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college students with mobility impairments

What are Mobility Impairments?

A variety of orthopedic/mobility-related disabilities result from congenital conditions, accidents, or progressive neuromuscular diseases. These disabilities include conditions such as spinal cord injury (paraplegia or quadriplegia), cerebral palsy, spinal bifida, amputation, muscular dystrophy, cardiac conditions, cystic fibrosis, paralysis, polio/post polio, and stroke. Functional limitations and abilities vary widely even within one group of disabilities. Accommodations vary greatly and can best be determined on a case-by-case basis.

What are Common Types of Mobility Impairments?

• Cerebral Palsy (CP): Non-progressive motor disorders of the central nervous system.
• Spinal Cord Injury: In damage to the spinal cord, the injury may be complete or incomplete.
• Degenerative Diseases: Muscular Dystrophy and Multiple Sclerosis that may limit gross motor functions and/or fine motor activity.
• Post-Polio: Symptoms may include fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, and pain.
• Motor Neuron Diseases: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which may include symptoms such as pain, numbness, weakness, loss of upper and lower motor functions, and problems in breathing.

Links

General Information

• Disability Support Services
  http://www/uncp.edu/dss/
• Association of Higher Education and Disability
  http://ahead.org
• HEATH Resource Center
  http://www.acenet.edu/programs/HEATH
• Mobility International USA
  http://www.miusa.org/
• Disability Information and Resources
  http://www.makoa.org/
• Disability Links
  http://www.eskimo.com/~jlubin/disabled/all.htm

Financial Aid and Scholarship Info

• US Department of Education Financial Aid
  http://www.fafsa.ed.gov
• Easy Access for Students and Institutions
  http://www.easi.ed.gov/
• Financial Aid for Students through the US Department of Education's Office
  http://www.ed.gov/index.jsp
• The Financial Aid Information Page
  http://www.finaid.org

National Organizations

• General Information about Cerebral Palsy
  http://www.kidsource.com/NICHCY/cerebral_palsy.html
• Cystic Fibrosis Information Online
  http://www.cf-web.org/
• Kent Waldrep National Paralysis Foundation
  http://www.spinalvictory.org/
• Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Inc.
  http://www.msfacts.org
• National Spinal Cord Injury Association
  http://www.spinalcord.org/
• Polio Survivors Association
  http://www.polio-association.org
• The OUAD Link
  http://www.2tim.net
• Spina Bifida Home Page
  http://neurosurgery.mgh.harvard.edu/pedi-hp.htm
• The Spinal Cord Information Network
  http://www.spinalcord.uab.edu

What are the Documentation Guidelines?

Assessment, and any resulting diagnosis, should consist of and be based on a comprehensive assessment battery that does not rely on any one test or subtest. Both aptitude and academic achievement must be evaluated and included in the test report. See DSS office for documentation guidelines.

How are Accommodations and Support Services Determined?

Within 30 days of receiving the diagnostic evaluation or report, DSS will review the need for accommodations and support services based on the individual's disability documentation
and disability-based need. DSS will notify the student after determining appropriate accommodations in accordance with Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act and university policy.

Assistive Technology at UNCP

• Zoomtext
• Dragon Naturally Speaking
• Premier Assistive Technology
• JAWS
• Kurzweil
• Inspiration

What are the Typical Accommodations?

• Note takers
• Tape recorders
• Priority seating
• Accessible classroom location
• Adjustable tables for lab classes
• Scribes
• Lab assistants
• Assistance with writing homework and doing library research
• Extra time for assignments due to slow writing speed
• Accessible parking, NC handicap hangtag needed
• Customized PE class activities that allow the students to participate within their capabilities
• Books on tape
• Course waiver or substitution for certain students
• Alternative testing
• Computer with speech input

These accommodations are not automatic. Each student
must qualify for each accommodation.

Tips for Successful College Experience

• Let asking for assistance be OK. Knowing your limitations and when to ask for legitimate help is a way of taking control and conserving much-needed energy.
• Plan a schedule. Begin each semester by planning a weekly schedule from Monday through Sunday midnight.
• Prioritize. What really matters is that you do prioritize and write down the activities you need to accomplish in their order of importance.
• Examine your course combinations. If your classes are all extremely demanding, choose a class or two each semester which will ease the demand.
• Plan for needed accommodations well in advance. Contact DSS one semester in advance if you think your accommodations may change.
• Don't expect others to know your needs. You may need to teach your friends how to plan activities that you can engage in and have fun.
• Consider having a peer mentor. You swap phone numbers with your peer mentors and basically get together whenever you want.

 

Updated: Tuesday, February 15, 2005

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