Colleges accomodate for student disabilities in several ways.
Going to college can be challenging especially for disabled students. They typically have to deal with keeping up with the coursework despite their disability. As a response to these challenges, the U.S. government created legal acts, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which mandates all colleges to accommodate for students with physical as well as learning disabilities. The effects of these acts are seen as the range of services designed to help students in their college education from start to finish.
Preparation
Prospective students need to inform the college beforehand of their disability for the college to accommodate accordingly. Universities usually have a division dedicated solely to assisting disabled students in their transition into college. They are also required by law to ensure that all disabled students are given a fair way to gain admission into the college. For example, accommodation must be provided to blind students for college entrance exams. This includes supplying a Braille alternative to the test or to provide readers for the student during the exam.
Financial Aid
Universities recognize that many disabled students have more expenses than the average student. These include medical expenses and paying for special transportation. Students may seek help from financial aid officers to collaboratively find solutions and alternatives for these requirements. In addition, many colleges have scholarships reserved for disabled students with exceptional grades and accomplishments. These scholarships are sponsored by national associations and health centers which are dedicated to giving more accessibility to higher education.
Daily Support
Disabled student associations and divisions offer services specific to major disabilities. Marybeth Kravets, author of the "K & W Guide to Colleges for Students with Disabilities," states that students with learning disabilities such as Attention Deficit Disorder can inquire about specialized courses or differentiated instruction programs to act as substitutes for regular coursework. Students who are physically disabled can request a professional or student worker to help them move about the campus.
Disability-Friendly Colleges
Although most colleges provide a range of services for students with disabilities, there are only four U.S. colleges which provide full-service living assistance for the disabled. According to Disability Friendly Colleges.com, they are University of California at Berkeley, Wright State University in Ohio, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. These universities typically provide living assistance to all major types of disabilities and will make special accommodations for any student disabilities which they do not currently cover. Some notable services include providing therapist sessions and matching students in peer mentorship programs.
Tags: disabled students, students with, into college, learning disabilities, living assistance, range services
