More Rights and Responsibilities of Students with Disabilities

A short guide to knowing and understanding the law and what it means to you.

• Student Rights
• Accommodations
• Disclosure
• Student Responsibilities

Warning! "The following links will take you to sites outside the Cuesta College web server. Cuesta College has no control over the content or availability of these sites."

In college you are responsible to make sure that your needs are met. Two federal civil rights laws can assist you in reaching your school goals. These laws are called the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. These laws provide students with these rights:

• the right to equal access to postsecondary education;
• the right to non-discrimination;
• the right to participate in, and enjoy the benefits of your school;
• the right to an accessible education;
• the right to an appropriate accommodation;
• the right to have information about your disability kept private.
• What rights do you have that are not currently being met?

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

Understanding the laws can assist you in achieving success as a student. Many web sites on the Internet can help you learn more about how these laws relate to you. One site that answers many of the questions you may have is located at:

In addition, the state you live in may have laws, often called "human rights laws," which prohibit discrimination and require equal access for people with disabilities.

Please realize that the laws do not require a school to lower its academic standards. Schools will not:

• give you easier work; or
• change the rules to make it easier for you than other students.

You must continually meet relevant academic and conduct standards to receive protection of the law.

Return to Top

The law states that some students with disabilities have a right to academic accommodations.

Accommodations are changes to how things are normally done which provide you with an equal opportunity to participate in and enjoy the benefits of your education. Accommodations include:

• changes to a classroom environment or task;
• removal of architectural barriers;
• modifications to policies, practices or procedures; and
• provision of appropriate auxiliary aids and services.
• What accommodations would be helpful to you in the classroom?

__________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

Return to Top

If you think you will need any accommodations because of your disability, you must tell your school. You will not receive accommodations or assistance unless you tell DSPS of your disability. You may also have to provide paperwork on your disability.

Your responsibility is to tell your school that you will need an accommodation. Each school has its own paperwork requirements necessary to arrange an accommodation. Most schools require that you provide recent, professional documentation from a doctor or other licensed professional. Simply put, you may have to prove you have a disability.

• What paperwork does your school require to prove your disability?

_________________________________

_________________________________

• Where can you get copies of this documentation?

_________________________________

_________________________________

Accommodations must be appropriate and effective for your situation. An effective accommodation will address your specific limitations caused by your disability.

Finally, understand that your school must provide educational accommodations at no cost to you. But they do not have to provide or pay for:

• personal devices;
• accommodations for personal use;
• accommodations which fundamentally alter a school program or cost too much money or need too many people to make it work.

Return to Top

1. Notify the School
   If you will need any accommodation, register with Disabled Student Programs and Services.
2. Provide Documentation
   It is a student’s responsibility to provide professional documentation of his or her disability. The DSPS office will be able to tell you what types of documentation are required.
3. Determine your classes' requirements and possible needed accommodations
4. Request Accommodation
   Request accommodations as far in advance as is possible.
5. Meet Academic and Conduct Standards
   You get no special treatment because you have a disability. You must still meet the essential requirements of a class or program.

This web page was derived from a document which was supported by the U. S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, (Cooperative Agreement No. H324M980109). http://das.kucrl.org/iam.html

Return to Top

Page maintained by dspsweb@cuesta.edu. Last modified: December 10, 2008.