Disability Support Services

Presented by:Lydia Hannawi, Coordinator of Disability Support Services

Lydia Trevino, Student Success Specialist IIIRobin Rakestraw Student Success Specialist I

Objectives The Law

The Letter of Accommodation

Extended Test Time

Interpreting Support Services

The Law

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Section 504 - “No otherwise qualified individual … shall solely by reason of handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

ADA – Intended to make society more accessible to people with disabilities. Protects fundamental rights and extends equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities.

Definition of Disability

The ADA defines a disability as a person with:

(a)A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual;

(b)A record of such an impairment;

(c) Being regarded as having such an impairment

Reasonable Accommodations

Specific instructional strategies, technology, or aids needed to accommodate a disability without compromising the integrity of the program.

May include: - provision of adaptive equipment

- making facilities accessible

Confidentiality

The ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act require confidentiality be maintained.

PAC is in compliance with the Federal Educational Right to Privacy Act (FERPA) ensuring confidentiality of all student records.

Syllabus Disability Statement Sample

It is the student’s responsibility to self-identify with the Disability Support Services (DSS) office to receive accommodations and services in accordance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). Only those students with appropriate documentation will receive accommodations. For further information, contact the DSS office at 486-3020 or visit the office, located in the GE building, Room 139.

Together We Are One Students: Self-identify

and provide current and complete documentation of disability.

Faculty: Assist in the process by providing accommodations including the use of auxiliary aids

DSS: Advocate responsibly for the rights of people with disabilities.

Institutional: Provide a campus in which educational, cultural, and extracurricular activities are physically and programmatically accessible .

ETT: The Who• Student’s that require a quiet, reduced stress

environment due to their disability.• Type of disability: • Learning• Attention Deficit Disorder• Attention Deficit & Hyperactivity Disorder• Psychological• Physical

ETT: The Why• LD: uses adaptive technology or software i.e.

computer helps maintain focus or to write essay

• ADD/ADHD: easily distracted by noise, others actions i.e. comings or goings

• Psychological: test anxiety, easily stressed or fearful of testing situations, Post -Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Physical: blind/low vision, mobility challenged, requires a reader and/or scribe to be their eyes and hands

ETT: The How• Student provides the instructor the testing form• Instructor completes the Instructor’s Section• Instructor attaches test to test form• Test is delivered to DSS by instructor or

instructor’s representative, by email, fax, or pony mail

• Test is administered to student following instructors specifications

• Student completes test • Test is returned to instructor by method

indicated on test form.

Interpreting Support ServicesDisability Support Services currently

serves 10 deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH) students and 1 at TAMUK

PAC has two full time and two part time interpreters

PAC currently uses 4 agency interpretersInterpreters spend 18-28 hours in the

classroom

An Interpreter’s RoleTo facilitate communication and convey

all auditory and signed information

To communicate to both hearing and deaf individuals so both may fully interact

Common Communication StylesAmerican Sign Language (ASL): a visual-

gestural language with its own linguistic features

Sign Language Transliteration: sign language and mouth movements that uses both ASL and spoken English

Oral Transliteration: silent repetition of spoken English

Accommodations for D/HHInterpreters in class, for tutoring sessions,

and tests

A peer volunteer note taker can be assigned by the instructor

Extended Test Time(D/HH students need to have test questions interpreted to ASL)

Accommodations (cont’d) Emergency Evacuation

Request Closed Captioning when presenting a video or allow the student to view the video in advance

Tutoring – students need copies of lecture notes, power point presentations, and vocabulary lists to prepare for class

SummaryLaws are in place to protect the civil rights of

individuals with disabilities.The Letter of Accommodation outlines what

services the student is eligible to receive based on their documentation.

Extended Test Time (ETT), one of the most common accommodations received by students with disabilities, explains to the DSS staff how to administer the test.

Interpreters facilitate communication for deaf and hard of hearing students.