0:00:24.046,0:00:25.475
(Narrator) Amrit has a disability.

0:00:25.476,0:00:27.805
It's just not obvious to most people.

0:00:27.806,0:00:32.335
And the wheelchair has absolutely nothing to do with it.

0:00:32.336,0:00:34.155
(Amrit) I have ADD.

0:00:34.156,0:00:35.425
And...it's cool.

0:00:35.426,0:00:40.265
(Narrator) The wheelchair is a temporary aid because he had foot surgery recently.

0:00:40.266,0:00:45.005
Most people can relate to that; we've all known someone who broke a leg skiing or tripped

0:00:45.006,0:00:47.345
over the dog and sprained an ankle.

0:00:47.346,0:00:51.995
It's harder to understand a permanent disability that others can't see.

0:00:51.996,0:00:55.775
Especially when that disability affects how the brain works.

0:00:55.776,0:00:58.205
(Amrit) I go to a private school, I'm on a scholarship,

0:00:58.206,0:01:00.775
I'm really smart; so I have no problem learning.

0:01:00.776,0:01:03.615
I just have a problem focusing on things.

0:01:03.616,0:01:07.795
(Narrator) Jesse, a college sophomore, also has an invisible disability.

0:01:07.796,0:01:11.905
(Jesse Shaver) I have dyslexia, and for me that means a great difficulty with spelling;

0:01:11.906,0:01:17.925
it means I have difficulty telling directions, so I've been known to go left instead

0:01:17.926,0:01:20.045
of right or right instead of left.

0:01:20.046,0:01:25.275
It means that I had a whole lot of difficulty learning to read.

0:01:25.276,0:01:29.805
(Narrator) A car accident in 7th grade left Laura with some permanent injuries.

0:01:29.806,0:01:33.485
One of those disabilities is invisible until she explains it.

0:01:33.486,0:01:37.155
(Laura Bersos) I have a traumatic brain injury, yeah.

0:01:37.156,0:01:42.265
And so with that there comes a lot of memory issues, like when I was in the accident,

0:01:42.266,0:01:47.615
I lost like a lot of vocabulary; I ....I....

0:01:47.616,0:01:54.955
now what I have to do is, and which is kind of more difficult for me, is I can't get straight

0:01:54.956,0:02:00.094
to the point of what I'm trying to express, so I talk my way through it.

0:02:00.096,0:02:04.775
So with vocabulary I have to talk "it's that thing that you drive into right in front

0:02:04.776,0:02:08.074
of your house, you know-- oh, a driveway!"

0:02:08.076,0:02:12.885
(Narrator) These are three of the many students on campus who look just like anybody else.

0:02:12.886,0:02:16.985
In other words, they have disabilities which aren't easily noticed.

0:02:16.986,0:02:20.035
And sometimes, that leads to misunderstandings.

0:02:20.036,0:02:23.995
(Bea Awoniyi) You may look at a student and you say, you know, you look like every other student

0:02:23.996,0:02:26.295
in the class, what do you mean you need note-taking?

0:02:26.296,0:02:28.755
What do you mean you need extra time on the test?

0:02:28.756,0:02:30.615
(Sheryl Burgstahler) So it won't be apparent to the faculty member

0:02:30.616,0:02:32.605
that a student has a disability,

0:02:32.606,0:02:36.105
but that disability may impact their participation in the class.

0:02:36.106,0:02:38.475
(Teacher) Does it go directly through the walls of the heart?

0:02:38.476,0:02:42.465
(Narrator) Sometimes, students with invisible disabilities are perceived as lacking

0:02:42.466,0:02:45.895
in intelligence, or as just not paying attention.

0:02:45.896,0:02:49.905
That happened to Nate before he was diagnosed with a learning disability.

0:02:49.906,0:02:53.605
(Nate McCoy-Winston) And they'd look at me and they'd be like, Oh, well, you're faking,

0:02:53.606,0:02:56.745
you're playing around, you're just not trying hard enough or something.

0:02:56.746,0:02:58.915
But I was trying.

0:02:58.916,0:03:03.695
(Jesse Shaver) My father has learning disabilities and actually his mom does too,

0:03:03.696,0:03:07.945
so there's a history there and my parents kind of wondered if something was going on.

0:03:07.946,0:03:12.985
But the school kept saying, "He's just a little slow, he'll pick it up."

