Generally the disabilities office gives the student a letter for each professor, stating that the student has registered with them but not naming the disability: that is up to the student in an interaction with the professor. At some schools the professor can look it up in a file. At some schools, the letter will list certain accommodations but some of the accommodations remain at the professors’ discretion.
Again, I would not rely on the disabilities office. I would not try to get professors to accommodate directly, but a dean or other staff person can e-mail the professor when a problem arises (and basically say you WILL give so and so extra time!).
Every school has its own system of course.
Once a major is established, professors in the department often know the student and there is more leeway. more easily.
It helps a lot when a student has a positive attitude about accommodations and holds up his or her end. For instance a student with a seizure disorder or migraines might want to get work done in advance to minimize the number of times accommodations are requested.
We crossposted about the normalizing of visits. I think we are all entitled to our opinions, but in my house, with a couple of kids with disabilities of one sort or another, I did not emphasize accommodation availability while they were applying to schools. I thought they should apply just like anyone else. a level playing field in all ways. When we visited, we did tours and info sessions, hung out in the dining hall and bookstore.
But once admitted it is necessary to be proactive, do whatever meetings are needed, file paperwork by the deadline that often comes up soon.
I feel kind of passionate about the idea that kids with all kinds of disabilities can accomplish wonderful things with the right support. Sometimes just small things make the difference. This really is a new frontier in diversity and things have gotten better over the years. Good luck!
ps I thought one of my kids would never make it through but she is now in a PhD program : )
Disclaimer: I am a PhD student and can only speak to my experience and the experiences of the undergrads I know with disabilities. (I have lupus which means I need a whole assortment of accommodations. I am active in disability things here on campus which is how I know undergrads with similar disabilities.)
I am at the University of Michigan and I can say every professor I’ve met goes above and beyond for their students who need accommodations. However, I only know professors in the humanities, social sciences, and public health. The campus is fairly accessible- especially if you can use and have a car- and you can schedule many of your classes on the central, flat campus.
I have been told by the undergrads that housing accommodations were adequate but I didn’t hear anyone rave about it. Then again, they are dorms.
I have found the disability office to be very helpful and having access to the extensive doctor network right on campus has been a godsend.
I hope you get some good answers on this thread, OP!
That said, I read the linked article and I’m not entirely sure all of the issues the young woman has encountered at Harvard are things she wouldn’t encounter elsewhere, too (unfortunately). For example, one of her complaints is that she can’t use the dorm laundry facilities due to scents/sensitivities, and that the Harvard-proposed accommodation (having the campus student laundry service launder her clothes) wouldn’t work for her because they use industrial laundry machines that may have traditional soap residue. I cannot think of any college in America that would believe/think it is within their ADA requirements to pay an external vendor to launder clothes for a student (this would be akin to paying for a personal attendant, which the courts have held is NOT a reasonable accommodation under ADA). Don’t misunderstand me - I am sympathetic to this young woman and think some of her complaints seem valid. However some of them do not seem reasonable to me under the ADA standard, and it’s good for students and families to understand the limitations of what they will receive when making decisions about higher education.
Disclaimer: I have had little (still, some) personal experience with accommodations, but many of my friends have had medical/associated issues that I have been privy to.
From my experience, certain types of accommodations are easier to come by than others. Notetaking services are readily available, and many professors are happy to record their lectures or distribute powerpoints–I’ve seen it happen even without a request from the disabilities center. Likewise, there doesn’t seem to be much resistance in terms of extended time on exams. Specialized housing and preferential registration are also easy to obtain at my school as long as arrangements are made well in advance–if you miss any deadlines, though, there’s no guarantee that it will happen until the next year.
The only time that I’ve seen problems is when a student is repeatedly unable to complete coursework or take exams (although this is usually in the case of a circumstance that arises during the semester, not one that is known in advance, so mileage may vary). While professors are happy to grant the occasional extension/waive one assignment/give a make-up exam, they are not as enthusiastic about multiple missed course components. If you think this may be an issue, I would suggest meeting with your advisor and even the dean of students before the semester begins to discuss your expectations. Ideally, one of those individuals should also notify your professors, but if they don’t, it’s up to you to meet with them as well. Laying out a precise schedule prevents you(r child) from having to beg for extensions later in the semester and keeps the professors from being caught off guard by any delayed assignments. For the most part, the faculty are happy to help you, but the discussion needs to be had in advance to keep it from looking like poor time management instead of the condition that is actually responsible.
