Policies and Procedures: National Overview
When institutions of higher education are responsive to the legal mandates regarding students with disabilities by crafting and disseminating institutional policies and procedures that respond to the needs of students with disabilities, students will achieve higher levels of academic success, retention, and graduation rate.
Literature was reviewed regarding higher education institution-wide policies and procedures pertaining to students with disabilities (in print and online). In addition, the policies and procedures of 23 institutions described on the DO-IT Faculty Room web site were analyzed in light of the literature and online reviews.
A master list was then developed that included the most frequently mentioned polices and procedures relevant to students with disabilities. A brief description of each of the policies as well as one or more examples of each is linked to the list of the policies below.
Specific Policies and Procedures regarding Students with Disabilities in Higher Education
1. Academic Standing
- http://www.asu.edu/drs/policies.html
- Defines good academic standing
- Outlines the appeal process/ procedures for students with disabilities who fall below good academic standing
2. Accessibility
- Library
http://www.asu.edu/lib/ada/services/libinfo/libexpress.htm
http://www.mcburney.wisc.edu/services/library/
- Computer Labs
http://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/sta/sta402-07.html
http://www.slis.wisc.edu/resources/lab/
- Classroom Laboratories
Outlines the university's policies regarding accessibility of these and any other special facilities, furniture, and/or equipment/software available to students with disabilities
http://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/sta/sta402-18.html
3. Admissions Procedures
- Outlines the application process for students with disabilities who choose to disclose their disability during the admissions process
http://www.wisc.edu/wiscinfo/academics/admissions/
4. Appeal of Denial of Admission
- Outlines the admissions appeal process regarding reconsideration for students with disabilities who are denied admission
http://www.uky.edu/TLC/grants/uk_ed/ukadmit.html
5. Appeal Policy and Procedures
- Outlines step-by-step procedures that students with disabilities should follow to appeal a policy or procedure that they think is discriminatory
http://www.wisc.edu/adac/general/adacompr.html
6. Course Substitution
- Outlines the procedures to request a substitution for a requirement that they cannot fulfill due to the nature of their disability
http://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/sta/sta402-19.html
http://www.stuaff.nwu.edu/ssd/policies/substitutions/index.htm
7. Financial Aid
- Describes any additional policies and/or available financial assistance relevant to students with disabilities
http://dsp.berkeley.edu/Financial_Assistance.html
http://www.csld.com/
8. Grievance Policies and Procedures
- Describes the policies and procedures to resolve a grievance within the institution that pertain to students with disabilities
http://www.wisc.edu/adac/general/adacompr.html
http://www.northwestern.edu/disability/policies/grievance.html
9. Housing
- Lists housing accommodations available to students with disabilities and describes the procedures to request special housing for students with disabilities
http://hfs.washington.edu/student_housing/residence_halls/
http://dsp.berkeley.edu/dspServices.html
http://dsp.berkeley.edu/OurResProg.html
10. Parking
- Lists the parking options that are available to students with disabilities and outlines the procedures for students to follow to obtain special parking consideration
- http://www.washington.edu/admin/parking/disabled.html http://www.mcburney.wisc.edu/services/accessibleparking.php
http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/vehicles/disabled/spec.htm
11. Privacy/Confidentiality
- Outlines the policies and procedures regarding privacy/confidentiality that pertain to students with disabilities
http://www.wisc.edu/adac/general/medrec_ada.html
http://www.stuaff.nwu.edu/ssd/policies/confidentiality/index.htm
12. Reduced Course Load
- Outlines the policies and procedures that pertain to students with disabilities to request a reduced course load
http://www.stuaff.nwu.edu/ssd/policies/course/index.htm
http://www.northwestern.edu/disability/policies/course.html
13. Registration
- Outlines the policies and procedures regarding priority registration for students with disabilities
http://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/sta/sta402-04.html
14. Service Animals
- Outlines the policy regarding service animals
http://www.wisc.edu/adac/physical/servicedog.html - Defines the types of service animals that are allowed on campus
- Lists the requirements pertaining to service animals and their owners
- Outlines the grievance procedures regarding service animals
15. Transportation
- Describes the various types of transportation for students with disabilities on and off campus and how to access them and lists the policies regarding additional transportation accommodations
http://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/sta/sta402-12.html
16. Web Communications
- Describes the institutional policies regarding accessibility of web-based information and links to other relevant sites regarding the guidelines for online accessibility
http://www.wisc.edu/wiscinfo/policy/wwwap.html
http://www.mcburney.wisc.edu/information/documentation/disdocpolicies.php
Links to Other Web Sites for Information Regarding Legal Mandates
The links listed below provide more information regarding the laws that relate to these policies and procedures and other institutions' guidelines and policies relevant to students with disabilities in higher education.
Section 504 Of The Rehabilitation Act Of 1973
Web page regarding Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act: Nondiscrimination under Federal Grants and Programs
Americans with Disabilities Act Of 1990
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Home Page that provides information and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act: Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act: Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards provides information on Section 508 (e.g., the law, HTML standards)
Web page that provides general information on Section 508 and how to purchase Section 508 products
General Information on Legal Mandates
LD Online's web page regarding legal and legislative matters and disability
University of Washington's DO-IT/Faculty Room list of 23 institutions that contributed their policy statements to the Faculty Room web site and are linked to this page
Last revised on 11/10/2004
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