![]() ![]() Without these accommodations, would the student have meaningful access to the program, service, or activity? What are possible accommodations, modifications, or adjustments that might remove the barrier? Is the barrier described related to the mental health condition? ![]() The Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) recommends these questions for when determining reasonable accommodations for mental health disabilities:ĭoes the student have a mental health condition? Or if your depression disrupts your sleep and makes it harder to concentrate, you could be allowed to bring an audio recorder to class so you can review the lesson when you’re feeling more rested. So if your PTSD makes you afraid of being trapped, then you could be allowed to freely take breaks from class. It really depends on your unique barriers and needs. What kind of accommodations can you get for a psychiatric disability? Check out our journal about mental health and disability to learn more about it. It can sometimes be hard to recognize mental health conditions as disabilities because of the way society has historically viewed them. More than that, you deserve those accommodations because you have a right to participate fully and equally in your education. ![]() The bottom line: if the symptoms of your mental health condition interfere with your learning, then you can get academic accommodations for it. “It’s better to register for accommodations as soon as possible as many people only find out about them when they are in crisis - which makes it more complicated, especially with communicating with professors,” says Kelly Davis, Associate Vice President of Peer and Youth Advocacy at Mental Health America. If the symptoms of your mental health condition limit your ability to function in any of these areas, then it would be considered a psychiatric disability.Įven if your mental health condition is usually manageable, it’s still considered a psychiatric disability under the ADA if it meets the definition when it’s active (like during a depressive or manic episode). The ADA defines a disability as “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.” According to the ADA, major life activities include (but aren’t limited to) learning, working, communicating, sleeping, eating, speaking, concentrating, and taking care of yourself. Okay, but does my mental illness really qualify as a disability? Students with disabilities are guaranteed equal access to education through the ADA, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. In fact, the US Department of Civil Rights Division explicitly lists major depressive disorder as an example of a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). And yes, a mental health condition can qualify as a disability. ![]() If you have a disability, you have a right to academic accommodations - that includes physical, intellectual, cognitive, and psychiatric disabilities. To be considered “reasonable,” accommodations can’t threaten health or safety, fundamentally change the curriculum requirements, or be excessively expensive. These modifications aren’t meant to give you an advantage - they just get rid of the barriers that interfere with learning (because there are very real systemic barriers for people with disabilities).Ĭhanges can be made in the physical classroom space, the way the lessons are given, and the assignments and exams. What are academic accommodations?Īcademic accommodations are changes to the usual learning environment to help students with disabilities get equal access to education. (Spoiler: they do, and it can.) Here’s what you need to know. You might be wondering if academic accommodations for mental health conditions even exist, or if your specific condition even “counts” as a disability. But once we start talking about it as something that you may need academic accommodations for, the conversation gets more complicated. We can all probably agree that your mental health has an impact on how you do in school. ![]()
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