Working with Students who Have Disabilities at Drexel

1. Working with Students who Have Disabilities at Drexel Ann Knettler-Smith, M.A. Director, Office of Disability Resources

2. Disability Stats and Facts • Approximately 20% US adults have disabilities • Approximately 11% are enrolled in institutions of higher education • Drexel-specific Data: • About 700 students have received accommodations in the past year • This number represents a 100% increase over the past 3 years

3. Who is a person with a disability? Someone who is substantially limitedin one or more daily life activities

4. What are people with disabilities entitled to?: Environments free from discrimination and reasonable accommodations

5. What are reasonable accommodations?: Adjustments which provide equal access to education, employment, goods and services without fundamentally altering the learning outcomes or essential job functions.

6. What would be considered “unreasonable”?: • An accommodation that gives an unfair advantage – or disadvantage – to the student with disabilities • Retroactive accommodations • An accommodation that keeps the student from learning or demonstrating as expected of other students • Pose an undue burden on the institution

7. Drexel University and Disability Resources • ODR Goals • Ensure accessibility • Protect from discrimination • Protect confidentiality • Provide academic and programmatic adjustments • Empower students • Educate the campus community

8. Drexel University and Disability Resources • ODR approves modifications or changes such as: • Classroom adjustments • Testing accommodations • Meal plan reductions • Adaptive technology • Physical accessibility • Interpreters and other service providers • Housing modifications …in efforts to provide “equal access” to the academic environment.

9. Registering with ODR • Students present medical documentation to ODR. • Students request specific accommodations due to their condition. • The ODR staff review documentation and determine if the requests are reasonable and appropriate for their courses, program of study, Co-Op job, clinical, etc.

10. Registering with ODR (con’t) • Accommodation Verification Letter (AVL) is issued, detailing the approved accommodation(s) for the current term. • The student then must present the AVL to the persons or entities that will then directly handle facilitating the accommodations. • **AVLs are good for one term only. Students must revisit ODR to receive an updated letter each term. • **ODR is the only designated entity responsible for reviewing documentation and approving accommodations.

11. Accommodation Verification Letter (AVL)

12. Rule of Thumb Treat a student with a disability exactly as you would treat anyone else, with exception ONLY to the accommodations listed on the Accommodation Verification Letter (AVL).

13. If You Have Received the AVL (1): • We encourage students to engage their professors in a conversation about the specific accommodations they are requesting in your class. • Once a student has delivered their AVL to the professor, it is the responsibility of the professor to arrange for the accommodations to be given. • Professors may request that TA’s assist them in facilitating certain accommodations

14. If You Have Received the AVL (2): • Consult resources available to you: • The front and back of the AVL • The ODR website Faculty Tab: http://www.drexel.edu/oed/disabilityResources/faculty/ • If you do not agree that one or more accommodations is reasonable, continue to give the accommodation until you’ve discussed and resolved with ODR.

15. Testing Accommodations • If the student is to receive testing accommodations, the professor has the option to: • Arrange for a space and proctor within the department • Arrange for the student to test at the Center City Alternative Testing Center or the Office of Disability Resources (University City Campus) • ODR-staffed Alternative Testing Centers are open Monday through Friday 8am-5pm

16. Test Proctoring Form

17. When and How to Refer to ODR • If a student has directly disclosed a disability, it is ok to let them lead the conversation, discussing what they feel is comfortable. • It is mandatory to refer anyone to ODR who tells you they have a disability (OED-2) • If a student has not directly disclosed a disability, please offer all campus resources, including ODR, as possible assistance.

18. Other On-Campus Resources • Departmental Tutoring • The Writing Center • The Math Resource Center • The Counseling Center • The Center for Academic Success • Drexel Learning Center • Drexel Autism Support Program (DASP)

19. Confidentiality • It is extremely important that a student’s disability, symptoms, registration status (with ODR) and all other disability-related information be kept confidential. • Do not share any of the above with anyone besides the student, ODR, and those who have a verifiable “need to know”. • Should other involvement due to the disability become necessary, please communicate with the ODR first.

20. Online Students with Disabilities • Same registration process • Many accommodations are no longer needed • Exam proctoring software may become an issue • Syllabus should have ODR-related statement

21. Questions? Ann Knettler-Smith Director, Office of Disability Resources 3201 Arch Street, Suite 210 215-895-1401 (PHONE) 215-895-1402 (FAX) ask66@drexel.edu http://www.drexel.edu/odr disability@drexel.edu