Definition of a Disability

Essentially, a disability is any physical or mental condition that limits one’s daily activities. Disabilities range from blindness, deafness, or using a wheelchair to psychological impairments and learning disabilities to chronic health disorders, such as epilepsy or diabetes. Disabilities may be visible or invisible.

What the Law says about Disabilities

You may have heard of ADA – the Americans with Disabilities Act – which was passed in 1990.This law ensures that people with disabilities have equal rights and don’t face discrimination. ADA legislation covers all aspects of life, including education, employment, housing, health care, and transportation.Within education, ADA protects students and staff alike in academics, athletics, and other programs.

ADA is an extension of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which states that public institutions must provide all students and personnel with grievance procedures to protect them from harassment. In addition, public institutions must provide disabled students with auxiliary aids and services, such as readers or specialized computer equipment, to give them equal access to education. Any buildings constructed since the implementation of Section 504 must be handicapped-accessible.

Students or staff on campus who feel that they have been harassed or discriminated against based on their disabilities may contact the Officeof Civil Rights to filea complaint or the Department of Justice mediation services:

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html

http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/mediate.htm

Accommodation Process

If a student contacts the instructor about a disability please refer the student to the Disability Support Service office in room 1112 in order to make an appointment.
If the DSS office determines that the student does indeed have a disability the student will be given a letter off accommodation (LOA) that will state the nature of the accommodation .
The student’s responsibility is to hand the accommodation letter to the instructor. The instructor will sign the letter (if you agree to the accommodation) and send the LOA back to Rm 1112.

Students with documented disabilities requesting class accommodations, requiring special arrangements in case of building evacuation, or have emergency medical information the instructor should know about are asked to contact the disability support services office (DSS) in Rm. 1112. Once the disability is verified with DSS you will be given a letter of accommodation to be handed to your instructor.

Financial Help for Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities may want to explore the programs below, which are specific to their needs:

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS)–Both Social Security Administration (SSA) programs to provide financial assistance for persons with disabilities. http://www.ssa.gov/disability

Vocational Rehabilitation Services–State-run programs that help individuals with disabilities transition to the workforce; may include postsecondary education benefits– determined on a case-by-case basis. http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/rsa/index.html

American Association for the Advancement of Science Entry Point! Program–Internship programs for students with disabilities in Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science and some fieldsof Business. Partnerships with companies such as IBM, NASA, and Google. http://ehrweb.aaas.org/entrypoint

Access STEM at University of Washington helps students with disabilities succeed in STEM courses and reach critical junctures on paths toward college studies and careers in STEM fields. http://www.washington.edu/doit/Stem/