the process of reviewing our accommodation process. I feel that providing training to our staff and faculty is critical. Also, meeting regularly as a team to continue the conversation has been helpful. I have found that there is more interest in doing this right among staff and faculty than I had expected and this helps me feel confident that together we can be an accommodating school.
ADA isn't just limited to wheelchair accessibility only.
Comment on Alejandro Torres's post: I am so happy that our society is embracing invisible difficulties, which can probably be equally or even more challenging than physical disabilities. In the end, every disabled student matters, and providing reasonable accommodation is necessary.
Comment on Rosemarie Carneiro's post: Comment on Rosemarie Carneiro's post: Your point of being at an advantage resonates with me....In the end, access to accommodations for students with disabilities simply levels the playing field. It is a serious misperception among nondisabled students. This is where education comes in.
Comment on Sundeep Bhatia's post: This is so true. So often, we underplay the importance of documentation.
All public and private institutions are obligated to provide accommodations to students with disabilities in higher education. However, it is a two-fold responsibility: the student must provide the necessary information to the appropriate office in a timely manner, and the institution must provide the required accommodations.
Application: Providing accommodations can be pretty complex. Therefore, each student circumstance must be given a case-by-case consideration. Additionally, although disabled students cannot "abuse" their rights, they should be held accountable for violations without any bias as nondisabled students.
There are differences between Higher Education and K-12. It is important to remember, even with accommodations, students are still responsible for their actions.
What qualifies as a disability and what the reasonable accommodations that should be provided.
I spent much of my middle and high school years helping tutor students with disabilities, and this taught me that all students can succeed and should be offered a chance to, even if they are differently abled from you or I.
It is very interesting about other students with no disability. We must not provide a situation where is can harm someone without a disability.
This course provides a great summation of policies and procedures related to students with disabilities. However, the course uses the outdated term "aspergers" in several instances. Aspergers was dropped by the American Association of Psychiatrists and the new DSM-V places this disorder under the umbrella of "Autism Spectrum Disorder" (ASD).
Opportunity must not be denied because of disability. I love this country because even if not true, legally they do make a process for equal access to opportunity.
I have learned the difference between a disability and an accommodation.
In this section, I learned the generalities of what constitutes a service animal and an emotional support animal. We also discussed when reasonable accommodations can be made, and in what circumstances they can be removed. For example, a student given extra accommodations for a test caught cheating cannot have their accommodations stripped away.
It's important for educational institutions and educators to be familiar with these laws and regulations to create an inclusive and accessible learning environment for students with disabilities. Compliance not only ensures legal obligations are met but also contributes to a more equitable and supportive educational experience for all students.
How informative! Though I learned much, I was most surprised by how complex this process is in higher education. In order to adequately weigh all complexities and gray areas, I look forward to examining each request on a case-by-case basis and will be sure to dedicate careful consideration to each request.