It sounds like the woman in the OP didn’t do any prep for the regular things she needs. She knew she’d need laundry done, and it wasn’t a big deal for her father to set it up, but she expected that not only would the school know she couldn’t use the regular student laundry but that the school should set up a special service for her. I actually think she could have asked, before classes started, if there was one laundry room that could be declared fragrance free. Many other students would be happy to have that option. I had a boss who was allergic to scent and we all just switched laundry detergent and didn’t wear scents. I happen to like lotions and soaps without scent and would love to share a laundry room with her. Most kids don’t care if their laundry is scented.
She also complained that there aren’t enough clubs for her, but then stated she joined 3-4, and doesn’t really have time for more. I think she is a long way from home and things are hard. No different than a lot of other college kids who don’t like the noise and smells and limits on joining clubs.
@twoinanddone No, there’s a pretty huge difference between “other college kids who don’t like the noise and smells and limits on joining clubs” and wanting (reasonable!) accommodations in college for cystic fibrosis, a fatal illness. The fact that you have even drawn that parallel is pretty insulting, as a disabled person.
I have talked to Elsie (the girl interviewed in the article) before. She is an incredible young woman, and Harvard is lucky to have her.
@chasingMerit: Just want to say that I was also tremendously impressed with the young woman from the Harvard article, which is why I made the original post. I do think she is an asset to the University, and adds diversity to the campus in a very authentic manner. I also love the picture of her with the floppy-eared goat. I hope she sticks it out, and in fact changes Harvard from within.
The issues with my children is that they can suddenly get sick and miss a lot of school. It is not something we can plan for, and often there is no warning. They are also very sensitive to cigarette smoke or any other kind of smoke (such as camp fires). I know it sounds like a non-issue in these modern times, but I can’t tell you how many problems we have had with them being exposed to smoke. Typically they are asked to just deal with it, as if the non-smoking thing were a preference rather than a true medical issue for them. For example, when one of them was hospitalized, he was asked to wait for someone to wheel him outside to get picked up by a car (valet parking). But people (including staff) stand right outside the door of the hospital to take their smoking breaks. I went to one of the guards and asked him to stop the people from smoking. The guard acted like I was a complete nut-job making this request.
This hospital, I should mention, was on a University campus and is part of University system. There was a sign right there saying No Smoking.
I find that conventional accommodations are easy to talk about and easy to get with proper paperwork, but unconventional, truly individualized ones are difficult. For example Elsie’s issue with the fumes in her dorm room would not be a “pre-determined” accommodation. It only warranted accommodation when she got there and noticed the fumes. The fact that it took months to resolve is indeed troubling.
Thanks to everyone who made very specific recs for colleges. I really appreciate it. I guess what I am talking about is this type of creative problem solving (like Elsie’s dorm room issue), as I can’t always foresee what will arise with my children’s disabilities.
I have one applying now. Some of the schools mentioned above are on his list. Sorry I am so vague here, but we have such an unusual situation, and I would hate to inadvertently “out” them on CC.
Finally wanted to say to @romanigypsyeyes I am so glad to hear U of Michigan is doing a better job on disabilities at this time. I was part of protests to improve the disability accommodation situation at U of M in the 1980’s, as part of a class with Prof Buzz Alexander. Maybe we did make a difference after all…
I’m saying that other students would support having the scent free laundry accommodation if that meant this woman could be accommodated in her dorm. She needs it, they would either like it too or would just support her need for it. Easy accommodation for the school to do this for one laundry room. If one student needs a glutton free diet but others just prefer it or support it, why would that be a problem? Why not have a glutton free cafeteria for everyone who wants or needs it? Many people benefit from accommodations made under the ADA (ramps, steps, labels, lighting, automatic doors) even though they don’t have the disability the accommodation was designed to benefit.
Let me be clear: there are certainly issues but I’ve been to many different college campuses and this one feels relatively better than most. There are certainly areas on campus that I just can’t access when I’m in my wheelchair- like the school of public health if I’m not driving because of the hills around there (I don’t have an electric wheelchair and barely have the strength to push myself let alone on a hill).
The professors and disabilities office- in my/our experience- have been incredible but I can’t speak for those in STEM-related majors. There could be issues over there that I know nothing about.
