Disability   Services   at   WSSU
Presented   by   Myra   Waddell,   Director
Greetings   to   All   Students   at   Winston ‐ Salem   State   University.
Thank   you   for   allowing   me   time   to   share   some   basic   information   about   our   Department   of   Disability
Services.
This   is   a   brief   overview   of   who   we   are,   what   we   hope   to   achieve   and   how   you   may   pursue   accommodations   for   yourself   or   become   a   resource   for   others   to   begin   their   formal   request   for   services.
These   are   the   topics   that   will   be   covered   in   this   brief   presentation.
Of   the   information   students   need   to   know   about   the   Department   of   Disability   Services,   these   are   the   highlights.
There   are   quite   a   few   differences   in   Services   and   Processes   once   one   has   graduated   from   High   School.
This   is   a   chart   of   the   most   common   differences.
Each   syllabus   should   have   the   same   generic   Accessibility   Statement.
It   is   sent   out   each   year   through   email.
Students   with   a   documented   disability   should   come   to   the   Department   of   Disability   Services.
If   unsure   of   whether   or   not   something   may   be   considered   a   disability,   please   schedule   a   meeting   to   discuss   your   concerns   with   the   department.
Everyone   involved   will   receive   an   email   clearly   stating   the   approved   accommodations.
Once   registered,   the   focus   should   remain   on   the   accommodations   and   not   the   disability.
You   may   contact   waddellm@wssu.edu
at   any   time   during   the   process   to   ask   questions   about   the   progress   of   a   referral
Disability   Services   does   not   attempt   to   make   a   diagnosis,   however,   the   professional   submitting   the   documentation   must   be   qualified   to   do   so   for   the   area   in   which   the   disability   may   manifest   itself.
IEP’s,   Prescription   Pad   notes,   or   504   plans   are   NOT   considered   adequate   documentation.
There   are   certain   guidelines   pertaining   to   documentation   that   the   Federal   Government   requires.
I   check   for   those   items.
This   changes   periodically.
Disability   Services   becomes   the   storehouse   for   that   documentation.
After   mid ‐ term,   disclosures   will   most   of   the   time   be   considered   timely   for   the   next   semester   because   they   are   not   retroactive.
The   burden   of   self ‐ disclosure,   testing   for   documentation   and   personal   aids/assistance   is   on   the   student.

This   office   does   not   have   a   list   of   local   psychologists,   pharmacists   or   clinicians   that   are   able   to   update   or   complete   initial   evaluations.
One’s   personal   health   care   provider   would   be   the   best   place   to   have   that   conversation   about   referrals   to   other   licensed   professionals.
We   do   have   the   responsibility   for   finding   resources   to   accommodate   reasonable   requests.
On   all   syllabi   at   WSSU,   there   should   be   this   generic   statement.
There   should   be   no   additions   or   deletions   from   this   statement.
This   helps   to   eliminate   confusion   about   the   instructor’s   and   the   student’s   responsibility   in   this   process.
If   you   notice   something   different,   please   share   that   information   with   the   Department   of   Disability
Services.
Answers   to   questions   about   Disability   Services   may   be   located   on   our   website.
The   link   is   at   the   bottom   of   this   page.
If   you   have   been   approved   by   your   doctor   and   the   Department   of   Motor   Vehicles   for   an   accessible   parking   placard,   you   will   also   be   eligible   to   purchase   a   university   accessible   parking   permit   instead   of   one   for   a   specific   lot.
Please   take   the   state   placard   and   your   license   with   you   when   you   go   to   purchase   your   university   permit.
Thank   you   for   allowing   me   a   few   moments   to   share   some   very   general   and   basic   information   about   the
Department   of   Disability   Services.