Services Available by Type of Disability

Faculty Mentorship Program
The Faculty Mentorship Program links faculty members to students with disabilities. The goal of this program is to enhance the learning experience for students with disabilities by assigning faculty mentors to each student participating in the program.

Adaptive Computer Technology
To be "plugged in" to the pulse of Ball State University, you will want to become familiar with computer technology available on campus. Please refer to the information in this article, or you may request the brochure concerning adaptive computer technology available through the DSD office.

Attendant Care at Ball State
While responsibility for attaining, training, supervising, payment, and possible replacement belongs to the student receiving care, the Disabled Student Development (DSD) office can assist you through the process.

Notetaker Services Overview
For both notetakers and students using notetakers - explains policies and the payment process for notetakers.

Parking/Transportation
Ball State University offers the following help to students with disabilities in the areas of parking and transportation.

Shuttle Bus Information
A lift-equipped campus shuttle runs during the regular academic year for students with mobility impairments. This is also a very useful service for students who are blind or visually impaired.

Ball State University is committed to providing equal opportunities in higher education to academically qualified students with disabilities. Ball State does not offer a specialized curriculum for persons with disabilities, nor does it assume the role of a rehabilitation center. Students with disabilities at Ball State have access to tools and resources that will enable them to manage day-to-day life in college. The services that are available will vary depending on the nature of the disability. What follows is a list of services that Ball State offers for students, grouped by the nature of the disability.

Students with a Mobility Impairment

priority class scheduling
information regarding attendant care at Ball State
a list of prospective care attendants and agencies which provide attendant care
information on accessible housing
information on accessible parking
access to a lift-equipped campus shuttle
keys to elevators in academic buildings without public elevators
letters to teachers, when requested, to discuss the condition, as well as any appropriate classroom adaptations or accommodations
recruitment and referral of notetakers and readers, as needed
information concerning accommodated test administration, i.e. extended time or the use of a scribe
specialized computer lab with adapted equipment such as modified keyboards and voice recognition systems
referrals to companies that maintain/repair wheelchairs
liaison with Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired

orientation and mobility assistance
braille and large print maps of campus
priority class scheduling
assistance in making print accessible
letters to teachers, when requested, to discuss the condition, as well as any appropriate classroom adaptations or accommodations
information concerning accommodated test administration
recruitment and referral of readers and notetakers, as needed
information and assistance in ordering taped textbooks
short term loan of CD players for books on CD
permission for the student to tape record class lectures
information on Descriptive Video Service
specialized computer lab with adaptive equipment such as screen reading software, optical character scanners, and screen enlargements
access to a shuttle which takes students anywhere on campus
liaison with Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

letters to teachers, when requested, to discuss the condition, as well as appropriate classroom adaptations or accommodations
recruitment and referral of notetakers and sign language interpreters
priority class scheduling
liaison with Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services
specialized computer lab with adapted equipment such as computerized TTY capability and software that improves language skills
text telephone access (765-285-2206)
open and/or closed captioning for videos shown in class
a list of TTY numbers on campus
videophone available for use in the DSD office
information about services provided by the Audiology Clinic
- hearing evaulations
- hearing aid counseling, fitting, and repair
- assistive listening device counseling and demonstration
- entral auditory processing evaluations
- FM auditory trainer counseling, fitting, and repair

Students with a Learning Disability or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

To receive services based on a learning disability or ADD, DSD will need to have on file documentation of a learning disability or ADD. This documentation should assess the impact of the student's learning disability or ADD on his/her academic performance at the time in which the request for accommodations is made. As a result, DSD requests that documentation be current (within three years). Ideally, the appropriate licensed professional who performed the most recent testing on the student should fill out DSD's verification form. For more information as to what is appropriate documentation of a learning disability or ADD, please refer to the Resources & Links page on this website (when at this page, scroll down to "National Guidelines for Documention of a Disability"). These guidelines are an attempt to standardize the documentation of learning disabilities and ADD..

