- FAQs
A. Physical Disabilities
B. Sensory Disabilities
C. Cognitive Disabilities
D. Mental Health Disabilities
- Resources
- Local Colleges & Universities
Updated November, 2005
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Each year thousands of persons living with disabilities look into or attend the nation's colleges and universities. Unfortunately, many problems occur when students don't make sure that the schools meet their needs.
Schools vary in their ability to provide high quality accommodations for all types of disabilities. This depends upon the budget, the size and time allotted to the disabilities support staff, their level of expertise, history and track record of disabled students' attendance and level of interest. Most schools should have a coordinator of disabled students' services. This individual's function is to provide information and assistance to prospective students and to coordinate services to matriculating students. Schools that do not have an office of disability support services provide the service through a specific department such as counseling and career services. These coordinators can provide information on the location of the nearest vocational rehabilitation office.
The following are some questions that may assist students in making the right choices, or in advocating for changes. These are suggestions, not guidelines, meant to assist students. Although the information is divided into disability types, it is advisable to read the entire document to acquire additional information.
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A. Physical Disabilities
- Are the campus grounds wheelchair accessible? Are there wheelchair ramps, curb cuts, clear pathways, lowered parking meters, lowered mailboxes, lowered telephones and elevators?
- Are the campus buildings accessible? Are there wider doorways to accommodate wheelchairs? Are the halls wide enough to accommodate large wheel chairs and student traffic? If not, is there a strictly enforced policy to allow students in wheelchairs to travel ahead of their non-disabled peers? Are elevators equipped with lowered buttons and is the speed of the elevator doors slow enough to allow individuals to enter and leave comfortably? Are telephones lowered for easy reach?
- Are the bathrooms accessible? Are there wider doorways, stalls, higher commodes and lowered sinks? Are all other necessary fixtures lowered for easy access?
- Are the college-run eating facilities accessible? Are there wider doorways and accessible bathrooms within ease of reach? Are the aisles wide enough for wheelchair movement? Are the counters lowered for easy cafeteria service and is there assistance if they are not?
- Where can personal care attendant services be acquired?
- Does the University have any classroom furniture for accommodations? Are there note takers, readers on and off campus for those with functional limitations and specialized computer keyboards, such as a one-handed keyboard? Is there recording equipment should a person have need for it? Can the professor provide lecture notes? Are students given extra time on tests and are the instructors briefed on how to work with their students with disabilities? Are there tutorial services available? If lab work is required, is there assistance in laboratories?
- Do they provide transportation throughout the campus for persons with disabilities and make available information and training on how to use public transportation?
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B. Sensory Disabilities
- For persons who are hearing impaired or deaf, are there on and off campus sign language interpreters, note takers and assistive listening devices in the conference halls to assist individuals who are hearing impaired? Are students given extra time on tests and are the instructors briefed on how to work with their students with disabilities? Are there readers on and off campus for those with functional limitations? Are there tutorial services available? ? If lab work is required, is there assistance in laboratories?
- Are there TTY's in the libraries, buildings and dormitories? Are there strobe light fire alarms with signage?
- For persons who are blind and visually impaired, is there travel instruction to aid students in learning the campus grounds and buildings? Are building and campus signs written in large bold letters for easy viewing? Is there Braille signage on elevators, doorways and telephones?
- Is there assistance in the cafeteria? Are menus in Braille and in large print?
- Are there four-track or two-track tape recorders with variable speed and tactile markings? Are there Braille writers and Braille printers, talking computers and scanners in the libraries and other places on campus? Are there books and materials in large print? Are there CCTVs or other magnifying devices available on and off campus? Are there readers and braille transcribers on and off campus, for tests and other materials? Is there information on where books can be recorded? Is there information on volunteer and paid readers? Are there any recorded or Braille materials in the library? Where is the location of the nearest special needs library? If lab work is required, is there assistance in laboratories?
- Where can other assistive technology and reader services be acquired? Are there readers for study and/or examinations? Are there tutorial services available? Is extra time given for testing and can lecture notes be provided for study?
- Do they provide transportation throughout the campus for persons with disabilities and make available information and training on how to use public transportation?
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C. Cognitive Disabilities
- Is there assistance in learning the campus and are maps available?
- Are there pictorial descriptions of how to get around the buildings and where rooms are located?
- Will the cafeteria staff assist in providing directions and information on food and insure that proper change is given?
- Is there computer software to assist with learning? Are there talking computers? Do the computers have naturally speaking or other voice input devices? Are there remedial classes and learning materials? Are there special materials that are pictorial in nature? Where can other assistive technology and reader services be acquired? Are there readers, on and off campus, for study and/or examinations? Are there tutorial services for persons with cognitive disabilities available? Is extra time given for testing and can lecture notes be provided for study?
