Disabilities Services

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Disabilities Services
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Transitioning From High School to College
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Before Applying to College

• Choose a college based on the degree program that
  you have interest in pursuing.
• Review the college catalog for the graduation
  requirements of the college you are choosing.
• Understand the requirements for the degree
  program and the college.
• Contact the Admissions Office if you are
  interested in The Sage Colleges.

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The Process

• Apply to the college through regular Admissions
  Office.
• Notify the Disabilities Services Office of your
  situation and request information about services.
• Provide documentation requirements for your
  particular disability.
• Visit the campus. Make an appointment to meet
  with the Disabilities Services Office.

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Understanding Your Disability

• Understand and be able to describe/discuss your
  disability.
• Know the accommodations you need and why you feel
  they are reasonable.
• Be aware that what is reasonable in high school
  may not be reasonable in college.
• Know your responsibilities and rights under the
  law.

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Documentation Required

• Needs to be current. (Generally, within 3 years
  of current evaluation, or as scientific
  prevailing data warrants.)
• Needs to be comprehensive.
• May need to include test scores (if appropriate
  for your disability).
• Requires a diagnosis.
• If the report includes accommodations, it should
  give a rationale for the accommodations.

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Your Responsibilities When Entering College

• Once you choose to attend a college
• Self-identify
• Present proper documentation
• Complete the registration procedure required by
  the Disabilities Services Office on your campus.
• Setup a meeting with the Disabilities Services
  Office.
• Follow suggested time guidelines of the
  Disabilities Services Office to access and
  receive services.

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Differences Between HighSchool College
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In High School

• Parents are involved in the process, attending
  meetings and sharing in decision making
• Students, under 18, may not be involved in the
  process
• Teachers advocate for students, talking to others
  about their accommodations
• Law protects students right to a free and
  appropriate education
• IDEA applies
• You have a right to education until you
  graduate or meet the goals of your I.E.P.
• Youre allowed to attend the school in your
  attendance district without applying

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In College

• College communicates with the student, not the
  parents
• Students must be their own advocates
• This includes talking to instructors about
  accommodations
• Each semester, new instructor and new
  conversation!
• Law only protects students right to an
  accessible educational program
• Right of access, not right of education
• ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
  1973 apply
• You are required to apply for admission, and you
  may or may not be accepted
• Special consideration MAY be given to students
  who self-disclose a disability, BUT the minimum
  eligibility criteria have to be met to be admitted

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What does the Office of Disabilities Services do?

• Pre-admission counseling to respond to inquiries
  about support services to applicants and their
  families.
• Facilitates academic and career advising.
• Informs about and refers to college and community
  programs and services.
• Provides the campus with information resources.

• Assists students with
• Developing self-advocacy
• Suitable housing accommodations
• Academic accommodations
• Alternative testing accommodations
• Auxiliary aids and services
• Development of an education plan
• Getting appropriate academic support services,
  (tutoring, note taking, instructional aids)
• Resolving issues and concerns

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The Americans with Disabilities Act

•   The Sage Colleges is committed to responding to
  the needs of students with disabilities, as
  defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. A
  student seeking academic adjustments under the
  Americans with Disabilities Act must make a
  request in writing to the Coordinator of Services
  for Students with Disabilities. Any student in
  need of classroom assistance or modification
  under the Americans with disabilities Act must
  inform the instructor of the needed adjustment no
  later than the first week of class, and provide
  documentation from the Director of Students with
  Disabilities.
• To contact the Director of Disabilities
  Services
• 45 Ferry Street 140 New
  Scotland Avenue
• Troy, NY 12180 Albany, NY
  12208
• 518-244-2208 518-292-1764
• disabilities_services_at_sage.edu

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 What Should Be in An Evaluation?

• A written diagnosis that a learning disability
  exists.
• Recommendations for accommodation services.
• Recommendations for programs.
• This documentation can be used as a vehicle for
  the student to understand their strengths
  weaknesses, as well as obtain the accommodation
  services necessary to participate in regular
  college programs.
• Link to Psychiatric Evaluation Requirements

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Website Resources 

• ETS Documentation guidelines for AD/HD
• ETS Documentation guidelines for Learning
  Disabilities
• Educational Testing Service Webpage
• ADDA
• CHADD
• Information page sponsored by a drug company

• Council for Exceptional Children
• International Dyslexia Association
• Comparison Chart
• Steps to Becoming a Self Advocate
• National Center for Learning Disabilities
• Newsletter
• Learning Disability Association

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 Catalogue Information

• Services for Students with Disabilities
• The Sage Colleges promote self-advocacy for
  students with disabilities and facilitates a
  positive and adaptive learning environment for
  such students. Students seeking accommodations
  are required to present a recent evaluation of
  their disability conducted by a licensed
  professional. It is imperative that upon
  admission, students requesting accommodations
  contact the Director of Disabilities Services.

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Characteristics of College Students with Learning
Disabilities

• Reading
• Confusion of similar words, difficulty using
  phonics, problems reading multisyllablic words.
• Slow reading rate and/or difficulty adjusting
  speed to the nature of the reading task.
• Difficulty with comprehension and retention of
  material that is read, but not with material
  presented orally.

• Writing
• Difficulty with sentence structure, poor grammar,
  omitted words.
• Frequent spelling errors, inconsistent spelling,
  letter reversals.
• Difficulty copying from board or overhead.
• Poorly formed letters, difficulty with spacing,
  capitals and punctuation.

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Characteristics of College Students with Learning
Disabilities

• Oral Language
• Difficulty attending to spoken language,
  inconsistent concentration.
• Difficulty expressing ideas orally, which the
  student seems to understand.
• Problem describing events or stories in proper
  sequence.
• Residual problems with grammar, difficulty with
  inflectional or derivational endings.

• Math
• Difficulty memorizing basic facts.
• Confusion or reversal of numbers, number sequence
  or operational symbols.
• Difficulty copying problems, aligning columns.
• Difficulty reading or comprehending word
  problems.
• Problems with reasoning and abstract concepts.

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Characteristics of College Students with Learning
Disabilities

• Study Skills
• Poor organization and time management.
• Difficulty following directions.
• Poor organization of notes and other written
  materials.
• Need more time to complete assignments.

• Social Skills
• Difficulty reading facial expressions, body
  language.
• Problems interpreting subtle messages such as
  sarcasm.
• Confusion in spatial orientation, getting lost
  easily, difficulty following directions.
• Disorientation in time, difficulty telling time.

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You Are Not Alone
Robin Williams has a learning disability and ADD.
Tom Cruise has Dyslexia.
Keira Knightley has a learning disability.
Michelangelo had Epilepsy.