DISABILITY SERVICES: what every advisor needs to know

1. DISABILITY SERVICES:what every advisor needs to know Dr. Kristie Orr, Director kristieo@disability.tamu.edu Sarah Lopez, Accommodations Counselor sarahl@disability.tamu.edu

2. Learning outcomes • Participants will be able to identify basic functions of the Department of Disability Services. • Participants will understand academic issues impacting students with disabilities.

3. Mission • Disability Services promotes an inclusive environment at Texas A&M University by facilitating appropriate accommodations, empowering students to be self-advocates, and educating the campus community. • Disability Services staff members interact and collaborate with students, faculty and staff, and provide appropriate referrals to achieve equal access for students with disabilities. 

4. Examples of Disabilities • Orthopedic Impairments • Traumatic Brain Injury • Speech Impairments • Autism Spectrum Disorders • Learning Disabilities • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder • Psychiatric Disorders • Health Impairments • Visual Impairments/Blind

5. Students Registered With DS Fall 2011 Spring 2012 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder 522 573 Learning Disabilities 484 472 Psychiatric Disorders 287 302 Health Impairments 177 189 Visual Impairments/Blind 61 49 Hearing Impairments/Deaf 44 46 Orthopedic Impairments 48 52 Traumatic Brain Injury 29 26 Temporary Disabling Conditions 2022 Autism 17 17 Speech Impairments 11 14 Deaf/Blind 1 0 Total Students with Disabilities *1059 *1108 (* Note some students have more than one diagnosis)

6. Students We Serve • Students from every college including Health Science Center • Every facet of student life is represented: Corps of Cadets, Student-Athletes, Greeks, International Students, Honor Students, and Undergraduates and Graduates • Students with lifelong disabilities, acquired disabilities, and temporary disabilities

7. Services • Testing Accommodations • Extended time • Reduced distraction testing environment • Readers • Scribes • Use of a computer and/or specialized hardware/software • Classroom Accommodations • Note-taking assistance • Recording lectures • FM System (assistive listening system) • Preferential seating (at the front or back of classroom)

8. Services • Adaptive Technology Services (ATS) • Adaptive hardware and software in DS • Adaptive Technology (AT) assessments • Alternative format production and scanning • Ensuring access in campus computer labs (Open Access labs and department labs) • Consulting on website accessibility • Sign Language Interpreting/Transcription • Classroom interpreting/transcription • Interpreting/transcription also provided for S.I. sessions, field trips, internships, study abroad • Consultation for other entities needing an interpreter/transcriptionist (e.g., Student Health Services, academic conferences & workshops, employee, etc.)

9. Services • Accessibility • Housing (consult with Residence Life) • Consultation on accessibility of classrooms, offices, programs, etc. • Braille signage for buildings • ADA Compliance Committee (represent student needs)

10. Tips for Advising Students with disabilities • Disability information is strictly confidential • It is okay to ask general questions if the student discloses their disability to you. • Are they working with DS? • If not, make a referral and follow-up. • Do they have difficulty with reading, writing or math • Limit the number of heavy reading, math, or science classes during a semester • Serious psychiatric issues should be referred to Student Counseling Services • Returning Veterans may be more reluctant to register with Disability Services • Refer to Veteran Resource and Support Center

11. Tips for Advising Students with disabilities • Become familiar with the difficulties imposed by a particular disability: • If the student is taking medication, are there certain times of the day when the student is less alert? This could have important implications when developing a class schedule. • Be aware of the campus: • Awareness of the campus could prevent enrolling a student who uses a wheelchair in a class that can only be accessed by a stairway. • Depending upon the amount of time allowed to pass from one class to another, any student with a mobility issue might have difficulty with classes scheduled back to back in different buildings.

12. Tips for Advising Students with disabilities • Know the rules and regulations of Texas A&M University: • Financial aid and course substitutions are two examples of areas that can be used to a student's advantage. As well as early registration. • A student with a disability can receive some forms of financial aid even though the student is enrolled in less than twelve hours, if their disability warrants it. • Other students may qualify for a course substitution. Advisors need to know the procedures on their campus for such things as obtaining a course substitution if they hope to assist students who qualify. • Develop a collaborative relationship with the Department of Disability Services (DS): • DS is responsible for establishing eligibility for accommodations, determining the nature of the accommodations needed by a particular student and helping to insure that the student receives the accommodations for which they are eligible.

13. QUESTIONS?