Graduate Certificate in Disability Services Program Archive 2019-2020

Graduate Certificate in Disability Services in Higher Education (DSHE) Archive 2019-2020

Learn more about this certificate

Certificate Requirements: 4 courses, 12 credits

Core Requirements (2 courses, 6 credits)

Credits:

3

Description:

Provides a historical perspective and legal foundation of disability services as a functional area within the field of administration of higher education. Examines the various organizational structures, scope of programs and services, ethical responsibilities of institutions and administrators, roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders, legal guidelines and compliance concerns, and best practices associated with the provision of equal access to all academic and non-academic opportunities for diversely-abled students.

Credits:

3

Description:

Explores disability profiles, documentation standards, and accommodation protocol for students with neurological, cognitive, physical, sensory, mental health, and chronic health related disabilities. Additional topics covered include lifespan and identity development of students with disabilities, social pragmatics and case management skills, disability as diversity, grievance procedures, and threat assessment.

Elective (1 course, 3 credits)

Choose one of the following:

Credits:

3

Description:

Covers the legal framework for providing auxiliary aids and services as matters of access and accommodation for students with disabilities, as well as web accessibility standards, best practices for accessibility testing, and the administration of accessibility policy.

Credits:

3

Description:

Explores the laws, regulations, and accommodation practices in K-12, higher education, and employment settings with a focus on developing transition plans and identifying resources for students with disabilities. Additional topics covered include identity development for persons with disabilities, strategies for individual career development, transition to independent living, engaging outside resources, collaborative efforts with key stakeholders, and the development of leadership skills centered on community education.

Practicum (1 course, 3 credits)

Students enrolled in the Disability Services in Higher Education certificate program must complete a practicum experience that will connect course work with practical experience. The practicum experience consists of one 3-credit course with 150 total work hours in the field. Students typically spend 10 hours per week working at a local college or university in their disability services office. Students formally apply for the practicum experience and consult with their advisor regarding field placement. The supervision component of the course will be taught online.

Prerequisites:

Take DSHE-710; Instructor consent required

Credits:

3

Description:

The practicum experience provides for the practical application of administrative skills in the field of disability services under the guidance of a site supervisor at an institution of higher education. The experience helps students gain exposure to various fields of work, and it provides an opportunity for students to observe, experience, and understand employer/employee relationships within the disability services in higher education environment.

Disability Services Learning Goals & Objectives

Learning goals and objectives reflect the educational outcomes achieved by students through the completion of this program.

Learning Goals Learning Objectives
Students will... Students will be able to...
Gain a historical perspective and understand the legal framework for working with students with disabilities in higher education
  • Understand the emergence of Disability Services as a distinct field in Higher Education
  • Educate the campus community on the role, responsibility, and ethics of disability services
Gain working knowledge of accessibility, accommodations, and the provision of auxiliary aids and services as well as the identification of resources and the development of policy and implementation protocol
  • Understand best practices for the development of disability services policies
  • Be able to research and benchmark in the development of policy
  • Incorporate important compliance issues in policies and procedures
Be able to determine and assign rights and responsibilities of students, family members, and university faculty, staff, and administration
  • Understand and assign rights and responsibilities to students, faculty, and staff
  • Educate students with disabilities on rights and responsibilities
  • Educate faculty, staff, and students on rights and responsibilities
  • Address discrepancies in the application of rights and responsibilities
Acquire case management skills relevant to developing and implementing intake practices, advising and advocacy, and the provision of management of accommodation services
  • Develop intake interview procedures
  • Practice formulating and implementing interview questions that effectively capture a student’s self-report
  • Be able to identify and isolate major life impacts and match appropriate accommodations
Understand disability as diversity with respect to student identity development
  • Understand transience and intersectionality of an individual’s disability
  • Develop advising skills for interacting with students at various points of the identity development spectrum

Disability Services Certificate Courses Archive 2019-2020

Credits:

3

Description:

Provides a historical perspective and legal foundation of disability services as a functional area within the field of administration of higher education. Examines the various organizational structures, scope of programs and services, ethical responsibilities of institutions and administrators, roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders, legal guidelines and compliance concerns, and best practices associated with the provision of equal access to all academic and non-academic opportunities for diversely-abled students.

Credits:

3

Description:

Explores disability profiles, documentation standards, and accommodation protocol for students with neurological, cognitive, physical, sensory, mental health, and chronic health related disabilities. Additional topics covered include lifespan and identity development of students with disabilities, social pragmatics and case management skills, disability as diversity, grievance procedures, and threat assessment.

Credits:

3

Description:

Covers the legal framework for providing auxiliary aids and services as matters of access and accommodation for students with disabilities, as well as web accessibility standards, best practices for accessibility testing, and the administration of accessibility policy.

Credits:

3

Description:

Explores the laws, regulations, and accommodation practices in K-12, higher education, and employment settings with a focus on developing transition plans and identifying resources for students with disabilities. Additional topics covered include identity development for persons with disabilities, strategies for individual career development, transition to independent living, engaging outside resources, collaborative efforts with key stakeholders, and the development of leadership skills centered on community education.

Prerequisites:

Take DSHE-710; Instructor consent required

Credits:

3

Description:

The practicum experience provides for the practical application of administrative skills in the field of disability services under the guidance of a site supervisor at an institution of higher education. The experience helps students gain exposure to various fields of work, and it provides an opportunity for students to observe, experience, and understand employer/employee relationships within the disability services in higher education environment.