IDEA: Children with disabilities are entitled to a "free and appropriate public education."

ADA: Students cannot be denied admission due to disability but must be otherwise qualified for college.

Section 504-D: Accommodations may include shortening assignments, notes on test or other accommodations that are not available to other students.

Section 504-E: Colleges must maintain academic standards, so no accommodations can fundamentally alter a class or program. For example, shortening assignments or allowing notes during exams is not appropriate.

An IEP or 504 plan involves teachers, counselors and parents.

IEPs and 504 plans do not exist

Guarantee of success

Guarantee of access

Students are identified and supported by teachers and parents.

Students must self-identify to Disability Support Services.

Responsibility for accommodations primarily belongs to the school.

It is the student's responsibility to request accommodations, and it is the student's choice whether or not to use approved accommodations in each class.

Classroom teachers have a copy of a student's IEP or 504 plan. They understand a student's disability and attend meetings about individualized plans.

Instructors receive a brief letter of accommodations. This does not state what disability a student has or give any diagnostic data. A student may choose to disclose more information.

Parents are involved in IEP or 504 plan meetings.

Parents do not have access to disability records without written consent from the student.

Parents often have access to a student's grades.

Parents do not have access to grades without written consent from the student.

Parents often receive calls or emails when a student is not doing well in classes.

Even with written consent, college instructors will communicate with students, not parents.