Transcript What Does it Mean to Have a Disability at Penn?

U-Life Professional Development Day
June 20, 2o12
Susan Shapiro
Lisa Burton-Grika
Student Disabilities Services
Weingarten Learning Resources Center
Reflections on Students with
Disabilities
1.
2.
3.
What comes to mind when you think
about a Penn student who has a
disability?
What kinds of experiences have you had
with students that have disabilities?
What are some of the strengths you have
seen in your students with disabilities?
What is the Definition of Disability?
An individual with a disability is a
person with a physical or mental
impairment that substantially limits
one or more major life activities.
(Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as Amended in 2008)
Major Life Functions Include but
are not Limited to:
 Walking
 Seeing
 Hearing
 Learning
 Thinking
 Concentrating
 Interacting with others
 Caring for oneself
What is Substantially Limited?
 Diagnosis alone does not guarantee accommodations
 Substantial limitation
 Manner
 Duration
 Severity
 Compared to most people.
Who are Penn Students with
Disabilities?
• Long history
• Identified in high school
• Newly identified at Penn
• Disability but no accommodations
• ???
Demographics
 806 students identified with SDS during the 2011
AY
 Equally distributed between males and females
 Over 3600 exams accommodated at SDS and
faculty accommodated at least an additional
1,000 exams
 All undergraduate and graduate schools
Count of All Disabilities on Record
*Students may have more than one disabilty.
Incoming Students By Disability 2012 Academic Year
Temporary, 50
Other, 17
Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder,
84
Consultation, 62
Learning Disability, 71
Chronic Health
Impairment, 30
Psychological, 29
Hearing Impairment, 5
Mobility Impairment, 4
Aspergers, 2
Visual Impairment, 3
TRENDS
• Students population is becoming
more complex
• Greater number of students with
anxiety
• Increase in number of contacts per
student
• Heightened expectations of
parents and students
• Increased time evaluating
documentation
• Increase in referrals and
collaboration with Penn resources
• Challenges with student accountability
• Increase in auxiliary services (braille
transcription, electronic text)
• Increased use of technology
Success for Students with
Disabilities
 Independence
 Use
Resources
 Capitalize on Strengths
 Self Determination
 Self Advocacy
EMPOWERMENT