Disability Services: College Students with Physical and/or Mental Disabilities - A Brief History

An increasing amount of high school students with physical and mental disabilities are entering America's colleges and universities (U.S. Department of Education, 2007). This increase is partly due to changes in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which include accessibility, the work of disability groups, increased media coverage, and political support (Hirschhorn, 1992). Unfortunately, These college students encounter physical and attitiudinal barriers in the higher education environment (Paul, 2000). Student affairs administrators have a wonderful opportunity to help these students make a successful transition from high school to college.

Almost as meaningful as the transition into to the college environment is the transition out of the college environment to the workplace. During the past few years, college and career services centers worked together to create opportunities for college seniors with disabilities to seek employment. Last February, the NEC Foundation sponsored the first virtual job fair for Texas college students with disabilities - http://www.necfoundation.org/news/news_show.htm?doc_id=838808.

QUESTION - It seems that most campuses have an disability services office that is either housed in student affairs or academic affairs. Should all campus offices become focused on students with disabilties to make this a campus-wide effort? Why or why not?

References

Hirschhorn, B. E. (1992). The relationship among school accessibility, student locus of control and the satisfaction of New York City high school wheelchair users. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, New York University.

Paul, S. (2000, June). Students with disabilities in higher education: A review of the literature. College Student Journal, 34(2), 200. Retrieved May 9, 2009, from Academic Search Complete database.

U.S. Department of Education. (2007). Students with disabilities preparing for postsecondary education: Know your rights and responsibilities. Washington, DC: Office for Civil Rights. Retrieved May 9, 2009, from http://www.ed.gov/ocr/transition.html

Join the TACUSPA Blog Team!

Join the TACUSPA blog team! The Graduate Education and Research Committee is searching for a few good "blog contributors". These blog contributors are responsible for contributing five posts on one of the subjects listed below:

October 2009 - Diversity in Higher Education
November 2009 - Career Services
December 2009 - Celebrating Our Successes: Highlighting Innovative Programs in Student Affairs
January 2010 - Volunteer Programs
February 2010 - Judicial Affairs
March 2010 - Community Colleges
April 2010 - Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)/Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs)
May 2010 - Disability Services
June 2010 - Higher Education Law
July 2010 - Student Affairs: Professional Development
August 2010 - The Millennial College Student
September 2010 - Assessment in Student Affairs

The five posts on the blog contributor's selected subject should be at least one paragraph and should address the following:

Post 1 - The history of the subject.
Post 2 - The current status of the subject.
Post 3 - The future implications of the subject.
Post 4 - Innovative programs that address the subject.
Post 5 - "Blog Contributor's Pick"

If you are interested in serving as a "blog contributor", please contact Jennifer Edwards at jtedwards@tarleton.edu or jennifertedwards@gmail.com. In your e-mail, please include your selected subject.

***Blog contributors can submit their posts via e-mail or through blogger (after they are added as a contributor). The five posts must be received at least 15 days before your specified month begins. In addition, your posts can be submitted before the deadline at anytime (i.e. - during the summer, etc.).

We look forward to having some wonderful posts from our "blog contributors"! Please submit your selected subject(s) soon!

Drs. Jennifer Edwards and Sandi Osters
Graduate Education and Research Committee Co-Chairs

Fall 2009 TACUSPA Conference - "Bright Horizons: Future Trends in Higher Education"

The Fall 2009 TACUSPA Conference,
"Bright Horizons: Future Trends in Higher Education" will be held October 4-6, 2009 at the Hilton Garden Inn (located on the University of Texas El Paso campus) in El Paso, TX. For more information, please contact the conference chair, Dr. Gary Edens at gedens@utep.edu or call 915-747-7471.

Please look forward to wonderful speakers and networking with colleagues.

Spring Break 2009: Keeping Our Students Safe

Many of our college students will head to Spring Break destinations over the next few weeks. In the meantime, colleges and universities across the nation will sponsor "Safe Spring Break" programming.

This educational programming usually features activities focused on the dangers of drinking and driving and the importance of staying healthy during their week away from school (BACCHUS). However, this year's Safe Spring Break programming may feature some special activities on "Staying Safe in Mexico". Recently, U.S. Department of State issued a press release titled,"International Travel Safety Information for American Students". This press release urges college students to remain cautious while traveling abroad during spring break. U.S. Department of State also encourages students to register their foreign travel on their website at https://travelregistration.state.gov.

This press release includes the following statement, "Each year, more than 2,500 American citizens are arrested abroad - about half on narcotics charges, including possession of very small amounts of illegal substances. Alcohol also can cause trouble for U.S. citizens traveling abroad. Students have been arrested for being intoxicated in public areas, for underage drinking, and for driving under the influence of alcohol. Some people are victimized because they are unaware of the laws, customs, or standards of the countries they visit."

What is your college or university planning for "Safe Spring Break"?

What Does 2009 Have in Store For Texas Higher Education?

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities recently issued a higher education policy brief. This brief titled, "Top 10 State Policy Issues for Higher Education in 2009", offers the most prominent issues that states are likely to encounter this year (based on past trends). Here are the following issues:

1. States' Fiscal Crises
2. Tuition Prices and Tuition Policy
3. State Student Grant Aid Programs
4. Enrollment Capacity
5. Implementation of Higher Education Opportunity Act
6. The Incoming Obama Administration
7. College Readiness
8. Veterans' Education
9. Undocumented Students
10. Sustainability

To further explore these issues, please access the following report - "Top 10 State Policy Issues for Higher Education in 2009".