Students who attend public colleges and universities are protected against disability discrimination by Title II under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Many campuses are equipped with offices and services for college students with disabilities. The goal of these offices and services is to address accessibility, accommodation, and assistive technology for a diverse range of needs.

To begin receiving accommodations you must first register as a student with disabilities, this is done with the disabilities service office in your school. Disabilities offices have instructions for how to register for services on their website. Remember the name of the office does not necessarily need to have the word “disability” in its name, you can also look for words such as access, equity, or accommodations. You also need to provide evidence of a disability to get accommodations but remember that disclosing your disability to your school is completely optional. 

Examples of disabilities are, but are not limited to: 

  • Neurological conditions
  • Sense organ impairments
  • Musculoskeletal impairments
  • Emotional or mental illness
  • Respiratory conditions
  • Digestive ailments
  • Learning disabilities 
  • Organic brain syndrome 

However, you will need to disclose this information if you wish to receive academic adjustments. All colleges receiving federal funding must ensure equal access to students with disabilities, meaning they have to provide “reasonable” accommodations. 

Here are some typical academic adjustments institutions provide:

  • Sound amplification aids
  • Speech to text software
  • Accessible testing locations
  • Note-taking services
  • Priority class registration
  • Sign language interpretation
  • Course substitutions

Sources:

https://www.bestcolleges.com/resources/students-with-disabilities/

https://www.bestcolleges.com/resources/college-planning-with-learning-disabilities/

https://www.understood.org/articles/en/7-things-to-know-about-college-disability-services