The transition to higher education is not an easy one in the slightest. From the high pressure of school and life balance to the complex inner workings of the higher education system, the task of getting your college education can seem daunting. This overwhelming list can get so much longer when disability issues are added into the mix. As a student with a disability myself, I know how hard it is to ask for help, but once you have it, it can feel like a weight lifted off your shoulders.
A Short History
The American Disabilities Act of 1990 provided protection to people with disabilities from discrimination and legal required accommodations. This is not only applied in the workforce, but also in postsecondary education. (This includes students at Prairie State.) Access and Disability Services are required to provide available accommodations to students with documented disabilities. So what counts as a disability? More than you probably would think! Anything that impairs walking, seeing, breathing, and thinking COUNTS as a disability, even if the impairment is temporary. A few examples of qualifying disabilities are:
- Epilepsy
- Diabetes
- Visual impairment
- Hearing impairment
- Neurodivergency (Autism, ADHD, OCD, Tourette’s, etc.)
- Any disability that requires a wheelchair, crutches, or canes
There are so many disabilities that are protected by the ADA to help students get the accommodations they need.
What Accommodations?
So, unfortunately, disability services can’t give you an automatic A, even though we all wish it could! HOWEVER, it can provide some really helpful resources to give students the best chance of success. Accommodations are set on a case by case basis to a student’s needs but can look like more time to take a test, or reducing distractions while testing. Each student with documentation has the opportunity to work with a member of disability services to figure out the proper help needed.
Accommodations for Everyone
Even students without documentation can go on D2L and find accommodations on the platform. D2L has ReadSpeaker that provides text to speech options for students that need or prefer auditory learning.
How to Get Started with Accommodations
- Visit and review the Office of Access and Disability Services web page.
- Review the following documents:
Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities
from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights:
Differences Between High School and College Level Accommodations - Complete and submit the online Office of Access and Disability Services Intake Form.
- Complete and submit the Accommodation Request Form (if you are registered and have a class schedule).
- Provide appropriate documentation of disability.
- Visit the following link for documentation guidelines: https://prairiestate.edu/student-services/disability-services.aspx (Click the “Documentation” tab.)
- Please send documentation via email to disabilityservices@prairiestate.edu for review.
- Schedule and Attend an Intake Appointment.
- Intake Appointments will be conducted virtually through Google Meet.
- Please send a few dates and times that you are available to: disabilityservices@prairiestate.edu.
- Scheduled Appointments will be confirmed via email.
You can also call Access and Disability Services at (708) 709-3755
Pioneers 