Disability Support Services for students

It’s hard for me to discuss the regulations of Fredonia to socially construct individuals who possess a disability. I say this because personally, I’m not physically or mentally “disabled”. It’s harder for me to recognize the different policies or regulations that affect people with a disability because I’m not looking for them and I’m not experiencing the benefit to them. I feel very privileged to not have to worry about these things but it does make me curious to talk to people who utilize these services.

The Disability Support Services for Students offers a variety of different services to those with a disability. The university states that they offer academic accommodations, like note-takers, extended testing time, accessible text books, etc., as well as non-academic accommodations, such as accessible housing. Although these services are great it seems like the students who need to utilize them have to go through a lengthy process to have the University support and acknowledge their disability. I understand the legal and practical need for all of the guidelines and required documentation but it seems like this process might be adding to the oppression faced by this population. I feel like an individual is tested and has to prove their “disabled-ness” in order to be recognized by the school. 

Another consistent theme I saw while reading about the DSS for students was the phrase, “every effort will be made”. This phrase makes it seem like they’ll attempt to be accessible for the disabled but they cannot guarantee it. I believe this phrase is used as a way to cover their butt, legally. The University should not be doing the bare minimum to make sure disabled students feel comfortable, but they should go above and beyond to accommodate the needs of this population. Students who go to school at Fredonia should be assured and promised to all of the services they require; they shouldn’t have to worry about possibly being excluded or oppressed by the school.