Developed by:
Nancy Davis Griffin, Director of Admission, Saint Anselm College

Description:
Students with disabilities constitute a growing population of scholastically qualified students in our college communities. Nationally, the number of first-year students with disabilities who have in enrolled in college in the last 10 years has tripled to between 8 and 9 percent. Some disabilities are readily apparent, such as mobility impairment. Hidden disabilities that are not usually noticeable through casual observation include learning disabilities, chronic illnesses, hearing or visual impairments, and psychological disorders. This on-line course will help you work with this growing population. Participants will become familiar with the ADA and other laws that impact the work of the student affairs professional and students with disabilities. A number of topics will be covered including: who is considered to have a disability, how students with disables are impacting our college communities, what are common misunderstandings, and what are sure fire ways for student affairs professionals to get in trouble with the ADA.

Course Outline:
Segment 1: Course material will focus on becoming familiar with the ADA and other laws that impact our work in higher education.

Segment 2: Course material during this week is designed to provide participates with reference answers to questions about their rights and the rights of students with disabilities in postsecondary education. What are common misunderstandings? What are sure-fire ways to get in trouble with ADA?

Segment 3: Course material will focus on recent legal decisions. Participants will look at current case studies, and will focus on legal decisions that have further defined the impact of disability laws on postsecondary education.

Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the ADA and the impact it has had, and will have, on higher education.
• Identify and discuss definitions and current statistics.
• Develop programs that meet the needs of students with disabilities.
• Use recent legal decisions to shape appropriate policies and procedures for working with students with disabilities.
• Develop a comprehensive plan for working with students with disabilities.

Participant Expectations:
Participants will be provided with 6 weeks to complete this course, and should plan to complete one segment every 2 weeks to complete the course on time.

Bios:
24 years ago Nancy Davis Griffin was asked to serve as a resident assistant on a floor where all residents had a documented disability. It was a pilot program that did not last, but what did last was Nancy's desire to work in higher education and to work with students with disabilities. Her undergraduate and graduate degree's are all focused on working with this population. She has served as the Accommodations Coordinator at two colleges and she continues to work as an independent counselor for students with disabilities. She is a "Jill-of-all-trades" in higher education, having served in residence life, student affairs, student activities, disability services, admissions, and enrollment management.