Disability Awareness: what you can do to help

1. Disability Awareness: what you can do to help Presented by: Jamie Coccarelli & Whitney Jones Office of Disability Services for Students

2. DSS: Who are we IU is an institution that is obligated under the Americans with Disabilities Act to make accommodations for students with disabilities. • Martha Engstrom, Director • Whitney Jones, Learning Disabilities Coordinator • Dorothy Lenard, Disability Services Coordinator • Jamie Coccarelli, Support Services Coordinator • Tanner Terrell, Graduate Assistant • Hunter Ford, Test Coordinator • Nina Koretoff, Office Services Assistant Our office is located in Franklin Hall 006, but will be moving this summer to the 3rd floor of Wells Library

3. Admissions process for students with disabilities • There is no special admissions process at IU. All admitted students have met the same entry criteria • The student with a disability, having met the university’s entry criteria, is expected to complete all work that is essential to a course or program of study, with or without accommodations • Students identify themselves to DSS through self-disclosure

4. DSS: What we do (and what we do not) • We do • Provide accommodations. Most common would be extended time on exams and distraction reduced settings. Other modifications such as using a laptop to take notes, transportation, and preferential seating. • We do not • Give students accommodations without documentation • Provide assistance outside the classroom (such as tutors, paid note takers) • Notify professors about students’ accommodations (responsibility of student)

5. Types of disabilities • Hidden disabilities • ADHD, Learning Disabilities (dyslexia, dysgraphia) • Psychiatric disabilities (bipolar, depression, anxiety) • Chronic illnesses (cancer, Chron’s disease, fibromyalgia) • Neurological disabilities (brain injury, narcolepsy, Tourette’s) • Other disabilities (visible) • Deaf/ Hard of Hearing and visual impairments • Physical (cerebral palsy, paralysis, MS) • Temporary disabilities (broken arm)

6. Looking at the BIG difference between K – 12 and post secondary education Emphasis, K – 12…….Success The curriculum may be altered to “fit” the student’s limitations (tests or assigned papers may be shortened; students may be excused from certain assignments or classes, etc.) Emphasis, Post-Secondary…….Access Having met entry requirements, the student is qualified to attend the institution and therefore may be expected to do essential work of course or program with or without accommodations. Success will be a direct outcome of student effort and student ability

7. Access vs. Success: a case study DISABILITY = PROCESSING DISORDER ACCOMMODATIONS AND RATIONALE • Limitations • Slow speed of reading • Slow manipulation and organization of knowledge • Delayed recall • Delay in production of writing Double time for tests and other in-class assignments: provides adequate time for the student to demonstrate knowledge of material Use of Kurzweil and/or computer during tests: accommodate limitations in reading speed and difficulties in producing written material Copies of class notes from instructor or classmate: allow student to listen/learn unencumbered by distraction of writing notes

8. Other examples

9. When an academic issue is disability related, take into consideration: These facts: • Accommodations reduce or eliminate impact of disability • Students are expected to do essential work • Students are evaluated by the same methods as all others • Individual student circumstances And determine the answers to these questions: • Is there a policy for adjusting grades for ALL students? • Is it possible to know exact cause/effect on performance? • What criteria are used to determine the nature of adjustment needed?

10. Common myths MYTH REALITY • The accommodation is wrong if the student is doing badly • Students unable to meet specific program requirements can get waivers of these requirements • If a student is unable to perform an academic component of a course, s/he will be excused. • There are no students with disabilities in honors courses • Disclosing disability late in the semester will result in “do overs” of previous tests and other coursework • Accommodations are not the magic bullet • Not at IU but there is a process designed to help the student be successful in problem areas • Students are expected to meet all course requirements, with or without accommodations • There are LOTS of Honors students with disabilities • There is no way to determine that disability was the only factor causing bad student performance; accommodations cannot be retro-fitted

11. Our unique challenges have become some of our greatest successes • Music courses and programs of study • Eurasian Languages, summer program • Lab courses • Group work • Evolution of the memo • Faculty AI presentations

12. Rights and Responsibilities Faculty Rights Student Rights • To receive reasonable advance notice of a student’s need for accommodations • To hold all student work to the same academic standards • Academic freedom in course design and implementation • To receive appropriate academic accommodations • Confidentiality concerning their disability and accommodations • To be treated with dignity and equal rights regardless of disability

13. Rights and Responsibilities Faculty Responsibilities Student Responsibilities • To implement classroom and testing accommodations • To facilitate the production of materials in alternate formats (Braille, large print, and advance copies of Power Point slides, and overheads) • To facilitate volunteer peer note takers • Timely self-disclosure of their disability to Disability Services for Students • To engage in an informed discussion with instructors about their accommodations • To complete the essential components of their courses and programs of study

14. What you can do to help • Call us with questions, concerns, and for general information • Include DSS on referral lists for students • Educational programming • Advocacy • For faculty, including a statement on syllabus and make an announcement • Stop by and see us!