Question- Why does the CEA exist?
Answer- The Civil Rights of students with disabilities are protected
under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Vocational
Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These laws mandate that no otherwise qualified
individual with a disability shall, solely by reason of his or her
disability be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefit
of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity
of a public entity. Under this law, a qualified person is one who
meets the academic and technical standards requisite to admission
or participation in the education program or activity, with or without
reasonable modifications to rules, policies, or practices; the removal
of architectural, communication, or transportation barriers, or the
provision of auxiliary aids and services.
A person with a disability is any person who has a physical or mental
impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities
including walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning,
or working.
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Question- Do students who are accommodated
have an unfair advantage in college?
Answer- No. Students with disabilities must meet the same standards
as all students. An accommodation is provided only when a student's
medical records show that a functional limitation exists which substantially
interferes with the student's ability to gather information or to
demonstrate his or her knowledge. When accommodated, the student is
provided a method of gaining information and for demonstrating learning.
For example, a person who is profoundly deaf may not be able to gain
information from a lecture without an interpreter. Without having
the information presented in the classroom, the student who is deaf
cannot be expected to learn at the same rate as other students. For
more information, visit our Accommodations
page.
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Question- What should I do if I
think I may have a disability?
Answer- If you are a student at the University you are welcome to
call the CEA and make an appointment to discuss your concerns. The
CEA staff will work with you to determine which resources on campus
or in the community might be helpful for you.
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Question- When should I start applying to
the CEA?
Answer- Three to six months before you plan to enroll at the University
is ideal. High school seniors are encouraged to seek admission to the
university early and to apply to the CEA in December before graduating.
Students who are blind, have low vision, are deaf or hard of hearing
are encouraged to apply at least eight months before classes begin.
While these time lines are not required they give the CEA staff and
the student adequate time to work together in developing an accommodation
plan and arranging for services that may take extra time to provide.
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What should I send directly to the CEA and what should I send elsewhere?
Answer- The CEA requires the following be submitted directly to our
office: (1) CEA Registration Form, and (2) the appropriate CEA Disability
Verification form with all attachments. None of these will fulfill
any requirements of the college, admissions, or other groups on campus.
All documents submitted are kept confidential and are not shared with
others on campus without a need to know or a release signed by the
student. These forms may be found on the Applications
Page. Please do not send disability documentation to Admissions
or other University offices.
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Question- How often should I contact
the CEA about the progress of my application?
Answer- If you do not hear from the CEA within one month of submitting
your registration and documentation materials, call and ask to speak
to someone who can advise you as to the status of your application.
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Question- How do I get an accessible
parking permit?
Answer- Please contact or visit the Parking
and Transit web site to apply for an accessible parking permit.
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Question- Does the CEA provide tutoring
services?
Answer- The CEA itself does not provide tutoring services, but there
are several free tutoring resources available on the UA campus. Please
contact the Enhanced Learning Center,
the Quality
Writing Center, the Math Tutoring
Center, and/or Student
Support Services.
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