What if your student has a Disability?

We encourage you both to learn about the rights and responsibilities that postsecondary institutions have toward students; being informed will assist in exploring the benefits of a postsecondary educational experience with little confusion or delay.

The following are excerpts with permission from the U.S. Office for Civil Rights publication entitled, Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities.

You can order a free copy of this publication by sending an email of your request to edpubs@inet.ed.gov, by calling toll-free 1-877-433-7827 (TDD users 1-877-576-7734), or fax your request to 301/470-1244. The complete publication is also available online at http://www.ed.gov/ocr/transition.html.

• Are there differences in my student’s rights and how they are addressed at a postsecondary institution?
• May a postsecondary institution deny admission on the basis of disability?
• Does my student have to inform the institution that they have a disability?
• What academic accommodations must a postsecondary institution provide?
• If my student needs an academic accommodation what must she do?
• Does my student have to prove she has a disability? What documentation should be provided?
• If it is needed who pays for a new evaluation?
• Once the institution has received the necessary documentation, what can we expect in terms of service?
• What if the academic accommodation offered is not working?
• Can the postsecondary institution charge my student for providing an accommodation?
• What are some free resources to assist my student with their success in a postsecondary environment?
• What can we do if we believe the institution is discriminating against my student?
• If we are not satisfied with the institution process and resolution what recourse do we have?

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