Academic Skills Lab

Differences: High School and Post-Secondary

In high school the school has responsibilities which include the following:

Identify students with disabilities
Provide assessment of learning disabilities
Classify disabilities according to specified diagnostic categories
Involve parents or guardians in placement decisions
Provide certain non-academic services
Place students in programs where they can benefit (in any way) by placement committee with parent participation and approval
Structure a large part of the student's weekly schedule
Modify educational programs
Prepare Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)
Provide a free and appropriate education
Provide appropriate services by the school nurse or health service

The post-secondary level institutional role changes as follows:

Protect a student's right to privacy and confidentiality
Provide access to programs and services which are offered to persons without disabilities
Inform students of office location and procedures for requesting accommodations
Accept and evaluate verifying documentation
Determine that a mental or physical impairment causes a substantial limitation of a major life activity based on student-provided verifying documents. [Simply having a disability diagnosis is not adequate unless the functional impact (substantial limitation) is established.]
Determine whether students are otherwise qualified for participation in the program or service, with or without accommodations, and if so, whether a reasonable accommodation is possible
Make reasonable accommodations for students who meet the above qualifying criteria
Provide reasonable access to program and service choices equal to those available to the general public
Make reasonable adjustments in course delivery which do not alter the essential content of a course or program [Students are required to show the same quality of mastery as other students]
Assure that off-campus and contracted program facilities also comply with Section 504 (Subpart E) and ADA
Inform students of their rights responsibilities
In contrast to their K-12 educational experience where many responsibilities were assumed by the school, student responsibilities at the post-secondary level change as follows:

Self identify or disclose their disability to the designated office for disability services
Provide verifying documentation to that designated office
Obtain assessment and test results and provide them to that office
Act as independent adults
Arrange their own weekly schedules
Contact their instructors to activate and adopt accommodations for each class
Arrange for and obtain their own personal attendants, tutoring and individually fitted or designed assistive technologies

Reduce or waive any of the essential requirements of a course or program
Conduct testing and assessment of learning, psychological or medical disabilities
Provide personal attendants
Provide personal or private tutors (but tutoring services normally available to persons without disabilities must be accessible to persons with disabilities who are otherwise qualified for those services)
Prepare "Individual Education Plans" (IEPs)