[Athen] Advising Students with Disabilities

[Joshua Hori]

Reasonable is the same amount of time that any other student would have to provide if they needed accommodations. If I can break my arm the day before the test and still be accommodated, then any student with a disability should be able to do the same. There's not really a "reasonable time limit" that is enforceable especially since some disabilities flare during times of stress.

I'm not aware of public information to help students with disabilities assess the ability of a potential college to meet their accommodations without talking to the office first. There's quite a few factors to consider...Does the student prefer braille, assistants or technology?

If there is a preference to Braille, you may want to ask for samples of subjects you will be attending and tactile graphics they can produce, especially if STEM is involved. Find out if they do it in house or if it's done by a third party. Make sure to state your braille preferences as well to ensure you get what you need.

If they prefer assistants, they may want to ask what type of support for scribing and reading is available (for tests, class projects, etc.). And they will benefit registering with the department of rehab to ensure that their books and out of classroom assistants are paid for (sometimes school is paid for as well). Also, for blind users, I suggest reaching out to the Delta Gamma Sororities! They are required to provide 100 hours of volunteer work with visually disabled individuals. There are chapters all over the US and I regularly see them escorting individuals around the CSUN conference.

If they prefer technology, they will want to meet the assistive technology staff to determine what is available. What types of formats can you get your textbooks in? What software is available? Is it available all over campus or just in labs? Are there open pilots of technology to participate in?

There is some content available online, but they seem to be assuming quite a bit and have wrong information listed. I keep getting companies requesting to have their pages added to ours, but their info is just all over the place. And from my experience, disability offices are like individuals with autism; once you've been to one disability office, you've been to ONE disability office.

I see you're an animal and dairy sciences student...So, when should I expect you here at the #1 Vet Med School in the Nation? :)

Sincerely,

Joshua Hori
Accessible Technology Analyst
University of California, Davis
Student Disability Center
54 Cowell Building
Davis, CA 95616
530-752-3184

From: athen-list [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Zach
Sent: Friday, May 26, 2017 8:20 AM
To: 'Access Technology Higher Education Network' <athen-list at u.washington.edu>
Subject: [Athen] Advising Students with Disabilities

I'm curious, in regards to being proactive, how much time is "reasonable" for a student to provide advanced notice to the office they receive accomidations from? I know this question is very vaguely worded and the best answer is "depends," but I work as a mentor for Learning Ally's College Success Program, and I'd very much like to provide sound recommendations or logical ways to approach requesting accessible material to our students.

Personally, as a student, two months advanced notice is fair, but when we start getting into eight or ten, as has been the case with one or more institutions I've attended, it starts to get a little ridiculous. As a mentor I feel it's my job to help students avoid choosing institutions where this might happen. Is there publicly available information to help students with disabilities assess the ability of a potential college to meet their accomidations?

Zachary Mason
M.S. Student
Animal and Dairy Sciences
Mississippi State University
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