0:03:12.986,0:03:15.725
So by the end of second grade I still couldn't read at all.

0:03:33.056,0:03:38.275
The number of college students with these types of disabilities continues to grow.

0:03:38.276,0:03:40.845
(Al Souma) There's a very good chance that we'll be seeing a lot of these students

0:03:40.846,0:03:42.885
in our classrooms over the years.

0:03:42.886,0:03:47.535
Now with the new wave of psychiatric medications that is out there, students are finding

0:03:47.536,0:03:49.965
that they are able to concentrate better and participate

0:03:49.966,0:03:53.815
in classroom activities more than ever before.

0:03:53.816,0:03:57.355
(Narrator) Invisible disabilities may affect the way a student processes,

0:03:57.356,0:03:59.905
retains, and communicates information.

0:03:59.906,0:04:04.565
He may not be able to screen out distractions, making it hard to focus.

0:04:04.566,0:04:09.455
She may not have the stamina for a full class load, or be able to interact well with others.

0:04:09.456,0:04:15.955
And anxiety may make it difficult to take tests, or to approach professors with questions.

0:04:15.956,0:04:18.765
(Rebecca Cory) Every person experiences their disability differently.

0:04:18.766,0:04:23.285
So even students that have the same label or the same diagnosis for their disability are going

0:04:23.286,0:04:25.955
to have a different experience of that disability.

0:04:25.956,0:04:30.275
You can't assume that because of the label, the student's going to have the same needs.

0:04:30.276,0:04:33.595
So we want to make sure that we work with every individual on a case-by-case basis

0:04:33.596,0:04:35.735
to figure out what's best for them.

0:04:35.736,0:04:38.365
(Narrator) Professors may have safety concerns about students

0:04:38.366,0:04:41.765
with particular disabilities, such as seizure disorders.

0:04:41.766,0:04:44.815
It might feel like too much responsibility.

0:04:44.816,0:04:49.235
(Sharon Bittner) Students with seizure disorders often are very well controlled with medication,

0:04:49.236,0:04:52.925
so they're really not going to see frequent seizures in the classroom.

0:04:52.926,0:04:58.205
It is important, however, for an instructor to know what to do in the event of a seizure.

0:04:58.206,0:05:02.345
And if the student discloses and says, "I have a seizure disorder," then it's very easy

0:05:02.346,0:05:07.225
for the disability services officer to talk with him and say,

0:05:07.226,0:05:09.195
"What would you like for your instructor to know?"

0:05:09.196,0:05:12.665
(Narrator) There might also be concerns about psychiatric conditions.

0:05:12.666,0:05:15.105
What if a student has an outburst?

0:05:15.106,0:05:17.415
What if his behavior disrupts the class?

0:05:17.416,0:05:21.225
(Al Souma) There is a common myth out there that individuals with mental health issues

0:05:21.226,0:05:27.365
or psychiatric disorders will present a larger problem to the instructor in the classroom,

0:05:27.366,0:05:29.575
when in fact that is not the case.

0:05:29.576,0:05:34.535
(Audrey Smelser) We would encourage faculty to refer those students who have some outburst

0:05:34.536,0:05:40.565
in class to the counseling center for us to work with them on stress management,

0:05:40.566,0:05:45.205
appropriate behaviors, just as we would any other student.

0:05:45.206,0:05:48.005
(Narrator) Familiarity with conditions such as Asperger

0:05:48.006,0:05:51.635
or Tourette Syndrome can help faculty feel more comfortable

0:05:51.636,0:05:54.595
with a student's occasional lack of social skills.

0:05:54.596,0:05:57.455
(Linda Walter) Sometimes students with Asperger's don't have the filter to be able

0:05:57.456,0:06:00.735
to stop asking questions if there are certain things that they want to know.

0:06:00.736,0:06:05.365
So they may monopolize a lot of class time and one of the things that we really try to work

0:06:05.366,0:06:08.495
on is a signal where the professor can let the student know that,

0:06:08.496,0:06:12.385
"You've asked enough questions, and I will help you, but it's just not going to be now."

0:06:12.386,0:06:17.035
(Andrew Lyon) The media does a lot to play on Tourette Syndrome, for instance Deuce Bigelow,

0:06:17.036,0:06:27.415
the second movie, I guess the main guy, dated all these people that sort of had problems,

0:06:27.416,0:06:33.295
and one of them had Tourette Syndrome, but it was one of the most rare cases

0:06:33.296,0:06:39.405
and she would just scream swear words, and so whenever I talk to people who have seen

0:06:39.406,0:06:45.245
that movie, they always say, wait, Tourette Syndrome, isn't that where you scream bad words?

