Overview of SDS
 We serve students with…
 Learning Disabilities
 Psychological Disabilities
 Medical Disabilities
 We provide
 Academic accommodations
 Academic counseling
 Assistance to faculty as needed
Learning Disorders
 What is a learning disorder?
 When an individual’s achievement in reading, writing or
math is substantially below what would be expected
for his/her age, schooling and level of intelligence
 Approximately 5% of students in public in the US have a
learning disorder
 What they are not…
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Form of mental retardation
Result of poor teaching
Diminished motivation
Cultural, environmental or linguistic differences
ADHD/ADD
 Academic difficulties
 Easily distracted
 Poor time management
 Performance may vary from day to day
 Omits steps in a process
 Problems tracking rapid speaker
 Restlessness, impatient
 Minor motor restlessness
Psychological Disabilities
Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar, PTSD
 Symptoms
 Academic difficulties
 Tearfulness
 Concentration
 Sleep disturbance
 Long term planning
 Anxiety
 Time management
 Flat affect
 Motivation
 Fluctuating emotions
Asperger’s Disorder
 Falls under Autism spectrum, high functioning autism
 Lack the ability to read cues like body language or intuit what
others are thinking
 Difficulty navigating basic social interactions
 Normal intelligence, superior skills in specific area
 May exhibit…
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Reflexive honesty
Rigid sense of right and wrong
Sensitivity to criticism
Loud tone of voice
Discomfort in noisy/crowded environments
Medical Disabilities
Diabetes, Traumatic Brain Injury, Chronic Pain, Dialysis
 Academic difficulties
 Concentration
 Fatigue
 Depression
 Short-term memory loss
 Unpredictable occurrence
of symptoms leads to need
for flexibility
Accommodation
Procedure
 Student brings current letter to faculty
 Student and faculty discuss the letter
 Faculty sends a confirmation email to student, a
designated school official, and disability counselor
http://think.stedwards.edu/studentdisabilityservices/
email-confirmation-procedure
Safe Questions/Comments
 “Is there anything we should discuss regarding your
accommodations in this class?”
 “I don’t have an answer for you right now. I would like to
consult with your disability counselor.”
 “Let’s discuss how we will communicate throughout the
semester about your accommodations…”
 When you suspect a disability, “It might be helpful to talk
to someone in Student Disability Services.”
 Please do not ask…
 “What is your disability?”
Contact SDS
 Contact a disability counselor for helpful tips and concerns about students
Candice: 448-8557
candicev@stedwards.edu
Kendall: 223-1659
kendalls@stedwards.edu
 Contact the Testing Center for test scheduling and delivery
Dana: 448-8659
danam@stedwards.edu
Location: Moody Hall 155
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Visit our website at anytime for useful information:
http://think.stedwards.edu/studentdisabilityservices/facultyresources1
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Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/stedwardssds