Frequently Asked Questions
Know Your Rights
More and more high school students with disabilities are planning to continue their education in postsecondary schools. Students will need to be well informed about their rights and responsibilities as well as the responsibilities of colleges. This will improve success and help ensure the full benefits of the postsecondary education experience.
Q. As a student with a disability leaving high school and entering postsecondary education, what are my rights?
A. Your postsecondary school is required to provide appropriate academic adjustments as necessary to ensure that it does not discriminate on the basis of disability. In addition, if your postsecondary school provides housing to nondisabled students, it must provide comparable, convenient and accessible housing to students with disabilities at the same cost.
Q. May a postsecondary school deny my admission because of a disability?
A. No. If you meet the essential requirements for admission, a postsecondary school may not deny your admission simply because you have a disability.
Q. Do I have to inform a postsecondary school that I have a disability?
A. If you want the school to provide an academic adjustment or assign you to accessible facilities, you must identify yourself as having a disability and describe what you need in order to be able to succeed. Otherwise, no.
Q. What academic adjustments must a postsecondary school provide?
A. The appropriate academic adjustment must be determined based on your disability and individual needs and may include auxiliary aids and modifications to academic requirements such as reducing a course load; substituting courses; providing note takers, recording devices, sign language interpreters, and extended time for testing.
In providing academic adjustments, postsecondary schools are not required to lower or effect substantial modifications to essential requirements or make modifications that would fundamentally alter the nature of a service, program or activity, or would result in undue financial or administrative burdens. Nor do they have to provide services of a personal nature such as PCA’s, mobility aids, readers, tutors or typists.
Q. When should I request an academic adjustment?
A. Although you may request an academic adjustment from your postsecondary school at any time, you should request it as early as possible to ensure that your school has enough time to review your request and provide an appropriate academic adjustment.
Q. Do I have to prove that I have a disability to obtain an academic adjustment?
A. Generally, yes. Your school will probably require you to provide documentation that shows you have a current disability and need an academic adjustment.
Q. What documentation should I provide?
A. Schools may set reasonable standards for documentation, and some may require more than others. You may need to provide documentation prepared by an appropriate professional, such as a medical doctor, psychologist or other qualified diagnostician. The documentation should provide enough information to help decide what is an appropriate academic adjustment.
Q. What if the academic adjustment we identified is not working?
A. Let the school know as soon as you become aware that the results are not what you expected. It may be too late to correct the problem if you wait until the course or activity is completed.
Q. May a postsecondary school charge me for providing an academic adjustment?
A. No. Furthermore, it may not charge students with disabilities more for participating in its programs or activities than it charges students who do not have disabilities.
Q. What can I do if I believe the school is discriminating against me?
A. Practically every postsecondary school must have a person who coordinates the school’s compliance with Section 504 or Title II or both laws. You may contact this person or OCR for information about how to address your concerns.
Students with disabilities who know their rights and responsibilities are much better equipped to succeed in postsecondary school. Work with the staff at your school because they want you to succeed. Seek the support of family, friends and fellow students, including those with disabilities. Know what you need and be prepared to explain what works for you. Know your talents and capitalize on them, and believe in yourself as you embrace new challenges in your education.
To read the complete document, or to order your own copy, visit the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html?src=oc).