0:06:45.246,0:06:49.975
And I'm like, I wouldn't say that, it's not like that at all.

0:06:55.106,0:06:57.395
(Narrator) Students with invisible disabilities may

0:06:57.396,0:07:01.375
or may not need accommodations in a college classroom.

0:07:01.376,0:07:06.445
If they do, it's their responsibility to self-disclose, provide documentation

0:07:06.446,0:07:08.945
of a disability, and request accommodations.

0:07:08.946,0:07:13.485
However, they may choose not to let anyone know about the disability

0:07:13.486,0:07:16.345
and just try to "make it on their own."

0:07:16.346,0:07:21.575
(Rosezelia Roy) A lot of individuals choose not to self disclose because they feel the pressure

0:07:21.576,0:07:23.665
and the stress that is related to it.

0:07:23.666,0:07:28.455
In previous years, before coming to post secondary education,

0:07:28.456,0:07:33.205
a lot of times they're labeled; and when they get to us they feel that this is a brand new day

0:07:33.206,0:07:37.995
for me and I don't want anyone to know that I have a disability.

0:07:37.996,0:07:41.065
(Narrator) That's usually not a recommended course of action.

0:07:41.066,0:07:44.715
It can be stressful for both the student and the professor.

0:07:44.716,0:07:47.635
(Suzanne Tucker) There are times faculty are frustrated with students

0:07:47.636,0:07:50.305
because they self disclose later in the semester.

0:07:50.306,0:07:53.215
They don't do it at the initial start of a semester.

0:07:53.216,0:07:56.995
And they often will come to the disabled student service person and say, "Oh, you know,

0:07:56.996,0:07:58.245
why didn't this student disclose?

0:07:58.246,0:08:02.355
Why did they wait 'til they did badly on that first exam?"

0:08:02.356,0:08:05.135
And I think, you know, there's not one answer.

0:08:05.136,0:08:09.785
Often students, because of the hidden nature of their disability, that risk of having

0:08:09.786,0:08:14.665
to disclose, being judged by their professor, is one that prevents them

0:08:14.666,0:08:18.405
from taking that initiative and disclosing.

0:08:18.406,0:08:22.455
(Narrator) College students with disabilities should contact the disabled student services

0:08:22.456,0:08:25.985
office on campus before they start classes.

0:08:25.986,0:08:29.885
The staff people there will typically check documentation of the disability,

0:08:29.886,0:08:32.135
determine appropriate accommodations,

0:08:32.135,0:08:35.794
and give the student a letter authorizing those accommodations.

0:08:35.796,0:08:38.945
(Bea Awoniyi) What we look into is, How does that disability affect

0:08:38.946,0:08:42.245
that specific person for that specific class?

0:08:42.246,0:08:44.605
And then we make a determination of what types

0:08:44.606,0:08:48.525
of accommodation will be reasonable and what will be appropriate.

0:08:48.526,0:08:52.965
Not all accommodations are reasonable and not all accommodations are appropriate.

0:08:52.966,0:08:55.895
(Narrator) An accommodation is not appropriate if it would:

0:09:11.706,0:09:16.005
If an accommodation request seems unreasonable, a compromise could be discussed

0:09:16.006,0:09:19.725
between the professor, the student, and the disabled student services staff.

0:09:19.726,0:09:25.105
(Rebecca Cory) I was working with a student who had Tourette Syndrome, which is a disability

0:09:25.106,0:09:29.205
that causes her to experience some physical and vocal tics.

0:09:29.206,0:09:33.745
And this student was taking a chemistry class, and was working with a chemistry professor,

0:09:33.746,0:09:39.065
and the professor was concerned that these physical tics may cause a hazard

0:09:39.066,0:09:42.635
in the chemistry class, in the laboratory specifically.

0:09:42.636,0:09:47.845
And so we worked with this professor and the student to get a lab situation

0:09:47.846,0:09:50.635
that was not going to be a problem for the student.

0:09:50.636,0:09:55.265
We replaced the glassware with plastic when we could, and with Pyrex when we could,

0:09:55.266,0:09:58.225
and we paired the student with a lab partner.

