Disability Services is one division of Academic Affairs that holds an important job on campus. Disability Services provides assistance so that students can have equal access and opportunities to education at Furman.
Some common assistance given to students on campus include extended testing times, low distraction testing, or note-takers. Disabilities Services also works with Facilities Services on making sure that there is handicapped access, such as wheelchair ramps, around campus.
However, assistance is also provided in the form of just giving students what they need if they are suffering from a disability, either mental or physical, said Gina Parris, Coordinator of Disability Services.
One qualifies through for these services through paperwork including documentation for a disability from a medical professional, and an ICF form, which allows for the division to get preliminary ideas on what a student might need or types of accommodation.
The majority of students come in knowing that they have a disability, but some students realize that something might not be right after a semester or two of college, said Parris.
Last year around 140-150 students were receiving assistance for a disability, whereas this year the number of students that are receiving assistance for a disability has increased from 190-200 students. There are a few possibilities to why the number of student’s receiving services from disabilities has increased.
There could have been increased awareness about Disability Services. The Americans with Disabilities Act, which was enacted in 1992, has allowed children to gain accommodations for disabilities starting at a younger age. The majority of current Furman students were born around this time period.
If a student believes they might have a disability than they should speak with Disability Services and then he or she may be referred out for medical testing. Students should seek help and know that there is a place to come on campus.