No one ever said college should be easy. You should have the same struggles as every other student, though. And the same advantages. If you’re a student with a disability, you may need resources that other students don’t. Those resources are simply to level the playing field, to ensure you’re getting the same access to an education as anyone else.
That access is guaranteed to you by state and federal law. Both the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, for instance, bar discrimination and harassment against persons with disabilities. Further, they require schools that receive federal funds to implement all reasonable accommodations necessary to allow students with disabilities access to the same educational opportunities as their peers.
Unfortunately, not everyone is fully educated about laws like these. Worse, some faculty, students, and administrators actively ignore the law. The bottom line is that you face challenges other students don’t. The LLF National Law Firm exists to help you deal with these challenges—to make sure you’re treated fairly and that the university and the members who make up the university respect your rights.
The LLF National Law Firm’s Education Law Team was founded to protect students from unfair treatment, and we take that role very seriously. We’re defense attorneys, but we work specifically in the field of education. As a result, we possess a unique understanding of student issues. We’re also familiar with all UCLA processes and procedures. Whether you’re trying to get a fair grade in your calculus course or you’re facing an unfair disciplinary sanction as a result of your disability, we’re on your side and ready to help.
What can we do for you? Find out by calling 888-535-3686, or take a few minutes right now and fill out one of their online forms.
Disability Services at UCLA
UCLA honors its responsibilities to student accessibility primarily through its Center for Accessible Education (CAE). The CAE handles a variety of issues, from making sure students have access to dorms and classroom buildings to guiding students through some of the more challenging aspects of university bureaucracy.
In addition, the CAE deals with accommodation issues. Note that even if you received such accommodations in high school, you’ll need to visit the CAE and let them know about your situation. You must be your own best advocate. Here’s what you can expect, though, from the CAE:
- First, you’ll complete an application for disability services.
- As part of this application, you’ll need to provide documentation of your diagnosis.
- The CAE makes a decision regarding your application.
- You then meet with a Disability Specialist and complete an intake process. As part of this process, you’ll develop an accommodations plan.
- Once your plan is in place, the CAE will provide you with letters for your instructors explaining the specific accommodations they’re required to implement.
The application process isn’t always simple and straightforward. It can sometimes be difficult, for instance, to get proper documentation of your disability. The CAE works with several hundred students, and it can take time for your application to be approved. There are occasions when the CAE denies an application or when a Disability Specialist refuses a necessary accommodation.
Your LLF National Law Firm attorney can help you with any aspect of the application process. We know what qualifies as appropriate documentation, and we can make sure all of your materials are in order before you apply. We know how to apply pressure if the university refuses to supply you with the materials and services you need. We can even review your accommodation plan with you and make sure it includes everything it should.
While CAE should have primary responsibility for enforcing your accommodation plans, we can also work with them to remind instructors of their legal obligations any time we need to.
You have the right to reasonable accommodations, whether those accommodations involve physical changes to buildings and classrooms, the hiring of personnel, or changes to the curriculum. You are entitled to these resources not simply because it’s a moral or ethical imperative. You’re entitled to them under the law. Never let anyone deny your rights, and any time you need an advocate, the LLF National Law Firm is here to look out for your interests.
Invisible Disabilities
Federal and California disability laws don’t just apply to physical disabilities. Learning disabilities and other so-called “invisible” disabilities are covered, too.
Precisely because these disabilities are “invisible,” they can sometimes wind up overlooked or ignored by faculty. When an instructor doesn’t see your disability, they can forget about it. Don’t let them. Your LLF National Law Firm can help you remind them at any time that’s necessary.
Note, too, that invisible disabilities are sometimes invisible even to the person with the disability. If you struggle with certain subjects, though, you have difficulty in certain kinds of classes or during certain kinds of tests, or you simply struggle to keep your GPA up, it could be that you have an undiagnosed disability. Improving your grades may be as simple as getting tested and getting a set of appropriate accommodations in place. The LLF National Law Firm can make sure you get exactly what you need, from identifying credentialed testing centers to expediting your CAE application.
One more right you may not have considered. If you did poorly in a class before you were diagnosed with a disability, your LLF National Law Firm can ask UCLA to drop those grades from your transcript. Disability law applies even if you aren’t aware of your disability. In other words, any time you’re denied an accommodation, even if you didn’t know you needed it, you can ask the university to retroactively consider your needs. In most cases, UCLA will allow you to retake courses for replacement credit without penalty.
Demanding Your Rights
UCLA and specifically the CAE typically look out for your interests. In many cases, simply reminding them of their obligations is enough to overcome any barriers that might be put in your way.
Occasionally, though, it becomes necessary to formally protest an individual’s actions or complain about university policy in order to get relief. Luckily, UCLA has a grievance policy to address complaints. You can use this process to deal with
- Denial of academic or housing accommodations
- Specific decisions about academic or housing accommodations
- Determinations of accommodations and other auxiliary services
- Administrative decisions of the CAE
In addition, you have the right to file a grade appeal at any time you feel an instructor failed to provide you with proper accommodations or if you felt discriminated against or harassed during a course.
You can also file a complaint with UCLA’s ADA/504 Compliance Officer in the Dean of Students’ Office.
Whatever path you take, your LLF National Law Firm attorney can make sure you’re treated fairly and that you get the best possible outcome. Remember, we’re always on your side, even if you’re taking on your school. We look out for your interests in ways no one else can.
Disciplinary Misconduct Issues
Students with disabilities also sometimes face special challenges when it comes to a school’s disciplinary misconduct system.
- An instructor might label a feature of your disability as “disruptive.”
- Conflicts sometimes develop when one student fails to understand another student’s disability.
- Occasionally, students with disabilities face harassment.
UCLA’s disciplinary system is never easy for any student to deal with. For students with disabilities, it’s sometimes not even properly accessible. The LLF National Law Firm can guide you through every step in the process, from the moment you’re charged. In fact, we can sometimes intervene in the early stages of a case and prevent a complaint from turning into a charge.
We can also help when it comes to gathering evidence, responding to investigative questions, outlining your defense, preparing your hearing presentation, suggesting questions for witnesses, and practicing your delivery. Most importantly, we’ll keep a close eye on how UCLA treats you. It’s our job to make sure you’re treated fairly and that the university affords you all of your rights.
Trust the LLF National Law Firm
It’s hard enough to get fair treatment from a university like UCLA. Institutions can be a complicated tangle of rules and regulations. When you’re a student with a disability, it can be particularly challenging to convince faculty and administrators to honor your rights. Even just ensuring your professors treat your disability confidentially can be difficult.
You don’t have to deal with your university alone, though. Whatever disability issue you might be dealing with at UCLA, the LLF National Law Firm’s Education Law Team is here to help. We know what to expect from colleges and universities, and we’re always on your side, whatever the situation. You can count on us to use every resource at our disposal to ensure you the best possible outcome.
It’s unfortunate, but sometimes, you have to fight for your educational rights. You don’t have to do that alone, though. To find out more about how we can help, contact the LLF National Law Firm today at 888-535-3686, or fill out our online questionnaire.