Transcript Student Disability Services PRESENTATION FOR PARENTS OVERVIEW Student Disability Services  Provides in-classroom accommodations for students with disabilities.

Student Disability Services
PRESENTATION FOR PARENTS
OVERVIEW
Student Disability Services
 Provides in-classroom accommodations for students with
disabilities. Services are free to the student.
 Mission Statement: Student Disability Services promotes
each student’s learning experience by providing programs and
services for students with disabilities and education of the
campus community on issues related to students’ disabilities.
 Vision: The Department of Student Disability Services will
become nationally recognized as the leader in enhancing
student learning and development for students with disabilities
through the provision of direct academic services such as
classroom accommodations, tutoring, training, academic
counseling, and ongoing campus training and education.
OVERVIEW (cont.)
TECHniques Center
 A fee for service program that provides academic support for
students with a Learning Disability (LD) and/or Attention
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD).
 Mission Statement: The TECHniques Center is a program
within Student Disability Services. The only tutoring program
of its kind in Texas, the TECHniques Center provides
supplemental academic support services to meet the needs of,
and to promote the retention of, undergraduate students with
documented evidence of Learning Disabilities and Attention
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders. The TECHniques Center
supports students in maintaining their focus, accomplishing
their educational goals, and making education accessible to
those who learn differently.
ELIGIBILITY FOR SERVICES
 Students are eligible for services through
SDS programs if they qualify under the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
 ADA is very different from the Individuals
with Disabilities Educational Act (IDEA),
which governs elementary – high school.
 Students who are currently receiving
services in high school may not be eligible
for the same services in higher education.
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
EDUCATIONAL ACT (IDEA)
 Allows for modifications of classroom
material.
 Allows the school to alter curriculum to
meet the student’s needs.
 Allows for grading adjustments.
**These three items are emphasized here
because they are VERY different than
accommodations that are permitted under
ADA.**
 Focuses on assuring successful student
learning
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
(ADA)
 ADA is a civil rights act, not an
educational act.
 Requires that ELIGIBLE students have
equal access to the same information as
students without disabilities.
 Allows for reasonable classroom
accommodations for students with
disabilities.
 Outcome-neutral law that ensures equal
access but is not designed to guarantee
student success.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Accommodations can:
 Provide students with disabilities equal access to the same
information as nondisabled students.
 Provide students with disabilities the same opportunities to
demonstrate mastery as students without disabilities.
ACCOMMODATIONS (cont…)
Accommodations cannot:
 Reduce assignments.
 Allow a student to miss class.
 Alter course material.
 Allow a student to turn in assignments late.
 Alter testing methods.
 Provide options for students to not be penalized for spelling
errors if this in an integral component of the course.
 Affect the integrity of the course in any way.
TYPES OF ACCOMMODATIONS
 Extended time on tests and in class
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assignments.
Reduced distraction testing
environment.
Supplemental note-taking services.
Sign language interpreters.
Preferential seating.
Priority registration (not applicable
until after the student’s first
semester at TTU).
Use of assistive technology.
ACCOMMODATIONS (cont.)
 Accommodations are based on the documentation provided by
the student.
 Course substitutions are allowed in some areas, but require
extensive documentation that is both relevant and appropriate.
All course substitutions must also be approved by the
appropriate Academic Dean.
• More information on course substitutions in math and
foreign language can be found on our website at
www.studentaffairs.ttu.edu/sds
ELIGIBILITY AREAS
 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
 Learning Disabilities in all areas
 Chronic Illnesses
 Hearing Impairments
 Mobility Impairments
 Psychological disorders
 Visual impairments
INTERPRETERS
 Interpret for Deaf and hard of
hearing students with hearing
faculty, staff, and students on Texas
Tech’s campus
 Provide access to communication
for Deaf and hard of hearing
students so they can actively
participate in classroom discussions
DOCUMENTATION
 Documentation needs to be current for medical, psychological,
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and learning
disabilities.
 Students being re-evaluated in high school for LD need to make
sure that they are given a comprehensive assessment (full I.Q and
achievement tests).
 Student will need to show continual use of services if
documentation is outdated.
 Send what you have and we will be more than happy to evaluate
it before you get retested.
ESSENTIAL ASSESSMENT ELEMENTS
 A history of the disability
 Complete analysis of the testing data
 A description of the specific disability and its severity
 The expected long term impact of the disability
 A DSM-IV diagnostic code when appropriate
 Specific recommendations for reasonable accommodations
APPLYING FOR SERVICES
 Students can apply for services the semester before they plan to
attend Texas Tech.
 Applications cannot be processed until a student has been
accepted by the university.
 An application can be found on the Student Disability Services
website and may be submitted online or via US Mail, email scan,
or via fax at (806) 742-4837.
 After the completed file is reviewed, the student will be notified
of their status by an academic counselor.
CONFIDENTIALITY
 All student information, including
documentation that is submitted, is
kept confidential and secure
according to the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
guidelines.
 Information regarding the student’s
disability cannot be shared with
faculty, staff, or parents without
written permission by the student.
TECHNIQUES CENTER
 A fee for service program that addresses the needs of
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students with LD or ADHD.
Provides 4-5 hours a week of individual tutoring.
Provides assistance with time management, study skills,
and self advocacy skills.
Requires the student to meet weekly with academic
counselors to review progress and grades.
The TECHniques Center has a maximum enrollment of 185
students per semester.
3RD WEEK CHECK-UP
 In order to ensure that everything is
going smoothly with your student’s
accommodations, we will be
contacting the student during the 3rd
week of the semester. During this
phone call we will make sure the
student has handed out his/her
LOA’s, ask if the student is having
any complications using the
accommodations, and answer any
questions that the student may have.
MID-TERM GRADES
 The mid-term grades for all freshman will be posted by the
instructors. Student Disability Services monitors these
grades. Your student will be contacted by our office if
he/she has a letter grade of “D” or “F” posted for any
course.
 We will follow up with your student via a phone call to see
if the grade is due to content mastery, or a complication
with the course.
 If we should contact your student, we will suggest campus
resources that may benefit him/her.
TECHNOLOGY INSIGHTS
 Technology allows many of our
students to easily access information
and study tools related to their
courses.
 For some of our students technology
involves screen readers, electronic
books, Braille, CCTV, etc.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Student Disability Services
Texas Tech University
Box 45007, 335 West Hall
Lubbock, Texas 79409-5007
(806) 742-2405
TECHniques Center
242 West Hall
(806) 742-1822
www.depts.ttu.edu/students/sds
The end