Parent/Guardian Resources - Disability Services

The responsibilities of students with disabilities in higher education institutions are very different from those of high schools.  High schools are required, under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), to identify the educational needs of students with a disability and provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). However, this responsibility shifts from the school to the students in higher education.

In higher education, students are responsible for disclosing their disability by providing disability documentation to Disability Services and requesting accommodations. After confirmation that the submitted documentation is sufficient, the student must work with a Disability Services Coordinator at NMU to arrange accommodations through an interactive process.

Once accommodations are determined, students are responsible for actively communicating with their instructors to coordinate the provision of accommodations. Students are also responsible for evaluating the effectiveness of their accommodations and contacting Disability Services if the accommodations are not meeting their needs. A Disability Services Coordinator will meet with the student to discuss their concerns and explore possible adjustments.

No. A student with a disability does not have to disclose the disability to their college/university. Disclosure of a disability is on a voluntary basis. However, students will not receive accommodations unless they disclose this information through submission of documentation.  Importantly, accommodations are not retroactive. They only apply after the student has completed the interactive process.  It is best for students to be proactive in seeking accommodations.  Students are encouraged to connect with Disability Services as early as possible to discuss and arrange appropriate accommodations.  While accommodations are available to support their success, students are responsible for deciding when and how to use them. Establishing accommodations early helps ensure they are in place and ready whenever they are needed throughout the student’s academic journey.

No. Students will not always receive the same accommodations in college. Higher education institutions are required to provide appropriate academic accommodations to ensure that a student with a disability is receiving equal access, while in high school, a path to success is guaranteed. In college, accommodations will be determined through an interactive process between student and a Disability Services Coordinator with consideration of the student’s documentation, available resources, self-report from the student, and requirements of their courses.

The goal of Disability Services is to work directly with the student as early in the process as possible to help develop self-advocacy skills and because they are legally responsible for the services that are established. Students are solely responsible to explore and arrange accommodations. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) establish a student’s responsibility for requesting and utilizing accommodations.  Parents at this stage serve as a source of encouragement, support, and guidance. Please see some specific suggestions below on ways you could support your student.

The official means of communication between students and NMU, including Disability Services, is through their NMU email account. This means that students should be checking their email regularly to ensure that information is not missed.

We recommend discussing any concerns you have with your student first. Parents are welcome to share concerns and other information about their student with Disability Services, but FERPA laws are in effect and staff cannot release information to parents about interactions with students. Students may choose to give Disability Services staff permission to release information to their parents, but giving Disability Services permission does not mean that representatives of the office are required to communicate with a parent. If a student does sign a release and information is shared, the information will likely be general in nature and parents and students will then be encouraged to discuss the concern that was raised together.

No, there is no charge for receiving accommodations from Disability Services.

• Progressively reduce your level of hands-on support so that your student gets used to handling their own schedule and keeping track of workload and assignments.
• Make sure that your student attends and participates in any meetings at school where their disability and accommodations are discussed.
• Help your student become comfortable discussing their learning and accommodation needs with teachers independently.  Practicing those discussions at home can be extremely helpful.
• Progressively increase your student’s level of responsibility when it comes to the tasks of adulthood such as: setting up appointments, following through on commitments, making decisions about their accommodations, and other disability specific issues.
• Encourage your student to establish or be consistent with regular routines (e.g. personal hygiene, laundry, shopping, cooking, and budgeting).
• Help your student make a list of the tasks they will have to do for themselves while at college and progressively have them practice or take over those tasks.

• Encourage your student to follow the process for applying for accommodations. They can find that process on our website: https://nmu.edu/disabilityservices/home
• Urge your student to utilize the resources at NMU for tutoring, advising, and other supports.
• Discuss getting involved with activities or a student group on campus. Those connections make a meaningful and measurable difference in student success.
• Encourage your student to discuss and try different approaches to challenges to find what works for them.
• If an outcome is not what your student hoped for, help them reflect on what happened and brainstorm what other options they might have to receive a different outcome next time.
• Remind your student that Disability Services staff are available to discuss their accommodations, point them to other resources on campus, and provide support.

• Disability Services can be contacted by phone at (906) 227-1737, or email at: disability@nmu.edu. Please explore our website for additional information: https://nmu.edu/disabilityservices/home