Welcome to the Office of Disability Services

General Information
About Us | Classroom Relocation Policy | Faculty/Staff | Forms | Definitions | Resources | Testing & Technology Center

Information for Students
Rights & Responsibilities | Policies, Procedures & Resources Manual | Confidentiality | Concerns & Reporting Procedures | Forms
ADD/ADHD | Hearing Impairments | Invisible Disabilities | Learning Disabilities
Physical Impairments | Psychological Disabilities | Visual Impairments
Prospective Student Registration

Invisible Disabilities

• Introduction
• Documentation Guidelines
• Accommodations
• When to Contact ODS
• New Students

Introduction
"Invisible Disabilities" include Systemic Disabilities and conditions affecting one or more of the body’s systems, such as respiratory, immunological, neurological, and circulatory systems (Disability Services, U of Minnesota, 1995). Also included is Traumatic Brain Injury which may not always be visible or might appear seemingly minor, while still being quite complex. Such impairments can cause physical, cognitive, social, and vocational changes that affect an individual for a short period of time or permanently. Depending on the extent and location of the injury, symptoms caused by a brain injury vary widely. Some common results are seizures, loss of balance or coordination, difficulty with speech, limited concentration, memory loss, and loss of organizational and reasoning skills (Disability Services, U of Minnesota, 1995).

Documentation Guidelines
Students with invisible impairments (e.g., chronic health ailments) should provide documentation that meets the following criteria:

1. The documentation should be from a qualified professional (e.g., physician, licensed psychologist, neuropsychologist);
2. The documentation must identify an actual diagnosis of an impairment;
3. The documentation must discuss functional limitations in an academic environment which are caused by the impairment;
4. The documentation should recommend accommodations to compensate for identified functional limitations, and;
5. The documentation should list current medication, dosages, and existing (not possible) side effects.

Accommodations
Accommodations are decided on a case-by-case basis and may include but are not limited to or completely inclusive of the following:

• Extended time for examinations
• Testing in a distraction reduced environment
• Use of adaptive technology for testing
• Tape Recorded Lectures
• Volunteer note taker

When to Contact ODS

• To request accommodations each semester.
• To request additional accommodations(s) or review existing accommodations.
• When you are not able to work out ODS approved accommodations with faculty.
• When accommodations do not seem to be helping.
• When there is a problem. We cannot help if we do not know a problem exists.

New Students
New students wishing to register with the Office of Disability Services and request accommodations, must complete a Request For Services Packet. The packet must be completed by an appropriate professional. After having the packet completed, students should submit the information to ODS. New students must meet with an ODS staff to complete registration and have accommodations determined. If you have any questions please contact ODS at 504-280-7284 or atatc@uno.edu.

Request for Services Documentation Packet - Accessible PDF
Request for Services Documentation Packet - Word for PC

 

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