0:09:58.226,0:10:02.985
So that if there was a chemical that the student might have a difficulty handling,

0:10:02.986,0:10:06.434
in case she had a physical tic during the handling of it,

0:10:06.436,0:10:11.415
the lab partner would handle those specific chemicals and the student was still working

0:10:11.416,0:10:14.205
in a situation that was safe, and she could learn what she needed to learn.

0:10:14.206,0:10:17.485
(Teacher) I'm going to see if I can find those sunspots.

0:10:17.486,0:10:21.325
(Narrator) Students with disabilities have the right to confidentiality.

0:10:21.326,0:10:26.045
If a student appears to be struggling in class, but hasn't requested accommodations,

0:10:26.046,0:10:29.955
the professor is not advised to ask if a disability is involved.

0:10:29.956,0:10:33.035
But there are acceptable ways to offer assistance.

0:10:33.036,0:10:36.215
(Bea Awoniyi) It's okay for the professor to call the student and say,

0:10:36.216,0:10:38.965
"It seems as if you are struggling with the concepts in this class.

0:10:38.966,0:10:41.055
Is there anything I can do to help you?"

0:10:41.056,0:10:43.865
(Narrator) You could suggest resources on campus, such as tutoring

0:10:43.866,0:10:49.595
or instructional centers, and include disabled student services as one of those resources.

0:10:49.596,0:10:54.475
A very good plan is to include a statement on your class syllabus, inviting students to talk

0:10:54.476,0:10:57.615
with you about any disability-related concerns.

0:10:57.616,0:10:59.935
For example, you could say:

0:11:05.456,0:11:10.275
This will make students with disabilities more comfortable discussing accommodations.

0:11:10.276,0:11:14.275
(Suzanne Tucker) It's letting students know that you care and that you're open and responsive,

0:11:14.276,0:11:18.045
and that's one of the biggest barriers that students confront.

0:11:18.046,0:11:20.335
They want to know that when they approach a faculty member,

0:11:20.336,0:11:24.465
especially if your disability's one that's not obvious or apparent,

0:11:24.466,0:11:28.665
that they've got a faculty member who's already invited that disclosure.

0:11:28.666,0:11:33.865
(Narrator) A student may request accommodations for the classroom, assignments, and exams.

0:11:33.866,0:11:37.785
Some commonly-requested classroom accommodations include:

0:11:51.136,0:11:53.495
(Jesse Shaver) I use my laptop in class extensively

0:11:53.496,0:11:56.485
for both notes and for things like essay tests.

0:11:56.486,0:12:00.884
I'll email them to a professor at the end of the class, and so they are in their inbox

0:12:00.886,0:12:03.785
when they show up in their office afterwards.

0:12:03.786,0:12:06.095
(Narrator) Assignment accommodations include:

0:12:20.486,0:12:26.715
(Andrew Lyon) I've received extra time from the teachers, a reasonable amount of extra time,

0:12:26.716,0:12:33.275
saying that if I don't get this assignment accomplished, I have until later to get it in.

0:12:33.276,0:12:36.195
Accommodates for exams include:

0:12:59.976,0:13:02.434
(Amrit) Extra time on tests.

0:13:02.436,0:13:06.095
I have problems taking tests, that's my major issue is

0:13:06.096,0:13:08.755
that I can't take tests to the best of my ability.

0:13:08.756,0:13:13.705
Like I can do my homework, I can study, I can memorize; but I can't take the tests very well.

0:13:13.706,0:13:20.215
(Laura Bersos) For some classes, I'm allowed to take oral tests, because I can work my way

0:13:20.216,0:13:24.435
to the answer and they'll understand that I'm actually saying the right thing,

0:13:24.436,0:13:27.945
it's just that when written, it's like, la, la, la.

0:13:27.946,0:13:32.075
(Narrator) In some cases, accommodations may extend beyond the classroom.

0:13:32.076,0:13:36.435
For example, a medical student might eventually need to do clinical work.

0:13:36.436,0:13:39.995
An individual discussion of options may be necessary.

0:13:39.996,0:13:43.785
(Deb Casey) What I would most likely talk about are the technical standards of the program.

0:13:43.786,0:13:45.995
Can this student meet the technical standards?

0:13:45.996,0:13:51.445
So sitting with the student who wants to go into the College of Nursing, I may say to them,

0:13:51.446,0:13:54.075
"Okay, here are the technical standards for this program.

0:13:54.076,0:13:58.985
Are you able to perform these standards in order to graduate from the program?

0:13:58.986,0:14:02.325
Not just participate, but be able to graduate from the program.

0:14:02.326,0:14:05.995
And included in those technical standards are some of these field work sites,

0:14:05.996,0:14:10.625
clinical experiences, hands-on aspects of working

0:14:10.626,0:14:14.865
with patients - are you able to do that?"

0:14:18.206,0:14:20.685
(Teacher) So it's a good idea to look through the list.

0:14:20.686,0:14:21.235
Like we're going to...

0:14:21.236,0:14:24.725
(Narrator) Good teaching can minimize the need for accommodations.

0:14:24.726,0:14:28.375
By using principles of universal design in your instruction,

0:14:28.376,0:14:31.675
you'll maximize learning for all students in your class.

0:14:31.676,0:14:35.595
(Bea Awoniyi) When we talk about universal design, we are not talking about something

0:14:35.596,0:14:41.435
that is out of the ordinary, but is teaching to a wide variety of individuals.

0:14:41.436,0:14:46.325
So preparing ahead of time, thinking about the different types of learners that you may have

0:14:46.326,0:14:50.495
in the class, and making sure that those individuals can participate.

0:14:50.496,0:14:54.145
(Sheryl Burgstahler) Universal design strategies are usually not difficult to employ.

0:14:54.146,0:14:57.855
For instance, as you're designing your course, you might think of alternative assignments

0:14:57.856,0:15:01.415
for students: they might write a paper, they might give a presentation,

0:15:01.416,0:15:05.905
they might put together a portfolio to meet a requirement in class.

0:15:05.906,0:15:09.695
(Narrator) These alternatives work well for students with a variety of learning styles

0:15:09.696,0:15:13.055
and backgrounds, including those with disabilities.

0:15:13.056,0:15:18.415
(Al Souma) For example, having notes available in the library, having notes available online,

0:15:18.416,0:15:23.675
having books available and syllabuses available before class starts

0:15:23.676,0:15:25.955
so students can get, have access to that.

0:15:25.956,0:15:29.065
(Narrator) Planning your curriculum with universal design can reduce

0:15:29.066,0:15:32.005
or eliminate the need for accommodations later,

0:15:32.006,0:15:34.965
and that's helpful for both faculty and students.

0:15:34.966,0:15:39.475
(Meryl Berstein) If you're designing your class work so that it will accessible to all students

0:15:39.476,0:15:44.315
in class, it might take a little bit longer for you to do that initially.

0:15:44.316,0:15:48.525
But the benefits of it to you, as well as to the student, will be reaped later.

0:15:48.526,0:15:50.075
Because once you've done it, you've done it.

0:15:50.076,0:15:52.935
You are not going to have to re-invent the wheel.

0:15:52.936,0:15:56.855
Other elements of universal design which may be particularly helpful to students

0:15:56.856,0:15:59.475
with invisible disabilities include:

0:16:33.756,0:16:36.535
such as multiple choice and essay

0:16:36.536,0:16:42.285
(Bea) When we adopt the principle of universal design, that minimizes the amount

0:16:42.286,0:16:45.755
of accommodations that we're going to need, and students who are in the class

0:16:45.756,0:16:49.565
who have disabilities may not even have to ask for accommodations any more.

0:16:49.566,0:16:53.925
Of course, that doesn't mean that we're not going to have anyone requesting accommodations;

0:16:53.926,0:16:58.255
we just limit the number of accommodations that we have to provide.

0:17:03.746,0:17:07.325
(Narrator) Finally, just listening to students will let you know what they need

0:17:07.326,0:17:09.545
to be successful in your class.

0:17:09.546,0:17:10.595
And who knows?

0:17:10.596,0:17:12.935
They may be teaching your children some day.

0:17:12.935,0:17:15.204
(Laura Bersos) I want to teach middle school.

0:17:15.205,0:17:19.224
I want to be a math teacher, and one of the main reasons I want to teach is because,

0:17:19.226,0:17:24.425
have you ever gone through, like, a problem or something where it's just like, "Oh,

0:17:24.425,0:17:26.224
I don't understand what they're talking about, aargh!"

0:17:26.226,0:17:30.245
And then you have that click, and then you have that huge smile on your face.

0:17:30.246,0:17:34.000
I want to help kids get that everyday.