In high school, the school has responsibilities which include the following:
Provide assessment of students with disabilities Identify students with disabilities Classify disabilities according to specified diagnostic categories Provide a free and appropriate education Develop Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) Involve parents or guardians in educational decisions Place students in appropriate programs where they receive educational benefit with parent participation and approval in the planning and placement team (PPT) process Provide related services (i.e., speech, OT/PT, school nurse or health service) Modify educational program as appropriate The post-secondary level institutional role changes as follows:
Accept and evaluate verifying documentation Determine that a mental or physical impairment causes a substantial limitation of a major life activity based on student-provided verifying documents Determine whether students are otherwise qualified for participation in the program or service, with or without accommodations, and if so, whether a reasonable accommodation is possible Inform students of office location and procedures for requesting accommodations Inform students of their rights and responsibilities Make reasonable accommodations for students who meet the above qualifying criteria Provide access to programs and services which are offered to persons without disabilities Provide reasonable access to program and service choices equal to those available to the general public Make reasonable adjustments in teaching methods which do not alter the essential content of a course or program Assure that off-campus and contracted program facilities also comply with Section 504 and ADA (Other differences may exist for post-secondary institutions which provide housing programs, health services, psychological counseling services, and extensive international programs.)
In contrast to their K-12 educational experience where many responsibilities were assumed by the school, student responsibilities at the post-secondary level change as follows: