Students with Disabilities

1. Students with Disabilities Fact or Fiction

2. Fact Fiction More than 20% of Americans have a documented disability.

3. Fact Around 25% of Americans have identified disabilities. That’s one in four! More than 20% of Americans have a documented disability.

4. Fact Fiction Most disabilities are invisible.

5. Fact Most disabilities are invisible- consider diabetes, juvenile rheumatic arthritis, AND cystic fibrosis. The most prevalent disabilities are learning and attention issues which are typically totally invisible. Here at Clemson, about 3.5% of the student population receives services through SDS, but, if Clemson is like other postsecondary institutions, we actually are serving only about half of the students with disabilities. Most disabilities are invisible.

6. Fact Fiction Student Disability Services (SDS) serves any student with a disability.

7. Fiction Clemson serves students in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended in Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Both of those stipulate that at the college level students are responsible for providing documentation (as defined by the postsecondary institution), requesting services, and talking with individual instructors to discuss how the accommodations will work in this particular situation. Note that the student is not required to disclose the name or details of the disability, only the accommodations that are appropriate in that class. Student Disability Services (SDS) any student with a disability.

8. Fact Fiction Instructors have an option as to whether or not to provide the accommodations listed on the Academic Accommodations letters.

9. Fiction Although not all accommodations will apply in each class, instructors must provide the accommodations that the student requests for that class. If the accommodation would result in a fundamental alteration of the curriculum, instructors should contact SDS to see if an appropriate alternative can be developed. Know that identifying an accommodation as an alteration to the curriculum is very rare. Rather, it is presumed that alternate assignments or processes can be developed. Out of class accommodations will be coordinated through the SDS office. Those could be housing/dining accommodations, mobility support, or other services that are not inherently academic. Instructors have an option as to whether or not to provide the accommodations listed on the Academic Accommodations letters.

10. Fact Fiction Students with disabilities are admitted to Clemson using special admission criteria.

11. Fiction Students with disabilities are admitted through the same process as all Clemson students. Applicants are encouraged to not disclose a disability until after they are admitted and at that point, to disclose only to SDS. Students with disabilities will need to meet the same graduation criteria as everyone else and it would clearly be a disservice to admit someone who is not as prepared for college work as their peers. Students with disabilities are admitted to Clemson using special admission criteria.

12. Fact Fiction Faculty members have access, on a first come/ first serve basis, to the Test Proctoring Center (TPC) for any student at Clemson.

13. Fact The Test Proctoring Center is available to all faculty members for any of theirstudents during fall and spring semesters and during the summer. The TPC however is reserved for teachers who work with students with disabilities during finals. This is due to the level of traffic. Last academic year, the TPC proctored about 1800 exams.   The TPC is a service to faculty members. Since testing is an in-class activity, it is the responsibility of the instructor to provide appropriate accommodations for their students. The TPC is glad to help, but the instructor is ultimately responsible if the TPC is not available. In an effort to make the request system smoother, there is an on-line testProctoring process. The student is expected to initiate the request, it electronically goes to the instructor who then provides information about testing parameters, such as the length of time for testing or permission to use a calculator. If the TPC can accommodate the request, both you and the student will be notified. All the student needs to do is show up at the Test Center (213 ASC Bldg.) and take the test. After testing, the finished test will be returned to you according to the instructions you provided on the form. Faculty members have access, on a first come/ first serve basis, to the Test Proctoring Center (TPC) for any student at Clemson.

14. Fact Fiction Students with disabilities have access to special tutoring and other support services.

15. FICTION Because students who receive accommodations are first and foremost Clemson students, when they need academic support, they are expected to access the same services as other students, including the services provided by the Academic Success Center. Students with disabilities have access to special tutoring and other support services.

16. Fact Fiction Student Disability Services can provide support to any student with a temporary disability such as a broken ankle.

17. Fact Federal laws do not mandate services for students with temporary disabilities. Clemson University, however, extends services to students with temporary conditions. Documentation guidelines are the same as for other disability concerns. Student Disability Services can provide support to any student with a temporary disability such as a broken ankle.

18. Fact Fiction Instructors must make sure that students with disabilities have passing grades.

19. Fiction Guaranteeing passing grades would be insulting to all students who are interested in getting an education. . . whether or not they have a disability. Instructors must make sure that students with disabilities have passing grades.

20. Fact Fiction Students with developmental or intellectual disabilities receive services through SDS.

21. Fact Students with intellectual disabilities can take advantage of services through Student Disability Services as long as the student is taking a regular Clemson class. To date, SDS has not had a request for academic support from a student in the Clemson LIFE program. Students with developmental or intellectual disabilities receive services through SDS.

22. Fact Fiction Students who received services in high school are entitled to services in college.

23. Fiction Postsecondary institutions and public schools operate under very different legislation. Although sometimes the language to describe those accommodations may seem similar, it is not. At the postsecondary level, we can only guarantee access to an education, not success like in the K-12 system. Students who received services in high school are entitled to services in college.

24. Fact Fiction Students with food and mold allergies may be eligible to receive services through SDS.

25. Fact As with other issues, the question is not “is it a disability” but rather “how does this impact the student’s academic performance”. The student must present documentation that spells out exactly the effect on academics. Students with food and mold allergies may be eligible to receive services through SDS.

26. Fact Fiction Students with disabilities may not have access to certain majors.

27. Fiction All students must have the opportunity to enroll in a program of their choice, even when faculty and other professional staff on campus have concerns about the student’s ability to function in that field, ability to take and pass certification/licensure exams, or employability once they finish the program. Students should be advised of those concerns by an academic advisor but that concern does not manifest in keeping the student out of a particular major. If there is any concern about endangering others or self, the student will be directed to other majors. Students with disabilities may not have access to certain majors.

28. Fact Fiction Students with disabilities typically do not do well academically.

29. Fiction Students with disabilities at Clemson tend to finish their academic programs in the same time frame as other students and with nearly the same average GPA. Retention rates for students with disabilities are in keeping with the University average and probation rates typically are lower than the university at large. People with disabilities sometimes have a harder time finding full employment Clemson participates in a number of programs to help students transition to work. Students with disabilities typically do not do well academically.

30. Fact Fiction All students with the same diagnosis receive the same services.

31. Fiction Documentation for all students with disabilities go through a rigorous vetting process. Because disabilities vary so much from individual to individual, accommodations are individualized, data based, and evaluated from semester to semester. At times, it may look to an instructor as if all students receive the same accommodations. While the accommodations may be the same, the reason for the accommodation may vary. For instance students may have access to extended time on exams. That could be because the student has a vision issue or because of attention concerns or because the student may be taking medication that affects cognitive tempo or because the student reads slowly or because the student needs to use assistive technology to take the exam. All students with the same diagnosis receive the same services.