EDUCATIONAL ACCESS SERVICES
A Division of Advising & Academic Services

FACULTY HANDBOOK

A Guide for Faculty Teaching College Students with DisABILITIES

Faculty Handbook
Faculty Handbook (PDF)

Online Course Accommodations

Universal Design Information

MISSION OF EDUCATIONAL ACCESS SERVICES (EAS)

Educational Access Services (EAS) recognizes disability as an aspect of diversity and an integral part of society. We collaborate with students, faculty, staff, and community members to create an accessible college community. EAS provides academic accommodations and promotes universal design principles, enabling students with disabilities the opportunity to fully participate in all aspects of the educational environment as successful and independent learners.

EAS RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide information and services so that students with disabilities may participate in all of the programs, services, and activities ofthe institution.
• Provide services in a timely fashion.
• Review documentation of a disability for eligibility and determine on behalf of the institution what types of accommodations are appropriate.
• Keep disability-related information confidential, discussing it only with those who have a valid reason to know.
• Help faculty and staff provide reasonable accommodations.

Faculty training - Accommodating Students with Disabilities

Online training is now available through the ASD Project, developed by the University of Utah. This training is self-paced and should take about 90 minutes to complete, with a bookmark feature to allow you to finish it at your convenience. When logging in and completing the course evaluation, use institutional code 369.

ASD Project Faculty Training

Accommodation Information

Assistive Technology for Students with Disabilities

My Semester with an Asperger's Syndrome Student

Understanding Asperger Syndrome: A Professor's Guide (12 minute video)

THE LAW

The two federal laws governing institutions of higher education are The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and The Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Provisions of the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in:
Title I - Employment
Title II - Public services and transportation (includes state universities)
Title Ill - Public accommodations related to goods, programs, and services (includes most private universities)

Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act states: "No otherwise qualified disabled individual in the United States ... shall, solely by reason of his disability be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance..."

These definitions are taken from Title II Highlights and Title III Highlights, U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Office on the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 Compliance Handbook, and ADA Alliance.

An individual with a disability is defined as a person who has a "physical or mental impairment" that substantially limits a "major life activity," or has a record of such impairment, or is regarded as having such impairment.

A physical impairment is defined as any physiological disorder, condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss which affects one or more of the following body systems: neurological, musculoskeletal, sense organs, respiratory (including speech organs), cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, genito-urinary, hemic and lymphatic, skin and endocrine.

Examples:
AIDS epilepsy muscular dystrophy
cancer hearing impairments speech impairments
cerebral palsy heart disease visual impairments
diabetes multiple sclerosis

A mental impairment is defined as any mental or psychological disorder, such as mental retardation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, as well as specific learning disabilities.

Substantially Limits is defined as an individual being unable to perform a major life activity or significantly restricted as to the condition, manner or duration under which s/he can perform a major life activity

A qualified individual with a disability is one who meets the essential eligibility requirements for the program or activity offered by a public entity. The essential eligibility requirements will depend on the type of service or activity involved.

A qualified disabled person with regard to education is defined as a disabled person who meets the academic and technical standards requisite to admission or participation in Mesa State College's programs and activities. Factors such as safety may be considered in determining whether a disabled person is qualified.

Auxiliary aids will be provided when they are necessary to ensure effective communication with individuals with hearing, vision, or speech impairments. Auxiliary aids include such services or devices as qualified interpreters, assistive listening headsets, television captioning and decoders, telecommunications devices for deaf persons, videotext displays, readers, taped texts, Brailed materials, and large print materials.