U.S. federal law safeguards people with disabilities as a protected class, and institutions of higher education have a legal obligation to ensure equal access. Most colleges and universities are already compliant with accessibility mandates, but some seem to fail to provide ambitious, goal-driven students with disabilities a chance for campus inclusion. Unfortunately, lack of accommodations can often negatively shape a college applicant's choices when seeking a post-secondary degree.

Campus Challenges for Disabled Students

The Chronicle of Higher Education explains the stories of two students with physical disabilities seeking admission into colleges of their choice. While the application process can bring many university hopefuls a wide breadth of possibilities, that was not the case for the mobility-impaired college applicants, Gabriel and Luna.

Both faced daunting circumstances when seeking guidance from school disability-support offices. Gabriel, for example, explained that some colleges had given him and others the feeling that "they don't want you."

Americans with Disabilities Act Provides Equal Education Access

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires schools to make accommodations for individuals with a legally-recognized disability. The ADA obligates schools to provide amenities for building and grounds accessibility for those with physical challenges but also must consider the needs of people with mental, emotional, or other learning challenges.

Schools frequently violate this legislation by neglecting to offer access and facilities to public places for disabled individuals. Examples of ADA violations include:

• Declining reasonable testing accommodations for students
• Failure to provide assistive learning equipment
• Lack of accessibility features (wheelchair-accessible ramps, accessible parking spaces, widened doorways)
• Neglecting alternative learning styles to accommodate a disability (dyslexia, ADHD, auditory processing disorders)

Lack of Access Can Cause Negative Consequences

According to federal data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), nearly one-fifth of U.S. undergraduates reported having a disability. In many cases, a student's academic performance may be impacted by a lack of disability accommodation.

Disabled students may be at risk of adverse mental health situations with a troublesome transition into college, leading to depression and feelings of isolation. For instance, while finding a college where she could feel recognized, Luna said she felt like "she had been inside a bubble" and didn't want to continue that while working on her degree.

How Can a Disability Accommodation Advisor Help Your Equal Education Access?

Although Gabriel and Luna found institutions that provide access to disabled students, others continue the struggle. If your educational progress has been affected by your school's lack of legally-required accommodations for your disability, you have the right to redress. An experienced disability accommodation advisor can make all the difference when fighting against college administration officials or school disability-support offices.

Retaining professional help doesn't have to mean litigation. Hiring attorney Joseph D. Lento and his team at the Lento Law Firm will allow for a beneficial resolution to be brokered on your behalf, ensuring that your school abides by its own policies and you can remain focused on your studies.

If you or a loved one is restricted in their access to post-secondary education, get the help you deserve. Call the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 today or visit the confidential online consultation form.