The following functional limitations related to psychiatric disabilities may affect academic performance and may require accommodations (Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 1997).
John has a severe learning disability that affects his ability to read. He uses a text-to-speech system to read computer screen text to him. He is attending his first semester at a small, private college. Each student at the school is given an email account for academic use. The directions for establishing and using the email account are available in printed format and on the computing services website.
John was having difficulty accessing the electronic information at the computing services website with his screen reading software.
My name is Erica. I am a college sophomore with low vision taking a multimedia and design course. I use screen magnification software to access electronic information on the computer.
Dan is a sophomore living on the fourth floor of Johnson Hall. He has paraplegia and uses a wheelchair.
Dan had a concern about a recent fire drill that occurred in his residence hall. On the night of the drill, he was not notified. He saw the flashing signs and heard the alarm and assumed it was an actual fire. He was distressed because during the entire drill, no one came to assist him. When he reported his concerns to dorm staff, they showed little interest.
All national testing services are required by law to provide reasonable accommodations to test takers with disabilities, and most have detailed information on their websites about how to document a disability and request accommodations. However, students must be self-advocates and get all documentation prepared well in advance. For most tests, the testing services request that all documentation be mailed at least six weeks prior to the registration deadline to be reviewed for approval of accommodations.
National testing services are required to provide reasonable accommodations, and most have information on their websites about how to document disabilities and how to request accommodations. However, students must submit documentation well in advance.
My name is Amy. I have a speech impairment, although my speech is clear enough to be understood by most people. I am a high school senior, and I plan to attend a local community college after I graduate.
I went to the community college admissions office to get some help with my application. I was immediately referred to the college's disabled student services office.
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.
Universal design is the process of creating products that are accessible to people with a wide range of abilities, disabilities, and other characteristics. Universally designed products accommodate individual preferences and abilities; communicate necessary information effectively (regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities); and can be approached, reached, manipulated, and used regardless of the individual's body size, posture, or mobility.