Empowering Students with Disabilities
The Office of
Disability and Equal Access services of Dakota Wesleyan University
is located in the George and Eleanor McGovern Library.
This office works to ensure equal access and full participation for
persons with disabilities in post-secondary education as outlined
by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. We hope to empower
students with disabilities to obtain the education and skills necessary
for a fulfilling, productive career after leaving Dakota Wesleyan
University.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act
Postsecondary
** No otherwise qualified handicapped
individual in the United States…shall, solely by reason
of handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied
the benefits
of or be subjected
to discrimination under any program or activity receiving
federal
financial assistance. |
How Do I Request Services?
Students are responsible for initiating services.
E-mail Jeremie Solak, Disability Services Coordinator, at jesolak@dwu.edu or call 1-605-995-2901. Jeremie will set up an appointment with you
to discuss documentation requirements and conduct a needs assessment.
Services are not retroactive;
notification and requests must be made by the student in order
to receive services.
What Is Considered A Disability?
DWU uses the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
as a guide to define disability: a condition that substantially limits
a major life activity (such as walking, talking, learning, hearing,
and/or seeing). Services will be provided to students with physical,
psychiatric, and/or learning disabilities, chronic health conditions
(diabetes, epilepsy, etc), mobility, visual, speech and coordination
impairments.
Students with temporary conditions such as broken arms,
sprained ankles, etc, are also eligible for services.
What Services Can You Expect?
Services are based on the individual need of each
student and may include ensuring a physically accessible environment;
specialized
academic and career advising; or supplying an auxiliary aid.
What
Type of Documentation is Required?
Documentation of disabilities
is necessary to initiate and receive services through the Office
of Disability and Equal Access. Students
with learning disabilities may submit a current (within 3 years)
IEP (Individualized Education Plan) or like documentation which
provides details on the diagnostic evaluation of the disability.
It is suggested
that an in-coming high school student’s parent, guardian,
or concerned party request re-testing prior to graduation to ensure
current documentation. Others may need a letter from a physician,
psychologist or psychiatrist to document a specific physical or
mental
limitation.
Additional Resources
The Office of Disability and Equal
Access encourages students to take a proactive approach in educating
themselves and establishing
a network of support. The following links and numbers may be useful
in this endeavor.
