Student Success vs. Equal Access

 Office of Disability Services

     
Yesterday I had the opportunity to interview Lea Anne Kessler from the Office of Disability Services at Bowling Green State University. Lea Anne was a graduate of the CSP program at BGSU and meeting with her about how students with disabilities adjust to college was very insightful. She shared with me the educational philosophy around serving students with special needs at the high school level versus the college level. She talked specifically about special education programs in high school and how they focus on setting the student up for success. In college, however, there is a transition from the idea of success to that of equal access. In high school students may be given many modifications, whereas in college there are less actual modifications and the focus is geared toward making sure all students receive equal access. She also shared that there is quite a shift in responsibility for students with special needs as they leave high school. Students must become their own advocates, whereas in high school their parents and teachers, in most cases, were doing all of the advocating for them. In addition, students must sign a release to give parents permission to receive specific information regarding their education at the college level.

      She discussed the following common classroom modifications that are made for students with visual impairments:
* extended time to complete tests, quizzes, and exams
* reader for their exam
* scribe
* tape recorder to record lectures
* class notes available electronically so they can use software to read the notes
* Large print books
* Books available electronically

      Regarding modifications, Lea Anne said that the student with a disability has an added responsibility to meet with their professors to discuss their disability and share the letter from the Office of Disability Services stating the specific modifications they will require in order to receive equal access.

      Lea Anne shared that one of the most rewarding aspects of her job is seeing students grow and develop and take ownership for their education. And one of the most challenging things she faces in working with students with visual impairments is making sure they are up-to-date on using technology. She added that very few students use braille anymore because technology is so advanced with software programs that can read any electronic document to a student. Last minute requests can also be tricky. Lea Anne explained that something as simple as a faculty member adding a last-minute journal article reading can create challenges because the student needs the article quickly in a format that they can use. Lea Anne also shared the name of a visually impaired student who is willing to meet with me so I look forward to arranging this face to face visit.

      Lastly, she gave me the name of an Ohio resource commonly used by students with visual impairments. It is called the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired. I plan to check into this organization to see what sorts of services and programs it offers students with visual impairments.