The University provides accommodations to give those students the opportunity to learn and to demonstrate what they have learned without being limited by their disability. However, the rights of students with disabilities are different in college from what they were in high school. It is important that high school students and their parents understand these differences and plan appropriately for their students’ transitions to post-secondary institutions. Students in high school are covered under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, 2004). IDEA gives all students in the primary and secondary levels the right to a free and appropriate public education. This includes providing students with accommodations, educational services, therapies and curriculum modifications. Compared to the services students and their parents have expected from their public schools, the services provided by post-secondary institutions may seem minimal. Students with disabilities in post-secondary education are covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 Subpart E of the Rehabilitation Act. These regulations give students at the post-secondary level the right to equal access to programs and services through nondiscrimination and accommodations. Colleges and universities are not required to provide special educational services, therapies or curriculum modifications that fundamentally alter the nature of the program or class. However, colleges and universities routinely offer some services to all students that may be beneficial to some students with disabilities. These services include tutoring, personal counseling, writing coaching, health and wellness programs, and study skills and time management training. |
