Meet the Team
Mission
The mission of SSD is to facilitate equal and integrated access to the academic, social, cultural and recreational programs offered at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and to foster independent decision making skills necessary to achieve personal and academic success. The University’s policy is that no qualified student with a disability will be excluded from participating in any university program or activity, denied the benefits of any university program or activity, or otherwise subjected to discrimination with regard to any university program or activity.
Services are designed to meet the unique educational needs of enrolled students with documented disabilities. SSD assists students in realizing their academic potential and facilitates the elimination of physical, programmatic, and attitudinal barriers. Students are encouraged to assess their needs realistically, to take advantage of appropriate support, and to be clear and proactive about gaining assistance.
Any student who needs a reasonable accommodation based on a qualified disability is required to register with the SSD office for assistance.
Services for Students with Disabilities also serves as a resource to the university’s administrative units and academic departments that have responsibility to accommodate students and campus visitors with disabilities.
History
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has a long history of providing services to students with disabilities. The SSD office was established in 1985 through a federal grant. The office was called the Educational Center for Disabled Students and was housed in the Affirmative Action office. The purpose of the grant was to develop a computer center for physically disabled students.
The original philosophy of the office was to focus on first-year students; helping them transition to college as well as working with Vocational Rehabilitation Services and other community agencies to coordinate the necessary support that students needed.
In 1990 the office became Services for Students with Disabilities. The program grew and became known nationally for serving students with learning disabilities and mobility impairments (even though services were provided to all students with disabilities). Technology was a high priority, and new advancements being made in this area were tested for incorporation into the college program.
Through the years, Services for Students with Disabilities has grown in size and scope, from monitoring students and providing minimal services, to providing the latest in technological advances. This office has been instrumental to students in achieving their academic goals through the provision of accommodations and support.
Disability Laws & Rights
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 1973
No otherwise qualified person with a disability in the United States…shall, solely on the basis of a disability, be denied access to, or the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity provided by any institution receiving federal financial assistance. For a more detailed description of Subpart E of the Rehabilitation Act, 1973, refer to the U.S. Department of Education’s website.
The ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008
This act clarified the definition of “disability” for purposes of the ADA. A person is considered to have a disability if the person:
- Has a physical or mental impairment, which substantially limits one or more major life activities. Major life activities include, but are not limited to self-care, manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working.
- Has a record of a substantially limiting condition.
- Is regarded as substantially limited.
For a more detailed description of Title II of the ADAAA, refer to the U.S. Department of Education’s website.
With the passage of the ADA in 1990, Section 504 from the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was expanded to include any public or private institution. Subpart E of the Rehabilitation Act requires an institution to be prepared to make reasonable academic adjustments and accommodations to allow students with disabilities full participation in the same programs and activities available to students without disabilities. The ADAAA further clarifies and reinforces these statutes. With relation to a university setting, a qualified person with a disability is one who meets the academic and technical standards required for admission or participation in the institution’s educational programs or activities.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. For students with disabilities who attend a post-secondary institution, FERPA ensures the confidentiality of the student’s documentation and limits access to appropriate University personnel.