In high school, the school has responsibilities, which include the following:
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In colleges and universities:
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Identify students with disabilities
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Students must self-identify and a school is required to protect a student’s right to privacy and confidentiality
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Provide an evaluation of the student’s disability
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Documentation of the disability, including a professional evaluation, is the student’s responsibility
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Classify disabilities according to specified diagnostic categories
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Colleges have specific guidelines for documentation of a disability. The classifications or diagnosis of the condition is not as important. What matters is the functional limitation caused by the individual’s disability
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Involve parents or guardians in placement decisions in most circumstances or with very few exceptions
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Parents and guardian are not involved, and privacy laws may bar college staff from even discussing a student’s disability with parents unless permission is given by the student in writing
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Provide certain non-academic services
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Ensure that non-academic services are accessible, and do not discriminate
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Place students in programs by a placement committee with parent participation and approval
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There are NO IEP’s, 504 plans, or placement committees; a student must be a self-advocate
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Structure a large part of the student’s weekly schedule
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Students structure their own schedules Recommendations are made to the student, it is the student’s responsibility to follow recommendations and established procedures
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Modify educational programs
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Provide reasonable academic accommodations and/or auxiliary aids or services to accommodate the functional limitations of qualified students with disabilities, as indicated in appropriate documentation. Accommodations cannot lower or alter the standards of the program/course
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Prepare Individualized Educational Plans (IEP’s)
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College staff prepare accommodation letters that suggest reasonable accommodations, auxiliary or services without lowering or altering the standards of the program/course
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Provide a free and appropriate education
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The student requests accommodations and/or auxiliary aids, but chooses his/her own classes and programs, within a school’s requirements
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Inform parents of their procedural safeguards (right to due process, etc.)
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Inform students of their rights and responsibilities
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Elementary and secondary institutions provide accommodations to have their students BE successful (IDEA)
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Postsecondary facilities provide access and an equal OPPORTUNITY for students to be successful (Rehab Act, ADA)
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