College Students with Disabilities. A Desk Reference Guide for Faculty and Staff

This reference guide is designed to assist faculty and staff at Mississippi State University to provide reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities as required by federal law and endorsed by the mission of the university. Section 1 summarizes requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and recent legal decisions. Section 2 outlines responsibilities of students, faculty and staff. The next section outlines reasonable accommodations for students with the following disabilities: orthopedic/mobility impairment, blindness/visual impairments, learning disabilities, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, traumatic brain injury, deafness/hearing impairments, speech and language disorders, psychological disorders, and other disabilities. Also provided are suggested teaching strategies (such as speaking distinctly and at a relaxed rate and working with the student to make arrangements for accommodations). Tips on disability awareness address appropriate language and appropriate interaction. Relevant university resources and available adaptive equipment are listed. An agreement form for tape recording lectures and an accessibility checklist complete the manual. (DB)