My name is Javier and I'm a first-year medical school student. I am legally blind but have some functional vision. My condition is called Stargardt's Disease. It is a rare degenerative condition that results in the loss of central vision but not all peripheral vision.
I'm Hua, a junior in electrical engineering. I am profoundly deaf, meaning that I have no hearing, and I use American Sign Language (ASL) as my primary communication method in courses and for personal communication.
Applying universal design principles results in products and environments that are usable by most people without having to make special adaptations. Universal design applied to educational environments, especially when technology is involved, is referred to by the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) as Universal Design for Learning (UDL). UDL promotes the design of learning experiences that can be effective for students with a wide variety of characteristics, including disabilities.
My name is Elena. I am working toward my associate's degree in computer graphics at the community college. I have Lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease causing inflammation of the tissues, which can be painful. Recently I developed repetitive strain injuries (RSI) as a result of my muscle pain and weakness and extensive computer use. I take medications that partially control the Lupus symptoms. I do not have a visible disability, so sometimes people think I am faking or unnecessarily avoiding work.
My name is Austin. I have a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome and I recently started taking classes at my local community college.
My family and I were concerned about my transition to college because I have difficulty meeting people and making new friends. Having friends my own age at school helps me to stay positive and motivated when things get hard. My two best friends in high school were people whom I have known all my life.
If an off-campus event, such as a graduation ceremony or a course, is sponsored by an institution, the institution is responsible for ensuring that it is accessible to qualified students and guests with disabilities. When planning the event, inspect the meeting rooms, parking areas, restrooms, and other facilities ahead of time to ensure that they are accessible to people with mobility impairments and other types of disabilities. Also include a statement in event publications and websites that tells how to request disability-related accommodations.
My name is Ana. I'm an astronomy major, with a concentration in theory. I have quadriplegia (sometimes referred to in recent years as tetraplegia) and use a power wheelchair. I also have very limited functional use of my arms and hands.
My name is Carol. I am a nontraditional student who was recently diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, a repetitive motion injury that affects my wrists. As a journalism major, I have many writing assignments that require the use of a computer.
I could not complete my coursework and assignments because my injury prevented me from using the standard computer keyboard.
High schools are entities covered under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. When they attend college, students with disabilities will not necessarily continue to receive the same accommodations that they received in high school.
A wide variety of hardware and software is available to students with disabilities on postsecondary campuses. Some schools provide it in an adaptive technology lab operated by the disabled student services office or the central computing organization. Often this area is integrated within a general access computing lab that is available to all students.
For an example of products provided in such a facility, consult Access Technology Center.