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by Sheryl Burgstahler, Ph.D.
As increasing numbers of people with disabilities pursue educational opportunities at all levels, accessibility to student services, including advising, is of increasing importance. The goal is simply equal access; everyone who needs to use student services should have access to them.
Advising services are an important aspect of most students' educational experiences. There are many different kinds of advisors—faculty advisors, advisors in a specific academic department, general advisors—and they should all be aware of unique issues of people with disabilities and other groups so that they can communicate effectively and provide sound advice as students plan their studies. Considering how their disabilities might impact academic and career plans is essential to the success of students with disabilities.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities. According to these laws, no otherwise qualified person with a disability shall, solely by reason of his or her disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity of a public entity. This means that student services as well as academic programs must be accessible to qualified students with disabilities.
Physical distance and time between classes should be considered when planning a course schedule with a student who has a disability. Many campuses are large and, for a student with a mobility impairment or a student who is blind, it can be difficult to get from one class to the next promptly if there is too little time between them.
Length of time between classes can also be a concern for a person with a learning disability. A student who is receiving extended exam time as an accommodation in one class should not schedule another class immediately following. Otherwise, the student will be late to the second class on days when there are tests in the first class. Having sufficient time between classes also facilitates learning by allowing a student to review the content presented and organize notes immediately after each class session.
An issue to consider for all students, but particularly for students with learning disabilities, Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD), or Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), is class format. It may be difficult for some students to succeed in several lecture classes in the same quarter.
Students with health or other impairments may need to avoid classes where attendance at every class session is essential; online courses should be considered. These students may also have trouble attending classes that take place at certain times of the day, such as very early in the morning or in the evening. Their advisors can help them develop appropriate schedules.
To make advising services accessible to everyone, employ principles of universal design. Universal design means that rather than designing your facility and services for the average user, you design them for people with a broad range of abilities, disabilities, and other characteristics such as age, reading ability, learning style, native language, culture, and so on. Keep in mind that students and visitors may have learning disabilities or visual, speech, hearing, and mobility impairments. Preparing your program to be accessible to them will make it more usable by everyone and minimize the need for special accommodations for those who use your services and for future employees as well. Ensure that everyone feels welcome, and can
Train staff to support people with disabilities, by responding to specific requests for accommodations in a timely manner and knowing whom they can contact if disability-related questions arise.
The following questions can guide you in making your advising services universally accessible. Your disabled student services office may also be able to assist you in increasing the accessibility of your unit. This content does not provide legal advice. Consult your campus legal counsel or ADA/504 compliance officer regarding relevant legal issues. Consultation with your regional Office for Civil Rights (OCR) can also help clarify issues.
Consider diversity issues as you plan and evaluate services.
__ Are people with disabilities, racial and ethnic minorities, men and women, young and old students, and other groups represented on your staff in numbers proportional to those of the whole campus or community?
__ Do you have policies and procedures that ensure access to facilities, printed materials, computers, and electronic resources for people with disabilities?
__ Is accessibility considered in the procurement process?
__ Do you have a procedure to ensure a timely response to requests for disability-related accommodations?
__ Are disability-related access issues addressed in your evaluation methods?
Ensure physical access, comfort, and safety within an environment that is inclusive of people with a variety of abilities, racial and ethnic backgrounds, genders, and ages.
__ Are there parking areas, pathways, and entrances to the building that are wheelchair-accessible and clearly identified?
__ Are all levels of the facility connected via an accessible route of travel?
__ Are there ample high-contrast, large-print directional signs to and throughout the office?
__ Do elevators have both auditory and visual signals for floors? Are elevator controls accessible from a seated position and available in large print and Braille or raised notation?
__ Are wheelchair-accessible restrooms with well-marked signs available in or near the office?
__ Is at least part of a service counter or desk at a height accessible from a seated position?
__ Are aisles kept wide and clear of obstructions for the safety of users who have mobility or visual impairments?
__ Are there private meeting areas where students can discuss disability-related needs confidentially?
__ Is lighting adjustable by the individual?
__ Are there quiet work or meeting areas where noise and other distractions are minimized?
__ Are facility rules in place (e.g., no cell phone use) to minimize noise?
__ Are telecommunication devices for the deaf (TTY/TDD) available?
Consult the ADA Checklist for Readily Achievable Barrier Removal at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/checkweb.htm for more suggestions.
Make sure staff are prepared to work with all students.