I believe there is a current suit between Richard Bernstein (now on the Michigan Supreme Court) and the U of M for accessibility issues but I can’t find any details about it.
Funny that I stumbled on this thread, as I was literally just thinking about possible accommodations my D may need in college (as well as a summer school program she is hoping to attend this summer). She too has CF. I want to balance her being “normal”, but be ready for the what ifs.
I wonder if the CFF would have experience with getting colleges ready for our kids?
As a parent with a child with an invisible disability, I was always on the lookout during college visits for just how accessible the school really is to students with physical challenges. I can say I truly saw a lot of issues and think a lot of schools really are only “accessible.”
Rather than put ramps to front entrances, many schools make their accessible entrance in the rear. Which means a student with mobility issues now has further to walk as they have to go around every building to get in/out. We saw this at too many schools to name. We saw dining facilities, lounges, etc. with a few stairs here or there that would restrict a student who can’t do stairs to only certain areas. And too many places with small staircases without a handrail. Some schools have no problem putting you in a dorm with an elevator (or air conditioning), but you might pay more for those. The lower cost options aren’t always accessible.
The one piece that is really hard to evaluate is lecture halls. Will a student with a physical disability be stuck in the back row, or maybe the front one, because they can’t go up or down the stairs to sit elsewhere? I did hear from someone that Vanderbilt will work with students who have disabilities and change the class location if needed.
Kenyon college gives students with phsyical disabilities golf carts to drive around campus, but there were many other issues we saw there, including a lack of laundry facilities in each dorm. Lugging laundry around may not be possible for all students. It’s also so rural that access to medical specialists becomes an issue. (Something we’d overlooked when deciding to visit the school.)
For a while, my D was seeing a psychologist who specializes in helping kids learn to deal with chronic conditions. She was extremely helpful and advised us that larger schools that have shuttles and more modern buildings/dorms are often best for students with physical challenges. Some state school in Ohio (and it’s killing me that I can’t remember which one it was, but probably OSU) was going to provide one of her patients with a shuttle that picked him up and dropped him off for each class so he didn’t have to walk between classes. I know I’ve read of other schools doing this. I know someone with D’s issues that went to Stanford and said they were wonderful with accommodations.
Like others, we’re waiting to talk to the disabilities offices until we’re a bit closer to making a decision. We’re fortunate that D’s issues are fairly mild compared to what others deal with and aren’t progressive or terminal. My heart goes out to others with more severe issues, and I wish Elsie well with her studies and hope she is able to bring some much-needed attention to the issue of physical disabilities on college campuses.
The observation of physical access is a little easier than evaluating other aspects of accommodations, especially academic ones. Unfortunately, I do not really believe there is any way to tell in advance- others may disagree.
Hypothetical question: if a school had a ramp in the rear of the building, or inadequate steps in a lecture hall that forced back row seating, but in all other ways the school was a “dream school” in terms of size, location, academics, “vibe” and other factors, what would you want your child to do?
ps Higher priced dorms should be offered at the same price as lower price dorms, if the higher price dorms are the only ones that are accessible.
We have dealt with some of the same issues that you have at our large state flagship. In general, our school tries their best to accommodate our student within reason. However, the system is not perfect since it often relies on people following the rules which college students (and school employees) often don’t. For example, our campus is smoke free. However students will break that rule which causes my student to get sick for a week just because fellow student wanted to get high. No real way to stop that, only to minimize it.
What we found is that with documentations that our school will make reasonable accommodations. Room accommodations was easy. Scent free laundry accommodations not so much. That is a tough issue since you would probably need a lockable room that could only be use by a small number of students with that need. Even then, you could not guarantee that the students would only use a detergent that is safe for every student with access to that room. Just too many variables. For that reason, we did try to find a private laundry service for that.
Most of what you listed is fairly common. However, some of your requests will likely be at the discretion of the professor. Many professors will feel if you miss X classes then you have not fulfill the course requirements. This can be a case in discussion based courses where class participation is large percentage of the grade. I am not sure how that could be accommodated. In other classes, recording a lecture might raise issue with privacy when you are recording all the discussions that take place with the students. Some students might not want to speak up knowing that they are being recorded.
In our case, there were cases where accommodations just were not feasible. There are courses my daughter just cannot take. However, since it is a large school, she was able to avoid those courses in meet her requirements another way.
