Disability Services level playing field for students

Imagine being a freshman at a university. In addition to a class schedule, work schedule and social life, you have to struggle with impaired mobility or a learning disability.
To the community of people without disabilities, this scenario may be too far removed from their own realities.
For people with disabilities, maneuvering around campus and completing assignments can be daunting tasks.
According to Disability Services Coordinator Myra Waddell, there are 13 people with mobility disabilities and 34 people with learning disabilities [of 6,600 students enrolled] registered with Disability Services.
"There are not set accommodations for any disability," Waddell said.
"Just as everyone is an individual, the accommodations are individualized based on the requests, the documentation, and the essential criteria of the courses and the major the student is pursuing,"she said.
"The federal government mandates a free and appropriate education for children through the age of 21," said Rachelle Barnes, an assistant professor in the psychology department.
"Students are guaranteed some type of education until they age out. College, on the other hand, is not guaranteed."
Before coming to WSSU, Barnes said she served as the assistant director of Disability Services at UNC Greensboro for more than four years.
"I believe one of the greatest challenges in providing accommodations to students with learning disabilities has nothing to do with the students but more to do with others in the academic community having an understanding of the needs of students with learning disabilities," Barnes said
Disability Services serves as a liaison between students with disabilities and University faculty. After a student registers with Disability Services, that office will notify the student's professors.
Karlia Franklin, a sophomore social work major from Rochester, N.Y. said she has dyslexia.
"When it comes to reading or writing I have to re-read things to fully comprehend what it is saying," Franklin said.
"When it comes to math I have to double check equations for fear that I mixed some numbers up or to make sure that the signs and numbers are in the right place."
Franklin said she has not registered with Disability Services.
"I think that I have a lot of pride and say 'oh, I don't need any accommodations,'" Franklin said.
"But I know that I should go because it'll probably make things a little easier for me especially when it comes to test taking."
Franklin said she plans to register with Disability Services next semester. "So far, I have been [successful]," Franklin said.
"But, I know my grades could be a lot better than what they are if I would have gone to Disability Services."