Students With Disabilities Can Get an Education
Educational Benefits and Options for Disabled College Students
Jul 18, 2009
Students with disabilities have more academic options than they may realize. Laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1996, and a better understanding of health care, have created opportunities for people with disabilities to overcome their shortcomings, master skills in the classroom and translate those skills to the real world.
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1996 opened doors for all disabled persons. Zoning and building guidelines were established. Employers are now required to accommodate employees with disabilities, as long as the accommodations don’t put undue hardship on the employer. Ramps, wider doorways, and electrical door openers are just some of the changes that the law has brought about.
Thanks to these changes, and other changes in the education system, students with disabilities have access to all of the same educational benefits that fully able bodied students do.
Some of the main changes in education that have benefited students with disabilities are tutoring of subjects, the presence of a disability liaison on campus, and services provided by other students like note taking and transportation.
Tutoring for Students With Disabilities
Colleges routinely offer tutoring in both group and individual settings on subjects such as math, science, English, and computer training. If a student has a learning disability, tutors can work with him one on one so that the student can overcome his specific condition and minimize its impact on learning and classroom performance.
Tutors also teach different methods of learning material for better retention. Some students learn better by hearing while others learn by doing. Others learn by learning visually. Tutors can use any combination of techniques to help students understand material for classes.
Many campuses offer work-study programs. Students with disabilities can take advantage of these programs as a way to help them gain experience while still working in a nurturing environment. They can gain people skills and computers skills, just to name a few.
Some students may be hesitant to approach their professors directly about their disabilities. Disability liaisons on campus can help the student qualify for special accommodations, such as changes in seating and special equipment for access to computers. Most colleges have a disability counselor or coordinator who can be a student’s advocate in the classroom. The liaison can also act as the student’s academic advisor in some cases.
Services for Disabled Students Include Financial Aid and Counseling
Students with disabilities are also eligible for additional financial aid. Some college specific scholarships and private scholarships are available for persons with disabilities. Other hardships, such as poverty and discrimination, are also considered when applying for specific scholarships. Students should contact their financial aid department for information on financial aid, loans, grants, and scholarships that they may be eligible for.
Some colleges have clubs for students who have certain challenges. Students should ask their disability coordinator for assistance on how to get together with others in their situation. Group counseling sessions may also be available. Most colleges offer short and long term counseling. A counselor can help a student with a disability deal with the new challenges of college.
On some college campuses, there are clubs where students volunteer to help their fellow students who have disabilities by carrying books and escorting them to class. This service provides a needed service to the student and a chance to become more social and decrease isolation due to their disability.
Students with disabilities have more options today that even a decade ago when it comes to receiving a quality education. New laws have created awareness for people with disabilities and increased future job prospects after graduation.
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