The State University of New York

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The State University of New York
Operation Inform
Assisting Students with Special Needs
September 24, 2004
Cobleskill
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The State University of New York
Operation Inform
State University of New York wants your students!
Committed to access and equal opportunity Intent
is to level the playing field Does not require
institutions to alter requirements for admission
or graduation. Provides services and aids for
accommodation Reasonable accommodations provide
access, not a guarantee of success.
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The State University of New York
Operation Inform
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
States that any program or activity receiving
federal financial assistance may not discriminate
against any individual with a disability in the
United States
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The State University of New York
Operation Inform
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act
of 1990
Prohibits state and local governments from
discriminating on the basis of disability States
that a public entity shall furnish appropriate
aids and services where necessary to afford an
individual with a disability an equal opportunity
to participate in, and enjoy the benefits of, a
service, program or activity conducted by a
public entity.
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The State University of New York
Operation Inform
Examples of Types of Disabilities
Learning Disability Physical Disability Brain
Injury Psychiatric Needs ADD/ADHD
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The State University of New York
Operation Inform
Secondary Schools and Colleges are different
Laws, processes and procedures differ Parents
rights are different Locations of learning are
different Teachers roles are different
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The State University of New York
Operation Inform
Secondary Schools
Law protects students rights to a free and
appropriate education Guaranteed right to
education until student graduates or meets the
goals of IEP School is responsible for providing
students with a good education and special help
is scheduled into the program School is
responsible for evaluation and developing an
educational plan School is required to provide
services and document students use of the
services
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The State University of New York
Operation Inform
Colleges
Law protects right to an accessible
education Provides access, not the
education Different Laws ADA Title II and
Section 504 Allowed to apply, need to meet
institutions admissibility Student is responsible
for seeking and using accommodations Student is
responsible for obtaining evaluation and
developing their plan College communicates with
student not parents! Students must be their own
advocates
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The State University of New York
Operation Inform
The College Admissions Process
The student should apply through the Application
Services Center or Admissions Office Some schools
ask for self identification on the application
some do not but it can not be a mandatory
question Notify the Disabilities Services Office
of your situation and request information about
services Provide appropriate and current
documentation about the disability (see next
slide) Meet with the disabilities coordinator to
discuss accommodations
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The State University of New York
Operation Inform
Required Documentation
Must be comprehensive and current less than
three years old and must include diagnosis May
describe accommodations and provide
rationale IEPs, triennial reports and 504 plans
are NOT considered appropriate documentation Must
be prepared by an appropriate professional
medical doctor, psychologist, or other qualified
diagnostician The College/University will not
pay for the updating of required documents
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The State University of New York
Operation Inform
Types of Accommodation
Taped texts, notetakers, sign-language
interpreters, readers, videotext displays,
television enlargers, talking calculators,
electronic readers, Braille calculators, printers
and typewriters, telephone handset amplifiers,
closed-caption decoders, open and closed
captioning, voice synthesizers, specialized gym
equipment. Calculators or keyboards with
oversized buttons, reaching devices, raised-line
drawing kits, Assistive listening systems,
untimed or extended-time testing, exam scribing,
special parking, van service, special seating at
events, support groups, study skills sessions
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The State University of New York
Operation Inform
Success Stories
Brian Gatto. Diagnosed with ADD in elementary
school and told he shouldnt think about going to
collegebut as a champion wrestler a college
recruited him, he received accommodations
achieved great success! Received two
undergraduate degrees a BS in Psych, BA in
Business Is attending Columbia Law School this
fall
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The State University of New York
Operation Inform
Success Stories
Student at Plattsburgh. Enrolled through a
special program and worked very hard to achieve.
Secured an internship with the NYS legislature in
Albany very productive and fulfilling and
encouraged him to apply to law school. One of
the first in the state to use accommodations for
the bar exam.. Passed and is now working in the
DAs office in Syracuse.
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The State University of New York
Operation Inform
Success Stories
Gary Chan. BS in mechanical engineering Native of
Hong Kong but raised in NYC hit in the eyes with
a baseball as a child and diagnosed with juvenile
retinitis which caused immediate blindness.
Enthusiastic learner did research with renowned
researcher Ron Miles who studies flys ears to
develop new hearing aids. Will participate in
Teach America this fall where he will teach math
in the Bronx
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The State University of New York
Operation Inform
Where to get more info
Guidebook for the Applicant with Disability
(every 2 years) by the State University of New
York / System Administration / Office of
University Life Colleges Web sites Office of
Civil Rights www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/tr
ansition .html Section 504 and Title II
www.ed/gov/about offices/list/ocr/docs/auxaid.html
Western NY collegiate consortium of Disability
Advocates document www.ccdanet.org/differencesch
art.html
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The State University of New York
Operation Inform
Conclusion
SUNY wants your students! Encourage your students
to investigate the college choicesthey need to
be comfortable about the fit Every college is
required to offer accommodations to level the
playing field. And they all have specialists who
want to help Our students succeed!
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The State University of New York
Operation Inform
Thank you for attending!
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