Comparison�of�Disability�in�High�School�and�College 

Disability�Services�for�Students 

High School�College 
Under IDEA, children with�disabilities are absolutelyentitled 
to a �Free and Appropriate Public Education.� 
Equal access to education�is the order�of the day� no one is 
entitled to anything, but rather�students have civil rights and�theymust advocate for themselves in�order to enjoythose rights. 
Section 504 in�the public schools includes �Free and�Appropriate Public Education� language, and�accommodations mayinclude a shortening of assignments, or�the use of notes on tests, when�other�students cannot use 
them. 
Section 504 is the first civil rights legislation�that applied�to�colleges. It upholds the institution�s right to maintain�the 
academic standards, andno accommodations maybe permitted�to reduce that standard�for anystudent. Thus there isno �free� 
education, and shortening�assignments and usingnotes when�other�students donot are not considered �reasonable 
accommodations.� 
Plans, either�the IEP or a 504�Plan, drove all services and�accommodations, and�involved�the teachers, counselors, and�absolutelyrequired�a parent�s signature. 
There is no plan, and instructors are not contacted, except by the 
student. In fact, parents maynot receive even a student�s grades 
without the student giving�written�permission. 
�Placement� is determined�bythe child�s �team,� and outlined�in the plan, and must, bylaw, be in the least restrictive 
environment. 
Placement integration is assumed, and�is the order of the day. 
We adjust the environment through�accommodations, but we 
don�t deliberate and�select the environment for the student in�advance. 
Students were qualified�for public education simplyby being�of the appropriate age, and�because theyhad�a disability. 
�Otherwise qualified,� in�college, means that the student must 
meet all entrance and academic requirements, whether�they�receive accommodations or�not. 
Everybodyknew about a student�s placement, and practically�everybodysigned�the plan. Each�teacher�would�know about a 
student even before he or�she entered the classroom, andhave 
a good�idea what the student�s needs were. 
DSS never contacts a professor without express permission�from 
the student. Thus, the student must initiate all actions regarding�accommodation�with�each professor, for each�course, every�semester. In�addition, studentshave the civil right to refuse 
accommodations theydon�t need�or�want; and�if theydo not 
request an�accommodation�it is assumed�theydo not want it. 
Public schools, for the most part, areresponsible for�appropriate assessment of a student�s disability. 
Higher�education�does not have to assess the student, but can�expect that the student will provide proof of their disability�within�accepted�guidelines. 
Some subjects mayhave been waived�for a student before 
graduation, iftheywere specificallyrelated�to the student�s 
disability. 
Substitutions for specific graduation requirements maybe 
requested�byfollowing�a rigorous petition�process, but 
�waivers� for requirements are never granted. Substitutionsare 
also granted�typicallyafter the student has both provided�adequate verification to DSS of their�disabilityand 
unsuccessfullyattempted the courses in�question�with�the 
appropriate accommodations recommended�byDSS. 
Labels are a wayto categorize people. Student has a right to disclose to whom and when theychoose, 
but must own their�disabilityin�order to enjoya level playing�field. 
Assessment, physical or other�therapy, or personal care 
provided�byschool while in school. 
Student is responsible for personal services personal care, 
medical and�related�requirements, just as if they would�if they�were living independentlyandnot attending school. 
Students often receive �Untimed�tests� 
if theyhave a 
disability. 
�Untimed�tests� 
are not reasonable, but time extensions may be 
reasonable, typicallytimeandahalf 
but no more than�double 
time. 
Teachers maybe expected�to learn all theycan about the 
disabilityof a student in�one of their classes. 
Professors need�know onlythat which applies tothe 
accommodations the student requests.