Once the student has returned this form to the DSD office, DSD personnel will meet with the student to discuss reasonable accommodations which may be useful to the student. Possible accommodations for a student with a learning disability or ADD include:

priority class scheduling
letters to teachers, when requested, to discuss the condition, as well as appropriate classroom adaptations or accommodations
recruitment of notetakers and readers, as needed
information concerning accommodated test administration, i.e. extended time or a reduced distraction testing environment
information and assistance in ordering books on CD
short term loan of CD players for books on CD
permission for the student to tape record class lectures
assistance in making print accessible
information about classroom and study strategies
tutoring available in the Learning Center
access to a specialized computer lab with equipment such as screen reading software, optical character recognition scanners, and word prediction software
liaison with Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services

For more information about how a student with a learning disability or ADD can thrive at Ball State, you are encouraged to read "Successful Strategies for College-Bound Students With Learning Disabilities." This is an article which was written by Richard Harris, Director of DSD, and Jacqueline Robertson, Reading and Study Skills Coordinator at the Learning Center.

Students who have Asperger's Syndrome

To receive services for Asperger's Syndrome, DSD will need to have on file documentation of this disability. This documentation should assess the impact of the Asperger's Syndrome on the student and how it limits the student's functional academic, social, and behavioral performance. As a result, DSD requests that documentation be current (within three years). Ideally, the appropriate licensed professional who performed the most recent testing on the student should fill out DSD's verification form. For more information as to what is appropriate documentation of Asperger's Syndrome, please refer to the link on the left called "Documentation Guidelines".

priority class scheduling
letters to teachers, when requested, to discuss the condition, as well as appropriate classroom adaptations or accommodations
recruitment of note takers, as needed
information concerning accommodated test administration, i.e. extended time or a reduced distraction testing environment
permission for the student to tape record class lectures
liaison with Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services
information about tutoring for Core Curriculum, Math, and Study Strategies tutoring at the Learning Center
housing accommodations, as needed
reduced course load
referral to the BSU Counseling Center for assistance with stress and adjustment to college

Students with a Psychiatric Disability

A psychiatric disability is a diagnosed mental illness that may substantially limit one or more major life activities. A psychiatric disability may affect a student's capacity to perform the academic tasks needed for learning. Conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and obsessive compulsive disorder are among those that may be categorized as a psychiatric disability.

To receive services based on a psychiatric disability, DSD will need to have on file verification from a licensed health care professional which assesses the student's current level of functioning. In order to be considered current, the licensed health care professional's statement must be within approximately six months of the date of the request for services by the student. DSD has a verification form which should be filled out by the licensed health care professional. On this verification form, the licensed health care professional needs to state a specific DSM-IV diagnosis and provide justification for the requested accommodations. For more information regarding what is appropriate documentation of a psychiatric disability, you are encouraged to refer to the Resources & Links page on this website (when at this page, scroll down to "National Guidelines for Documentation of a Disability"). These guidelines are an attempt to standardize the documentation of a psychiatric disability. DSD recommends that you refer the licensed health care professional to these guidelines.

Once a student has had the licensed health care professional fill out DSD's verification form, then the student would meet with DSD personnel to discuss accommodations which may be useful to the student. Possible accommodations for a student with a psychiatric disability include:

generalized letters to teachers, when requested, explaining how a psychological condition might impact the student's academic success. Often times the side effects of medication, counseling/mediation appointments, and the difficulty of keeping a structured schedule can be better accommodated if the teacher has some understanding of the condition.
information regarding accommodated test administration, i.e. extended time or a reduced distraction testing environment
priority class scheduling
recruitment of notetakers, as needed
permission for the student to tape record class lectures
information about classroom and study strategies tutoring available in the Learning Center
information about Ball State's Counseling Center
liaison with Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Students with a Chronic Health Disorder

Many students have conditions which are chronic in nature, such as heart problems, diabetes, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia. These conditions rise to the level of a disability when they substantially limit one or more major life activities. To receive any of the accommodations listed below, the student would need to have DSD's disability verification form completed by his/her physician or an appropriate licensed professional.

letters to teachers, when requested, to discuss the condition, as well as any appropriate classroom adaptations or accommodations
priority class scheduling
information about classroom and study strategies tutoring available in the Learning Center
keys to elevators in academic buildings without public elevators
information on accessible parking and transportation, when appropriate
information/referrals to the Ombudsperson regarding absences and medical withdrawals