The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, or ADA, prohibits discrimination based on disability and extends to sectors such as transportation, employment, and education.
Although colleges are subject to Section 504 accommodations, they follow a different subpart than K-12 schools, therefore colleges are not required to honor established high school 504 Plans. However, with migraine being considered one of the conditions protected by these statutes, Section 504 pushes to ensure students with migraine can be afforded reasonable accommodations to help them succeed in school.
What Are Reasonable Accommodations?
Reasonable accommodations can include, but are not limited to:
- Extended time to complete exams
- Access to a quiet testing space
- Access to having a note-taker for class lectures
- Obtain audio-recordings and/or recorded lectures
- Ability to privately take medication during class
- Excused absences due to migraine attacks
- Ability to retrieve notes from absences
- Ability to wear sunglasses, headphones, or earplugs during class
Where Do I Start?
To get started, create a plan of action to ensure your needs are being met and acknowledged by the institution. Begin by visiting your school’s student disability offices, often referred to as the Office of Student Accommodations, Office of Student Accessibility, or Student Affairs and notify them of your situation.
With obtained documentation from the offices listed, reach out to your professors to help accommodate you in any way you need. Consider notifying a counselor or your student advisor of your accommodations to help monitor your school performance and provide any additional support if needed.
Knowing the Students’ Rights as Guardians/Parents
Due to FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), any information regarding the student’s college accommodation process is protected under federal privacy laws. Parents or guardians will need the consent of the student, their coordinator or other disability services representative from the school to have access to the student’s accommodations.
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