Disability Services & Resources

Myths, Assumptions and Requests that are NOT considered Reasonable

College Admissions Myths

• Because of my disability, admission requirements will not apply.
• Colleges have to pay tuition and fees for students with disabilities and help with the cost of books.
• The college will need to create an independent study program for me and I can design it myself.
• I qualified for Social Security; therefore, I will get disability services in college.
• Accommodations are available only in some universities.

College Class Myths

• As long as I attend class and do the homework I will pass the class.
• Colleges will be violating the law if they don't give me one-on-one tutoring.
• My professors will give me nonverbal cues when I'm taking tests.
• My professors will have to let me take the test ahead of time, grade it and then allow me to take it with all of the rest of the class. (Recycle Tests)
• If I want them, instructors will give me their notes, outlines, study guides and a practice exam.
• I can find a tutor and the college will pay for the tutoring.
• Any absences will automatically be excused if I am sick or if it is disability related.
• Because of my disability, graduation requirements will not apply.

Accommodation Myths

• The accommodations I need will be the same in all classes.
• Once I enroll all of my accommodations will be taken care of.
• Whatever accommodations I say I need will be provided.
• The university will keep increasing my accommodations until I am able to pass the class.
• My tests will all be open book, since that was something they did for me in high school.
• I can take only half of the normal test. The tests will have to be shorter for me and all I need to do is ask the disability office for that modification.
• I can have the ASL interpreter I want.
• I see that the other student with disabilities in my classroom has been provided with a cushioned chair; if that's what handicapped students get, I should get one too.

Documentation Myths

• The college will provide the course modifications that are authorized on the last high school IEP or 504 plan.
• I don't need to ask for updated testing in high school since the college will test me for free.
• If I need more testing to verify my disability, the college will provide the testing.
• My doctor wrote the diagnosis on one of those pads like they write prescriptions on. It can be taken to any college and they will give me accommodations. They'll understand it.
• Since I provided the other college with documentation about my disability, all I need to do is bring the accommodation list to the college to which I am transferring.
• The college will be breaking the law if they do not provide the extras that I have written on the copy of the IEP that I gave them.

College Life Myths

• The college will assign a roommate to me who will help me get organized.
• Colleges will help me with my transportation needs from home or apartment to the campus.
• I don't need to buy an alarm clock or learn to use one; the college will call and wake me up in the mornings.
• The college will remind me to take my medications.
• The college will provide a nurse to monitor my needs, particularly to help me with my prescriptions or personal attendant needs.
• Since my self-concept is low and sometimes very low, the college will arrange for me to succeed in whatever I want.
• "Coaching" is one of the mandated services that colleges must provide to students who have disabilities.
• "Coaching" is a service that colleges provide students who have ADD.

Parent Myths

• I won't need to talk with the counselors and disability office staff because my parents will come along and they have always arranged things for me and made my class schedules.
• Parents are required to be there with me when I register and enroll in college.
• As a parent, I can arrange to have weekly progress reports like had been done all through school, from the 4th grade until graduating from high school.

(Thanks to the University of Oklahoma Disability services program.)

Sunday, 15-Jun-2008 15:21:11 CDT