Mission Statement

Services for Students with Disabilities provides equal access to education for Winthrop University students by providing services that promote access to the campus community, advocating for issues regarding students with disabilities, using a service delivery model that encourages students with disabilities to develop skills in independence and self-advocacy, and teaching students, faculty/staff, and administrators in order to enhance an understanding of disability culture, available services, and applicable laws.

Introduction

The faculty and staff of Winthrop University are committed to providing educational opportunities to all students. The Program Director of Services for Students with Disabilities serves as a liaison between students with disabilities and the Winthrop community to ensure full access to programs and services. Support services and appropriate classroom and campus accommodations are provided on an individual basis to students with documented disabilities. To qualify for services, students must provide current, appropriate documentation of a disability from a qualified health services provider (e.g., physician, licensed psychologist). Documentation should include a diagnosis, an explanation of the disability’s impact in an academic or residential setting, and recommendations regarding specific accommodations.

The Program Director of Services for Students with Disabilities also serves as a resource for students, parents, faculty, and staff seeking disability-related information (i.e., questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act, etc.).

The Services for Students with Disabilities website has files that require Adobe Acrobat Reader

Disability Documentation Guidelines 

Students are responsible for providing current, appropriate documentation of their disability from a qualified health services provider (i.e., physician, licensed psychologist, etc.).  High School IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) and 504 Plans alone are not sufficient documentation of a disability at the college level.  Documentation provided on prescription pads is also not sufficient.  What does that mean?  While the university may require additional testing to further define needed accommodations, documentation should:

§   be typed or printed on official letterhead, dated, and signed by an evaluator qualified to make the diagnosis

§   state the diagnosed disability clearly and thoroughly

§   be current, within the last 3-5 years for learning disabilities, the last year for psychiatric disabilities, and the last 3 years for ADHD (may not apply to physical or sensory disabilities of a permanent or unchanging nature)

§   include a list and description of all diagnostic tests used in the evaluation with the relevant test scores used to document the disability (may not apply to physical or sensory disabilities of a permanent or unchanging nature)

§   include relevant educational and medical history

§   describe the functional limitations resulting from the disability (i.e. the current impact of the disability on your performance)

§   include specific recommendations for accommodations

Please contact the Disabilities Program Director if you have questions about your disability documentation. 

How Do Students Access Services?

Students with disabilities needing accommodations are responsible for identifying themselves to the Program Director of Services for Students with Disabilities. Contact the Program Director to schedule an intake interview. Services are provided on a semester-by-semester basis, and students must contact the Program Director before the beginning of each semester.

Available Services

The faculty and staff of Winthrop University work with students to help remove architectural and attitudinal barriers on campus and to ensure full access to all programs and activities at Winthrop. Services include, but are not limited to:

• Accessible Computers
• Accessible Desks and Tables
• Accessible Residence Halls
• Braille
• Counseling Services
• Learning Assistance (study skills and time management)
• Note takers
• Priority Registration
• Professor Notification
• Reader Services/Textbooks-on-Tape
• Sign-Language Interpreters
• Tape Recorders
• Test-Taking Accommodations
• Text Telephone Devices (TTD) for Persons Who Are Hearing Impaired

Questions and Answers

Should students with disabilities visit the campus before they make decisions about applying?

Yes, if at all possible, particularly if a physical disability is present and you are concerned about accessibility. Take a tour. Meet with the admissions office. Meet with the Program Director of Services for Students with Disabilities. If it is not possible to visit, call and ask questions. Plan ahead.

Is there a fee for services?

No fee is charged for the services offered through the Winthrop University Services for Students with Disabilities office.

Are there separate offices for different disabilities at Winthrop?

No. All disabilities - physical, learning, psychological (e.g., Attention Deficit Disorder), chronic medical, etc. - are served by the Services for Students with Disabilities office.

If students register for disability services, will their transcripts reveal any disability information so that future employers might have access to it?

No. All student documentation regarding a disability is confidential. It would not be released to campus Records and Registration or to a potential employer without signed student consent.

Should students assume their high school automatically forwards their disability documentation to their college?

No. Students should ask their high school disabilities coordinator what procedures the high school follows in order to have documentation of a disability sent to a college or university. Students should follow-up with the university disability services office to ensure that their documentation arrived. Please note: A 504 Plan or an IEP alone is not appropriate documentation at the college level.

Students needing housing accommodations must notify Residence Life of their disability needs by requesting accommodations on their housing application. Disability documentation substantiating the requested accommodation(s) should be on file with the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities. Even with genuine and documented needs, there are limits to reasonable accommodations. All Residence Life applications and fees must be submitted to Residence Life by the appropriate deadlines. Consult with the Disabilities Program Director if you need additional information about documentation and accommodations.

Making an Appointment

Call (803) 323-3290 Voice/TDD to schedule an appointment or visit Services for Students with Disabilities Services at 110A Crawford Building.

Important Information for Students, Faculty, and Staff

• Campus Accessibility Map

• Guide Dog 101

• Students with Disabilities Handbook

• Students with Disabilities Brochure of Services

• Students with Disabilities Brochure of Services – Text-Only

• Students with Seizure Disorders

• Test Center Guidelines

• Working with Interpreters: Tips for Faculty/Staff

• Accommodation Guidelines
  Notetakers Services
  ASL Interpreting Services
  Scribes
   

                   Winthrop University · Division of Student Life · Health and Counseling Services