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Survey reports 1 in 11 college freshmen have a disability

One in 11 college freshman reports having a disability, according to a recent national survey released by the American Council on Education.

Only one in 33 students were reported as having a disability two decades ago, the survey said.

Sue Kroeger, director of the University of Arizona Center for Disability Related Resources, said there are "about 1,300 students with disabilities, which is about four percent of the UA population."

Of those 1,300 students, 75 percent have diagnosed learning disabilities rather than physical disabilities, she added.

"It's a huge number."

Kroeger also added the rate is quite normal for a four-year public institution, but rates are often higher in community colleges.

CeDRR, 1540 E. Second St., offers a wide range of assistance, based on an individual student's disability.

"We, however, don't distinguish the students (based on their disabilities). They are all lumped together," said Kroeger.

The center offers different options for exam taking, such as extended time, having the test read aloud by a proctor or taking the exam in a private room. For students with visual impairments, the center offers textbooks on audio cassettes as well as note-taking services.

CeDRR was created at the UA in the 1970s to provide better access to higher education for students with disabilities.

The survey reported that health-related disabilities were 19.3 percent of the total number of students with disabilities, while 13.3 percent were partially sighted or blind.

Carol Funcke, assistant director of CeDRR, has worked at the center for 20 years.

"I feel we have been successful in providing accommodations for students across the board. To us, they are students first, with disabilities second," she said.

The center also provides many accommodations like accessible classroom location and furniture, alternative ways of completing assignments such as oral papers and an on-site computer lab for students with physical disabilities.

Kroeger reported having tripled the amount of students receiving assistance since the 1970s. She attributed much of that increase to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

"It created new opportunities for students with disabilities ... it gave them a level playing field to work on."

There has also been a significant increase in the number of students with reported learning disabilities, which only recently had been identified during the K-12 years.

"People have to identify the hidden disabilities as well," Kroeger said.

Sherry Santee, physical therapist for CeDRR, assists students with physical disabilities and arranges on-campus living accommodations for students with physical disabilities.

"I arrange for about 35 to 40 students with disabilities from mental, blindness and other medical problems," she said.

Many of the 20 residence halls have altered the structure of the buildings to accommodate for physically disabled students since 1990.

Another facility on the campus for students with diagnosed learning disabilities is the Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques Center, located in the basement of Old Main.

The survey said learning disabilities are the most common, making up 41 percent of the total number of students with disabilities.

"We basically provide services over and above what CeDRR provides," said Shirley Ramsey, assistant director for administration and outreach.

While CeDRR's services are free of charge, those at SALT cost $1,600 per year, which includes unlimited one-on-one tutoring hours.

SALT currently has about 120 to 130 tutors on staff, which includes mostly upper-division and graduate students who are trained for specific strategies in dealing with certain learning disabilities.

Learning disabilities range from dyslexia, which Ramsey reports as the most common, to difficulties with auditory processing, trouble with foreign languages and reading comprehension difficulties.

Diagnosed Attention Deficiency Disorder, more commonly known as ADD, and Attention Deficiency Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD, are also common types of learning deficiencies.

As well as tutorial services, SALT also has on-staff education specialists who conduct classes and workshops like note taking and time management skills for students in the SALT program.

In order to receive services at either SALT or CeDRR, students must have documented diagnosed learning disabilities. Students must seek a diagnosis from testing at an outside facility. The tests range from IQ tests to specific quantitative analysis examination.