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Differences Between High School and College

Accessibility Services for Disabilities

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are civil rights laws prohibiting discrimination solely on the basis of a disability. Section 504 states that any institutions receiving public funds must follow this law. Services In college look very different than services provided in high school. Coverage is different according to law.

A LOOK AT HIGH SCHOOL – INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN EDUCATION ACT (IDEA)

  • Multidisciplinary teams assess students and provide services.
  • Psychoeducational testing is provided through the schools.
  • Eligibility is one or more of the 13 specific disability categories unless schools do not use labels, but base qualification for services on discrepancy from peers, need for services and uniqueness.
  • Requires and Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
  • Schools are responsible for identifying and testing individuals who may qualify for specialized services or “special education.”
  • The multidisciplinary team is responsible for yearly IEP meetings, reevaluations, and monitoring student progress through goals and objectives.

 

A LOOK AT COLLEGE

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination on the basis of a disability.

Students provide documentation of their disabilities to the Accessibility Coordinator, who determines if disabilities interfere with a major life function, such as learning, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing and others.

The student is responsible for letting the college know about their disability if they want accommodations provided. This is done through the Student Accessibility Office.

Reasonable accommodations, as determined by the Accessibility Coordinator, must be provided for all students who have a disability which affects a major life function.

Accommodations will be similar, but may not be the same as accommodations provided in high school. Accommodations cannot require faculty to fundamentally alter the nature of their course content.