__ Are all staff members familiar with the availability and use of a TTY/TDD, the Telecommunications Relay Service, and alternate document formats?
__ Do staff members know how to respond to requests for disability-related accommodations, such as sign language interpreters?
__ Do staff members have ready access to a list of on-or off-campus resources for students with disabilities?
__ Are all staff members aware of issues related to communicating with students with different characteristics regarding race and ethnicity, age, and disability?
Ensure that publications and websites welcome a diverse group, are accessible to all visitors, and technology within the service area is accessible to everyone.
__ Do pictures in your publications and website include people with diverse characteristics with respect to race, gender, age, and disability?
__ In key publications and on your website, do you include a statement about your commitment to universal access and procedures for requesting disability-related accommodations? For example, you could include the following statement: "Our goal is to make all of our materials and services accessible. Please inform staff of accessibility barriers you encounter, and request accommodations that will make activities and information resources accessible to you."
__ Are all printed publications available (immediately or in a timely manner) in alternate formats such as Braille, large print, and electronic text?
__ Are key documents provided in language(s) other than English?
__ Are printed materials within easy reach from a variety of heights and without furniture blocking access?
__ Do electronic resources, including web pages, adhere to accessibility guidelines or standards adopted by your institution or your office? Section 508 Standards for Accessible Electronic and Information Technology (http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/) and World Wide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (http://www.w3.org/WAI/) are most commonly used. For information about making your website accessible to everyone, consult the World Wide Access: Accessible Web Design video and publication at http://www.washington.edu/doit/Video/www.htmlhttp://www.washington.edu/doit/Video/www.html.
__ Are videos used by the advising office captioned or audio described?
__ Do you ask vendors about accessibility features (e.g., captioned video, compatibility with assistive technology) before purchasing computers and software?
__ Is an adjustable-height table available for each type of workstation to assist students who use wheelchairs or are small or large in stature?
__ Do you provide adequate work space for both left- and right-handed users?
__ Are large-print key labels available to assist students with low vision?
__ Is software to enlarge screen images and a large monitor available to assist students with low vision and learning disabilities?
__ Do you provide a trackball to be used by someone who has difficulty controlling a mouse?
__ Are staff members aware of accessibility options (e.g., enlarged text feature) included in computer operating systems and of assistive technology available in the facility?
__ Are procedures in place for a timely response to requests for assistive technology?
Ensure that everyone can participate in events sponsored by the advising office.
__ Are events located in wheelchair-accessible facilities? Is the accessible entrance clearly marked?
__ Is information about how to request disability-related accommodations included in publications promoting events?
__ Is accessible transportation available if transportation is arranged for other participants?
This checklist was field tested at more than twenty postsecondary institutions nationwide (see http://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Academics/admin.html). The results of a nationwide survey to test face-validity checklist items led to further refinement of the checklist. To increase the usefulness of this working document, send suggestions to sherylb@u.washington.edu.
An electronic copy of the most current version of this publication as well as additional useful brochures can be found at http://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/. A 14-minute video, Equal Access: Student Services, demonstrates key points summarized in this publication. An online version may be freely viewed at http://www.washington.edu/doit/Video/ea_student.html or purchased in DVD format.
The Student Services Conference Room at http://www.washington.edu/doit/Conf/ includes a collection of documents and videos to help you make student services accessible to everyone. They include checklists for career services, distance learning, computer labs, recruitment and admissions, registration, housing and residential life, financial aid, libraries, tutoring and learning centers, and student organizations. The Conference Room also includes a searchable Knowledge Base of questions and answers, case studies, and promising practices.
Universal design principles can be applied to all aspects of your services. For more information about applications of universal design consult http://www.washington.edu/doit/Resources/udesign.html.
DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) serves to increase the successful participation of individuals with disabilities in challenging academic programs such as those in science, engineering, mathematics, and technology. Primary funding for DO-IT is provided by the National Science Foundation, the State of Washington, and the U.S. Department of Education.
To order free publications or newsletters use the DO-IT Publications Order Form; to order videos and training materials use the Videos, Books and Comprehensive Training Materials Order Form.
For further information, to be placed on the DO-IT mailing list, or to request materials in an alternate format, contact:
DO-ITDirector: Sheryl Burgstahler, Ph.D.
The contents of this publication and accompanying video were developed under a grant from the Department of Education, #P333A020044. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.
Copyright © 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, University of Washington. Permission is granted to copy these materials for educational, noncommercial purposes provided the source is acknowledged.
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