- Do they provide transportation throughout the campus for persons with disabilities and make available information and training on how to use public transportation?
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D. Mental Health Disabilities
- Is there assistance in learning the campus and buildings and are maps available?
- Are books and other printed material available on audio or videotape?
- Are there specially trained tutors to work with persons with severe mental illness? Are there readers, on and off campus, with functional limitations? Where are campus and off-campus counseling centers, clinics and psychiatric facilities? Where are hot lines, support groups, and social networks? Are there any facilities for relaxation and stress management on campus?
- Is extra time given for testing and can lecture notes be provided for study?
- Do they provide transportation throughout the campus and make available information and training on how to use public transportation?
We have attempted to address some of the issues that students with disabilities face as they prepare for or continue to matriculate. Additional resources are listed below.
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FastWeb - scholarship and college application website.
www.fastweb.com
Federal Student Aid Information Center
www.fafsa.ed.gov
1-800-FED-AID
HEATH Resource Center - The national clearinghouse on postsecondary education for individuals with disabilities.
www.heath.gwu.edu
202-973-0904
National Association of the Deaf
www.nad.org
301-587-1789
National Mental Health Consumers Self-Help Clearinghouse
www.mhselfhelp.org
1-800-553-4539
Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic
www.rfbd.org
1-866-732-3585
Self-Help for the Hard of Hearing
www.geocities.com/dcshhh
202-541-6255
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Two-Year Schools
Anna Arundel Community College
101 College Parkway
Arnold, MD, 21012
410-647-7100
www.aacc.cc.md.us
Community College of Baltimore County
800 South Rolling Rd
Baltimore, MD 21228
410-455-6050
www.ccbcmd.edu
Howard Community College
10901 Little Patuxent Parkway
Columbia, MD 21044
410-772-4800
www.howardcc.edu
Montgomery College
900 Hungerford Dr
Rockville, MD 20850
301-279-5000
www.montgomerycollege.org
Northern Virginia Community College
4001 Wakefield Chapel Road
Annandale, VA 22003
703-323-3000
www.nv.cc.va.us
Prince George's Community College
301 Largo Rd
Largo, MD 20774
301-336-6000
www.pgcc.edu
Four-Year Schools
American University
4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20016
202-885-6000
www.american.edu
Bowie University
14000 Jericho Park Road
Bowie, MD 20715
301-860-4000
www.bowiestate.edu
Capitol College
11301 Springfield Rd
Laurel, MD 20708
301-953-3200
www.capitol-college.edu
Catholic College of America
620 Michigan Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20064
202-319-5000
www.cua.edu
College of Southern Maryland
8730 Mitchell Rd
P.O. Box 910
La Plata, MD 20646
301-934-2251
www.csmd.edu
Columbia Union College
7600 Flower Avenue
Takoma Park, MD 20912
(301) 891-4000
www.cuc.edu
Coppin State College
2500 W. North Ave
Baltimore, MD 21216
410-951-3000
www.coppin.edu
Corcoran College of Art & Design
500 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
202-639-1800
www.corcoran.edu
DeVry University- Crystal City
2341 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, VA 22202
866-338-7932
www.devry.edu/locations/campuses/loc_arlingtoncampus.jsp
Gallaudet University
800 Florida Ave, NE
Washington, DC 20002
202-651-5750
www.gallaudet.edu
George Mason University
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
703-993-1000
www.gmu.edu
George Washington University
2121 I Street NW
Washington, DC 20052
(202) 994-1000
www.gwu.edu
Georgetown University
37th and O Streets, NW
Washington, DC 20057
202-687-0100
www.georgetown.edu
Howard University
2400 Sixth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20059
202-806-6100
www.howard.edu
Maryland Institute College of Art
1300 Mount Royal Ave
Baltimore, MD 21217
410-225-2222
www.mica.edu
Marymount University
2807 North Glebe Road
Arlington, VA 22207
703-522-5600
www.marymount.edu
Southeastern University
501 I Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024
202-488-8162
www.seu.edu
St. Johns College
P.O. Box 2800
Annapolis, MD 21404
800-727-9283
www.stjohnscollege.edu
Strayer University
1025 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-408-2400
www.strayer.edu
Trinity College
125 Michigan Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20017
202-884-9400
www.trinitydc.edu
University of Baltimore
1420 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-837-4200
www.ubalt.edu
University of Maryland at College Park
College Park, MD 20742
301-405-1000
www.umd.edu
University of Maryland University College
3501 University Blvd, East
Adelphi, MD 20783
301-985-7000
www.umuc.edu
University of the District of Columbia
4200 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 274-5000
www.udc.edu
Walden University
1001 Fleet Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
612-338-7224
www.waldenu.edu
To find other colleges outside of the DC Metro area you can use one of the following links.
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