College

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.

Background

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.

Background

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.

Access Issue

I could not complete my coursework and assignments because my injury prevented me from using the standard computer keyboard.

Background

My name is Michael and I am a student of short stature. I have to do an internship as part of my course requirements in the culinary arts. I was working with career services to set up this internship when access issues emerged in the conversation.

Access Issue

Career services was concerned that I would not be able to reach into the oven as far as I would need to without causing danger to myself and/or other people. They were also concerned that if an accident happened, the internship site would no longer want to work with their program.

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.

Yes, it is the responsibility of the postsecondary institution to provide reasonable accommodations to ensure that a campus program or event is accessible to a participant with a disability. For example, prospective students and their family members who are visiting the campus for a college preview day have the right to reasonable disability-related accommodations.

Background

My name is Jess and I am hard of hearing. I live in a residence hall on an urban campus. I need to walk several blocks through high traffic areas to my classes, to the dining hall, and to social activities.

Attempt to include students in fieldwork opportunities, rather than automatically suggesting nonfieldwork alternatives. Ask the student how they might be able to do a specific aspect of fieldwork, and work together to develop the best access solution. Include special needs in requests for field trip vehicle reservations, and provide materials in alternate formats as appropriate.

In 1990, President George Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law.

Universal design is an approach that strives to make products and environments welcoming, accessible, and usable for everyone. Universal design principles were developed at the Center for Universal Design. They can be tailored to specific applications such as curriculum, instruction, career service offices, multimedia, tutoring and learning centers, museums, computer labs, and web pages.