What Are Disability Supports

Posted by James William
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Feb 17, 2023
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Disability supports can make living with your disability easier and help you gain employment. They also promote health and wellness, help build relationships, and make you feel more included in your community.

College disability services differ from those provided in high school. Colleges do not need to create 504 plans like high schools do, but students with disabilities may still qualify for accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
What is a disability?

A disability is a physical or mental impairment that significantly restricts one or more major life activities, such as seeing, hearing, walking, thinking and working.

The Americans with disability support services Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. This means employers, state and local governments, places of worship, commercial facilities and transportation providers must accommodate those individuals.

Despite the Americans with Disabilities Act's protections, many disabled people still face substantial obstacles in daily living. These can include physical obstacles that make it difficult for them to live as fully as other citizens.

These barriers, often due to structural injustices, often prevent disabled people from living as independently as their abled peers. To address these disparities, two approaches exist: the medical model and social model. The medical model emphasizes physical impairments while the social model examines how society oppresses individuals living with disabilities.
What are Social Security’s disability benefits?

Disability benefits are an essential source of income for many people. They provide a roof over your head, food on the table and other necessities when you can no longer work due to medical conditions.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers two programs that provide these benefits: Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income, both funded through payroll taxes paid by workers and employers alike. Workers pay 0.9 percent of their wages up to $113,700 while employers contribute 0.9% each.

To be eligible for these benefits, applicants must meet the disability standard. A person is considered disabled if they have a serious medical condition that prevents them from working.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) utilizes a five-step evaluation process to determine whether someone is disabled. This evaluation takes into account your age, education and work history as well as the severity of your medical condition.
What are college accommodations?

College accommodations refer to modifications made to courses, programs, activities and facilities which reduce or eliminate obstacles experienced by students with disabilities. Under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, colleges must provide reasonable accommodations.

Students with disabilities in college must register with the disability services office and submit documentation of their condition. A designated staff then reviews whether the student's disability meets the standards established by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
What are the requirements for documentation in college?

If you have a disability or are considering asking for accommodations, it is essential to obtain current (within five years) documentation from a medical professional. This should include your diagnosis, any functional limitations and recommendations for accommodations and/or assistive technology.

Documentation should be provided on letterhead (or a standardized medical documentation form provided by the college) from an experienced health professional with expertise in your condition and disability. It should also include a comprehensive description of your treatment program, any medications taken and an action plan to address any related issues related to disability.

Students with a learning disability must submit recent testing results and comprehensive documentation, including their diagnosis, to prove they qualify for college support services. Some colleges require reevaluations every three years while others will accept older assessments.
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