College and University Blog
Assistance for the Disabled Student: Getting the Help You Need
A student with a disability needs to be well informed of their rights and responsibilities. Schools also have responsibilities when it comes to the education of disabled students.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Title II) prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. Almost all postsecondary schools are subject to one or both of these laws.
These laws mean that your school is required to provide appropriate academic accommodations as necessary to ensure that it does not discriminate on the basis of disability. If your school provides housing to non-disabled students, it must provide comparable, convenient, and accessible housing to students with disabilities at the same cost. You also cannot be denied admission to a school simply because you have a disability.
Disclosure of a disability is entirely voluntary. However, if you require an academic accommodation or want to ensure you are assigned to accessible facilities, you must identify yourself as having a disability.
Most colleges have an office that provides support services to students with disabilities. They can advise you of the process of requesting an accommodation. It is wise to request accommodations as early as possible. You should follow your school