Eric is a sophomore with a psychiatric disability who lives in campus housing. He takes medication for symptoms of Schizophrenia. He experienced an increase in his disability-related symptoms during winter term.
Any course an institution offers must be accessible to qualified students with disabilities. A student with a disability may require specialized adaptive hardware or software to access the electronic information and to fully participate in the computer assignments for a course. Work with the student, disabled student services staff, and an adaptive technology specialist, if available on your campus, to determine the access issues and the appropriate assistive technology solutions.
Libraries should take steps to assure that their facilities, resources, and services are accessible to patrons with disabilities. To prepare library staff to work with individuals who have disabilities, address the following questions:
Many employers are aware of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are interested in employing students with disabilities. Career counselors, cooperative education staff, and internship coordinators can work with employers to make successful placements for students with disabilities. The following suggestions may assist you in working with employers as you place students with disabilities:
Student services organizations often host presentations, career fairs/exhibits, and interviews between students and employers. These activities should be designed so that they are accessible to all students, including students with disabilities. Provide them in a wheelchair-accessible location with accessible restrooms nearby.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that you respond reasonably to disability-related requests. Although you should provide access to the content the patron requests (in this case Braille), it may be acceptable to provide the materials in a comparable format, such as in audiotaped or electronic formats. Discuss options with the patron.
You can create a more accessible campus tour by incorporating the following suggestions into your tour plans:
Although each situation is different and the student is the best source of information regarding useful accommodations, the following accommodations are typical for a student with blindness:
Although each situation is different and the student is the best source of information regarding useful accommodations, the following accommodations are typical for a student who is deaf or hard of hearing:
Although each situation is different and the student is the best source of information regarding useful accommodations, the following accommodations are typical for a student with a learning disability: