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• Disability Studies
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OSU Policies

Accommodation Request Process For Employees. You may also view this outline of the Accomodation Request Process (MS Word version).

Office for Disability Services Columbus Campus Policies and Procedures

• Prospective Students [www.ods.ohio-state.edu/prospect/index.htm]
• Current Students [www.ods.ohio-state.edu/students/index.htm]
• Faculty [www.ods.ohio-state.edu/faculty/index.htm]

Policy and Procedure Manual, Equal Employment for Individuals with Disabilities: Human Resources policy and procedures manual [hr.osu.edu/policy/policyhome.htm]

Rights and Responsibilities of OSU Students and Employees
[ada.osu.edu/WebPages/RightsAndResponsibilities/RightsIntro.htm]

Transportation and Parking:

• Transportation and Parking Policies for people with disabilities
  [www.tp.ohio-state.edu/PoliciesandProcedures/page16_0506.shtml]
• Adapted Transportation Handivan Service Policies and Procedures Manual
  [www.tp.ohio-state.edu/PoliciesandProcedures/page17_0506.shtml]

Web Accessibility Policy (Revised 2/25/04): The Ohio State University is committed to ensuring equal access to information for all its constituencies. This policy establishes minimum standards for the accessibility of web based information and services considered necessary to meet this goal and ensure compliance with applicable state and federal regulations.

Work Place Accommodation Fund. It is the policy of The Ohio State University that discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities is prohibited. Pursuant to Titles I and II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the University provides equal employment opportunities and reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities. In the context of employment, reasonable accommodations are modifications or adjustments to a job, the work environment, or the way things are done that enables a qualified individual with a disability to perform the essential job functions. You may also view this information on the Work Place Accommodation Fund (MS Word version).

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Offices and Services

ADA - OHIO is a state wide non-profit organization that provides information, technical assistance and training about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to individuals, businesses, state and local government agencies or municipalities. [www.ada-ohio.org ]

The Nisonger Center trains professionals for leadership positions in the field of disabilities; works with community services; conducts research and disseminates findings to individuals with disabilities, family members, professionals, and policy-makers. [www.osu.edu/units/osunc]

Office for Disability Services is the department to ensure that all students with disabilities can freely and actively participate in all facets of University life and are able to perform at a level limited only by their abilities, not their disabilities.

• Columbus Campus (ODS): 614-292-3307 (v) [www.ods.ohio-state.edu]
• Agricultural Technical Institute (ATI): 330-287-1253 (v); e-mail: haynes.133@osu.edu.
• Lima Campus (ODS): 419-995-8453 (v); e-mail: meyer.193@osu.edu.
• Mansfield Campus (ODS): 419-755-4304 (v)
  [www.mansfield.ohio-state.edu/Conard/disability/disability.htm]
• Marion Campus (ODS): 740-389-6786 ext. 6247 (v) [www.marion.ohio-state.edu/services/disability.html]
• Newark Campus (ODS): 740-366-9246 (v) [newark.osu.edu/studentlife/ODSindex.asp]

Ohio Civil Rights Commission: The primary function of The Ohio Civil Rights Commission is to enforce state laws against discrimination. OCRC receives and investigates charges of discrimination in employment, public accommodations, housing, credit and higher education on the bases of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, ancestry or familial status. [crc.ohio.gov]

State of Ohio ADA Guidance: on-line center for information about the Workforce Investment Act. [www.ohioworkforce.org/workforceprof/index.stm]

Web Accessibility Center assists faculty in developing accessible on-line courses. [www.wac.ohio-state.edu]

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Know Your Rights and Responsibilities

Transitioning to Secondary Education: The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights has resources on transitioning to secondary education.

Stephanie Monroe, the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights in the United States Department of Education, has recently issued 2 technical assistance letters on the transition from high school to colleges and universities. The letter to colleges and universities is located at:
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-20070316.pdf.

The letter to parents of students with disabilities is located on the web at: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/parent-20070316.pdf.

A new pamphlet (March, 2007), "Transition of Students with Disabilities to Postsecondary Education: A Guide for High School Educators" is located at: [http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transitionguide.html].

In the pamphlet "Students with Disabilities: Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities" the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in the U.S. Department of Education provides the information to explain the rights and responsibilities of students with disabilities who are preparing to attend postsecondary schools. This pamphlet also explains the obligations of a postsecondary school to provide academic adjustments, including auxiliary aids and services, to ensure that the school does not discriminate on the basis of disability.
[www.ed.gov/ocr/transition.html]

Also of interest is the pamphlet "Auxiliary Aids and Services for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities Higher Education's Obligations Under Section 504 and Title II of the ADA" located at: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/auxaids.html

COLLEGE ACCOMMODATION PLANNING: More information on preparing for accommodations at College is located on this website at: [http://ada.osu.edu/resources/college_accomodation.htm].

Equal Employment for Individuals with Disabilities, Policy and Procedure Manual [PDF]: it is the policy of The Ohio State University that discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities is prohibited. [hr.osu.edu/policy/policy445.pdf]

A Guide to Disability Rights Laws (June 27, 2000): from the National Council On Disability provides a summary of the Federal legislation relating to disability with web links to responsible federal agencies. [www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2000/disabilityrights.htm]

Job Accomodation Network (JAN) is a free consulting service that provides information about job accommodations, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the employability of people with disabilities.
[janweb.icdi.wvu.edu]

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How to Make Information Accessible

EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information) has a mission to serve as a resource to the education community by providing information and guidance in the area of access-to-information technologies by individuals with disabilities. We stay informed about developments and advancements within the adaptive computer technology field and spread that information to colleges, universities, K-12 schools, libraries and into the workplace. This site serves as a gateway to information about technology and disability. [www.rit.edu/~easi]

"How to Design with Access in Mind": from the American Council for the Blind. Details conventional techniques for formatting documents with a word processor for better compatibility with assistive technology and more fluid transformation into alternate formats.
[www.acb.org/accessible-formats.html#ag14]

Guidelines for Planning Accessible Meetings and Events. How to minimize surprises by planning ahead to create accessible meetings and events.

Guidelines for Creating Web Content Accessible to All [part of the Fast Facts for Faculty series]. Overviews essential elements for designing accessible web content. Includes information on the benefits of accessible design and How-to instructions for graphics and multimedia, layout and presentation, tables, frames, forms, and applets and scripts.

Invite Participation: Model Statements about the availability of accommodations and assistance on how to use them. Invite Participation (Word version).

WebAIM: Online Course in Accessible Design [requires login] : The University's ADA Coordinator's Office and the College of Humanities' Humanities Information Systems Office have teamed up to provide a university wide access to a five week course in accessible web design. The course is available free to OSU faculty, staff and students (login required). [https://humanities.osu.edu/osuauth/his/accessibility]

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Accessible Buildings, Areas, and OSU Transportation

Campus Maps:

• Construction Awareness Map: shows the impact of current & future construction projects. [constructionawareness.osu.edu]
• Wayfinding Map: identifies accessible walking routes based on your input for starting and destination points.
  [map.physfac.ohio-state.edu/spr/WebIE/Index.cfm]

Engineer's Office,Building Design Standards of the Ohio State University :For Access issues go to Appendix, Part B: Requirements to Assure Access for Individuals with Disabilities [PDF].

Handivan - OSU's paratransit service: Handivan Service is an adapted transportation service provided for students, faculty, staff and visitors with temporary or permanent mobility impairments.
[www.tp.ohio-state.edu/PoliciesandProcedures/page17_0506.shtml]

Transportation and Parking Policies and parking decals for people with disabilities: An OSU disability permit is required to park in the general disability parking spaces on campus.
[http://www.tp.ohio-state.edu/PoliciesandProcedures/page16_0506.shtml]

Schottenstein Center's Accessibility Guide: Outline of services, programs and policies available at the Schottenstein Center.
[www.schottensteincenter.com/sections/arenainfo/accessibilityguide.asp]

U.S Access Board: A Federal agency committed to Accessible Design for people with disabilities. [www.access-board.gov]

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Other Links and Resources

AHEAD (Association on Higher Education and Disability): AHEAD is a professional association committed to full participation of persons with disabilities in postsecondary education. As an international resource, AHEAD addresses current and emerging issues with respect to disability, education, and accessibility to achieve universal access. [www.ahead.org]

Disability Access Symbols: The twelve symbols may be used to promote and publicize accessibility of places, programs and other activities for people with various disabilities. Developed by the Graphic Artists Guild.
[www.gag.org/resources/das.php]
Partial set of accessibility symbols (Word version).

DisabilityInfo.gov: For information on US Federal Programs, Services and resources to Employers, Americans with Disabilities and their families
[www.disability.gov]

Diversity Page with a calendar: OSU's Diversity home page and calender with links to the OSU Diversity Action Plan, Affirmative Action Committee Report, Fall 2000, and the OSU Academic Plan. [www.osu.edu/diversity]

OSU Partnership Grant: Improving the Quality of Higher Education Programs for Students with Disabilities: Faculty, students, and administrators of The Ohio State University are developing innovative, effective, and efficient teaching methods in post-secondary education for students with disabilities through a Partnership Program involving Faculty & TA Development, Nisonger Center, Office for Disability Services, and Technology Enhanced Learning & Research. [www.osu.edu/grants/dpg]

Fast Facts For Faculty.
The Fast Facts for Faculty publications are information briefs designed to help college and university instructors improve the climate and quality of education for students with disabilities. Through focus group discussions, both faculty and students provided a number of recommendations to enhance the teaching-learning process within the classroom. The Fast Facts were developed in response to these recommendations and suggestions. It is important to remember that the pedagogical recommendations included in the Fast Facts are not only helpful for students with disabilities, but are also good teaching practices that are useful for most of your students.

Faculty and Administrator Modules in Higher Education (FAME) (http://www.oln.org/ILT/ada/Fame) Designed as a professional development tool for use in higher education, this site contains information on how college faculty, administrators, disability service providers, and students can work individually and collaboratively to improve the accommodations, teaching-learning process, and overall campus environment for students with disabilities.

Ohio Governor's Council on People with Disabilities
The Ohio Governor's Council on People with Disabilities serves in an advisory capacity directly to the Governor and, as needed, to the General Assembly on issues related to the needs, problems and concerns of Ohioans with disabilities.
[www.state.oh.us/gcpd]

Links to PDF documents require Adobe Acrobat Reader or other PDF viewer. Microsoft Office documents, such as MS Word versions, require a full version of Microsoft Office or a Microsoft Office viewer.

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