By Brianna Burrows
The United States provides world class education and not just for a select few but for all individuals who seek to better themselves. Fortunately, the USA has some of the best disability and accommodation laws in the world and this extends to the education system as well. Many colleges and universities offer comprehensive resources and support to students with special needs. We’ve highlighted five great schools for students with specials needs:
University of Iowa
University of Iowa’s Student Disability Services provides extensive accommodations for students with special needs. They provide alternative exams services for students who need more time or a reduced distraction seating testing environment. They provide service for deaf and hard of hearing, media services such as printed classroom materials in alternate formats, and notetaking accommodations. For more information about University of Iowa’s Student Disability Services, click here.
Drexel University
Drexel University’s Office of Disability Resources (ODR) provides support and accommodations for students with a variety of special needs. The office provides adaptive technology such as the Kurzweil 3000 which is a program that allows students to see scanned book text while listening to the text being read. They can also make notes, highlight, and create guides on the interactive computer program. They also provide alternate formats of materials, note-taking assistance, and alternate testing accommodations. For more information about Drexel University’s Office of Disability Resources, click here.
Bellevue College
Bellevue College’s Disability Resource Center (DRC) provides one of the best programs for students with special needs. What makes Bellevue College’s program unique is their Autism Navigator Program to help students with autism fully reach their potential at Bellevue College. This programs serves many different spectrums of autism. The program provides students with continuous support with a peer mentor, called a Navigation Assistant, career preparation class with other students in the program, quarterly parent meetings, and facilitated communication with instructors. In addition to the Autism Navigator program, the center provides testing accommodations, Braille, interpreters, and adaptive technology and materials. For more information about Bellevue College’s Disability Resource Center (DRC), click here.
University of Arizona
University of Arizona’s Disability Resource Center (DRC) provides a full range of accommodations for students with special needs and other personal circumstances.
The Disability Resource Center provides support and resources for access to lecture content, accessible transportation, attendance flexibility, course substitution, document conversion, testing accommodations, food-related accommodations, interpreting/CART, pregnancy accommodations, service animal usage, and resources for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing. In addition to all these services and resources, they offer an Adaptive Fitness center to support wheelchair and adaptive athletes and disabled community members. The fitness center has a range of equipment specifically designed and accessible for wheelchair-uses. For more information about University of Arizona’s Disability Resource Center, click here.
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Regional Center for Learning Disabilities (RCLD) provides students with resources and strategies to efficiently meet their learning goals. The center provides weekly support through learning specialist, a two semester metacognitive strategy course for all freshman, counseling, accommodations for a variety of special needs, priority registration, and technological support. For more information about Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Regional Center for Learning Disabilities, click here.
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