How Disability-Friendly is the U of R?

By Ashley Foster, Mailing and Data Coordinator

FACT: The number of students with disabilities attending degree-granting institutions saw a 69% increase from 1999 to 2003, and there is little evidence to show there has been any sort of decrease since then.

As a current graduate student taking a course called Disability in Schools at the Warner School of Education, I recently wrote a paper on how the transition from high school to college is often difficult for students with learning disabilities. This got me thinking about all that we at the University of Rochester have to offer students during their transition to college:

Academics: The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) is a resource available to all students at the College and offers additional support for students with disabilities. For students who submit documentation of their disability, CETL can offer certain accommodations including alternative testing locations, notetakers, E-Text, enlarged print, and sign language interpreters, just to name a few. CETL has dedicated Disability Support Coordinators that review the accommodation requests and work with the student and faculty to enhance the student’s learning experience. CETL also offers study groups, study-skills workshops, and individual study-skills counseling.

In addition, each academic unit of the University has designated a Local Disability Resource Coordinator to assist with disability concerns and to implement reasonable accommodations.

The College Writing Program is another option open to all students at the College. The Writing Program staff offers tutoring and other writing support services, from the brainstorming stage all the way through the final draft, free of charge.

Health & Wellness: Rochester also has a health center right on campus, staffed with board-certified doctors and nurse practitioners. The University Health Service (UHS) provides a full range of primary-care services, including the treatment of illnesses and injuries, the management of ongoing medical problems, and advice and treatment for any health concern. In addition, UHS provides allergy injections, immunizations, physical therapy, laboratory tests, and referrals to specialists. UHS also offers time-limited therapy with mental health professionals at the University Counseling Center.

General Assistance: The University Disability Resources Coordinator is also available to all members of the University community to discuss concerns about disability-related issues. In addition, the Coordinator, often with the assistance of professionals in the community, can arrange for mobility instruction for those who are visually impaired, identify paths of travel for members of the community who use a wheelchair, and provide maps of accessible routes on campus.

If you’re interested in learning more about the University’s responsibilities to individuals with disabilities, please call University Intercessor Kathy Sweetland at (585) 275-5550.