Information about the ADA Disbility & Resource Center
What is the purpose of the Center?
The ADA & Disabilities Resource Center staff works to ensure that students with disabilities have equal opportunity to pursue a higher education.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 provide the laws under which the Center functions.
The ADA Center strives to provide qualified individuals with equal access to educational, recreational and social activities at ISU. We refer students, faculty and staff to appropriate on and off campus agencies and organizations to supplement Center services.
Who may access the ADA Center?
ISU students, faculty and staff who have a disability, have a record of a disability, or are perceived as having a disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities, may apply for services at the Center.
Persons who are blind, deaf, have mobility impairments or diseases such as diabetes, asthma or cystic fibrosis may receive services. Accommodations are also provided for individuals with learning disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and psychological disabilities, among others. Information regarding the nature of an individual's disability is held in strict confidence.
What are the individual's responsibilities?
The ADA Center encourages each individual to strive for maximum independence in the pursuit of personal, academic, and vocational goals. In order to be considered for services, one must:
- Self-identify to the ADA Center.
- Provide current, valid documentation of disability by a licensed physician or psychologist, together with test results.
- Schedule an appointment with the ADA Center to discuss accommodations. Once accommodations are discussed and identified, the individual agrees to:
- Personally deliver a memo generated by the ADA Center to instructors or employer and discuss special needs with them.
- Work with instructors or employer to implement accommodations.
- Maintain contact with the ADA Center and follow policies and procedures with regard to renewing Letters of Accommodation, scheduling exams, checking email for policy changes, etc.
What kind of documentation is required?
Current documentation from a qualified medical or psychological professional is required in most cases. Documentation should be in the form of medical records &/or psychological test reports, and include diagnosis, prognosis, and recommended accommodations. Notes on Prescription pads are not acceptable.
What types of accommodations are typically provided?
Some common accommodations include:
- Assistive technology
- Enlarged type
- FM systems
- In-class note-takers
- Nonstandard test-taking accommodations
- Permission to tape record lectures
- Priority registration
- Scribes
- Seating arrangements
- Sign language interpreters
- Structural barrier removal
- Test proctors
- Textbooks on tape
- Transcribers
- Use of the Accessibility Van
When is the best time to apply for services?
To maximize the effectiveness of accommodations, we urge individuals to apply for ADA Center services 6-8 weeks prior to needing them. Some accommodations take 4-6 weeks to accomplish.
Qualified individuals are encouraged to contact the Center prior to or upon enrollment at ISU. It is our responsibility to make every effort to accommodate your needs. If you encounter structural or attitudinal challenges, please contact the Center.
What other resources are available?
Students may also be interested in the following resources
- Content Area Tutoring
- Academic Skills Center - Math Center
- Writing Center
- Idaho Commission for the Blind
- ISU Counseling and Testing Center
- Easter Seals
- Assistive Technology Specialists
- ISU Facilities Committee
- ISU Psychology Clinic
- Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic
- Student Health Center
- TRIO Support Services - Tutoring and More
- Vocational Rehabilitation
What recreational activities are available?
- Cooperative Wilderness Handicapped Outdoor Group (C.W. HOG)
- Adaptive physical education classes
- Movie theater access