General Guides
Invisible Disabilities | Temporary Disabilities | Permission
to Leave Class | Pain
Respiratory Disorders | Seizure
Disorders | First Aid for Seizures
Students may have invisible disabilities and desire confidentiality about their condition.
When discussing an accommodation, it is important to respect the rules of confidentiality.
If a student requests accommodations, the student must have appropriate documentation on
file in the Office of Disabled Student Services.
Some disabilities are temporary, but may require accommodations for a limited time. Students
who are recovering from surgery, injury or severe illness may be unaware of accommodations
that may be reasonable for a limited time period. Encouraging students to contact the Office
of Disabled Student Services and to talk with faculty and staff may prevent them from dropping
out of school. The student, faculty/staff member and DSS staff may work together to establish
reasonable accommodations.
Some disabilities require consuming large quantities of fluids and urinating often. These
students may need to leave the classroom more frequently than others. Other students with
attentional difficulties may benefit from extra breaks during lecture classes.
Chronic pain may result in limitations to strength, standing, walking, climbing, sitting,
kneeling, stooping, and carrying. Cold or sudden changes in temperature may increase the
onset of pain. Students with chronic pain may need to stand or change positions intermittently
during class. Severe pain may increase the number of absences, but the student would still
be required to complete the course assignments.
Some respiratory disorders can result in significant limitations to activities, such as
walking and climbing. Tolerance to temperature changes or extremes in temperature may be
limited. Wet or humid conditions, along with fumes and dust, may exacerbate the problem.
Environments where smoking is permitted should be avoided.
Students who are subject to seizure disorders may have impaired consciousness, involuntary
movements and brief lapses of attention. Usually the seizures will be brief and infrequent.
When a seizure occurs, there is a brief change in the normal functioning of the brain’s
electrical system.
First aid for seizures* -- (Convulsions, generalized
tonic-clonic, grand mal)
*Source: Epilepsy Foundation
 Cushion head
Loosen tight neckware
Nothing in mouth
Look for I.D.
Don’t hold down
Offer help as seizure
ends
Although most seizures end naturally without emergency treatment, a seizure in someone
who does not have epilepsy could be a sign of a serious illness. Call for medical assistance
(911) if any of the following occurs:
seizure lasts more
than 5 minutes
no "epilepsy/seizure
disorder" I.D.
slow recovery, a second
seizure, or difficult breathing afterwards
pregnancy or other
medical I.D.
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