Disability Services for Students

Introduction

This Web page is a resource for you to use when exploring the college or as a faculty member who is working with a student who has a disability. Disabilities often produce cultural differences. This culture varies from disability to disability but may manifest itself in language and perception differences. One of the profound effects of the Americans With Disability Act (ADA) of 1990 has been to open the doors of mainstream society to diversity by providing the means for people with disabilities to take part in educational settings.

Many disabilities are obvious and the question is one of degree regarding accommodation and the amount of assistance required. There are cases, though, in which it is impossible to see a student's disability or to know that a student is disabled. To assist with the process of identifying students, one suggestion is to announce at the first class' meeting that services are available and that students may contact the Disability Services for Students office. In addition, the following note could be typed at the end of the course syllabus: "Any student who feels he or she may need an accommodation for any type of disability, please make an appointment with Disability Services at 888-7405." By doing this, the student's privacy is protected.

Awareness of access for individuals with disabilities has increased dramatically since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in July 1990. Colleges and Universities nationwide have been protecting the rights of students with disabilities since the 1973 Vocational Rehabilitation Act, specifically, Section 504, which states:

"No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States shall, solely by reason of his handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."

What this statute means is that from the admissions process through graduation, students who have disabilities must receive accommodations which will equalize their ability to compete with other students in academic classes as well as have physical access to student activities or events sponsored by the college.

The Disability Services for Students Office (DSS) is located in Stensland Hall. DSS provides both academic and out-of-classroom accommodations for students and staff members, assists departments in making policy or procedural changes which allow them to become more accessible, and serves as a resource for faculty and staff regarding accommodations.

Students who are referred by faculty or who are concerned about having a disability can get accurate information about accommodations and referral for testing. DSS assists students with interpretation of test results and/or medical information and, with student input, determines which accommodations would be most appropriate for his/ her needs. DSS believes that students are the most valuable resource for determining the accommodations they need to succeed at Southwestern. DSS encourages students to take an active role as their own advocate and to make use of the various services available to them on campus.

Questions? Contact Tim Dailey at tdailey@socc.edu

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