Individuals with developmental disability need specially-tailored services and supports in order to fully participate in society, including housing, education, employment opportunities, civil rights protection services and health care coverage.
Once your child is registered with disability services Melbourne, a representative from disability services will work closely with them to identify reasonable accommodations that do not alter course or class requirements significantly.
Disabilities
Disability refers to any condition which limits physical, mental or cognitive functions and impacts many facets of daily life – from self-care to work and social interactions; disability can alter how others view us.
Disability can be visible or invisible and may be temporary or permanent in nature. They can affect people of all ages, races, genders and national origin. Down syndrome and cerebral palsy are congenital disabilities while some come about through illness such as heart disease and diabetes or through accidents such as strokes and dementia.
Colleges provide accommodations to students with disabilities under civil rights laws, which is coordinated through student disability services offices. Students typically register with these offices to access their accommodations, while professors are informed about them without knowing anything specific about what the disability entails; students can present letters detailing these accommodations to inform them.
Services
Services and supports are government or institution-provided activities designed to assist people with disabilities achieve their goals. These may range from assistance with daily living activities, housing assistance and educational support through to employment and recreational opportunities. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 established such an infrastructure of support in the U.S. that has since been replicated in other nations worldwide.
Most third level colleges provide disability/access services that will assist students with various accommodation requests for those with disabilities. Staff in these services ranges from individual members at smaller colleges to teams at larger universities.
Under ADA regulations, schools cannot ask about disability status as part of their admission process. However, it would be beneficial for students to discuss their needs with staff from disability services prior to starting school.
Accommodation
This are changes to rules, policies, or procedures that enable someone with a disability to participate or benefit from programs, activities, or services more fully. It should be reasonable in nature and agencies are not obliged to make accommodations that create undue hardship (meaning significant difficulty or expense on daily operations).
People living with disabilities may enlist disability support services to manage their personal care needs, including bathing, eating and dressing assistance. Furthermore, in-home help such as medical personnel assisting with medication or other tasks may also be provided.
Students with disabilities usually are given a designated contact at their college’s disability services office to work out “reasonable” accommodations for use during each semester; then typically receive a letter detailing these accommodations with regards to usage throughout each term – this information remains strictly confidential.
Accessibility
Services and supports are available to individuals with disabilities to ensure they can participate in school, work, and community activities. This may involve note takers, alternate testing systems and ASL interpreters as auxiliary aids; audio books; course outlines as accommodations etc.
At AMDA, our Disability Services Coordinators help our students with disabilities enjoy an inclusive educational experience. Their proactive, interactive process identifies reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
In order to qualify for services, you must be eligible with a documented disability that restricts at least one major life activity as defined by the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act or Section 504 in 1973 Rehabilitation Act of 1973, such as physical or learning impairments as well as sensory impairments. Your medical documentation is kept strictly confidential and will never be shared with instructors or other staff members.
