Academic Support Services
Services for Students with Disabilities
You've probably been attracted to Reed College because you know that Reed students are self-motivated, active participants in their own education with an intense curiosity about learning for learning's sake. What you might not know is that this highly selective group of 1300 Reedies currently includes about 130 students with physical, psychological, attentional, or learning disabilities.
Reed academics are admittedly challenging. The college's tradition of extensive use of the conference system, small classes, faculty interaction and personal attention makes for a positive educational environment for all students. It is a campus committed to providing equality of opportunity and meaningful access for all qualified students.
Services Provided
Reed College's approach to providing services for students with disabilities is highly individualized. Upon receipt of a request for services and the appropriate documentation, student services works with you to provide or establish the most suitable and reasonable accommodations or services given the context of a particular class, professor's pedagogy, or area of campus. Typical services have included:
- arrangements for priority seating, interpreters, taped class materials, readers, or notetakers;
- access to adaptive equipment and auxiliary aids;
- specialized tutoring, organizational mentoring, and access to the writing, math, quantitative, and science centers;
- referral for testing and diagnosis;
- ongoing and timely communication with faculty members about academic adjustments or alternative ways of fulfilling course requirements;
- academic support and personal counseling;
- community resource referral and information;
- coordination with student's referring professional disability specialist;
- advocacy and adjustments for a barrier-free environment when reasonable.
Campus Facilities
Reed's larger environment is welcoming. The 110-acre wooded campus has its academic buildings clustered compactly on a relatively flat terrain. Classrooms are generally small and accessible; in addition, the two largest lecture halls and Kaul Auditorium are wired with assistive listening devices. Offices such as physical plant, food service, and residence life have been very responsive to requests from student services for assistance. Accessible Portland city buses stop at campus.
Although living on campus is not required, more than 65% of Reedies choose to do so. There are two new residence halls that are fully accessible/ADA compliant; Bragdon and Steele can be found just across a concrete bridge with a slight slope to its entrance. Many of the older residence halls have been modified to meet varying degrees of accessibility. Residence life offers housing options for smokefree, women's, quiet, pet-friendly, substance free facilities, and several special interest halls. Special needs and requests for services should be brought to the attention of student services prior to housing deadlines.
Student Responsibilities
Although Reed offers services to assist student with disabilities, you have the responsibility to make your needs known. The most important factors to your college success are seeking help early and learning to advocate for yourself. We are here to help you make Reed a better place to live and study.
Each student with a disability needing services has the responsibility to:
- request the services and provide appropriate disability documentation:
- usually not more than 3 years old,
- completed by certified professional,
- which identifies disability, functional limitations of the disability, and effect within an academic setting;
- know your personal learning style, strengths and challenges;
- meet with student services each semester regarding approved academic adjustments or other accommodation needs;
- talk with your adviser and professors about inclass accommodations; and
- inform student services of barriers to a successful education at Reed College.
Sarah Parshley, Associate Dean of Student Services, coordinates academic support services and accommodations for students with specialized needs. She acts as a liaison to the faculty and offers personal assistance to students with disability and academic questions and concerns.
For more information about disability services at Reed College or to receive a copy of the college's Services for Students with Disabilities Documentation Guidelines, or to disclose a disability and/or seek accommodation, please contact
Sarah Parshley
Associate Dean of Student Services
Reed College
3203 SE Woodstock Blvd.
Portland, OR 97202
Tel 503/777-7521
FAX 503/777-7225
Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students: It has been the historic practice at Reed College to admit students of any race, color, religion, sex, national and ethnic origin, and without regard to handicaps, veteran's status, or any other unlawful basis, nor upon sexual orientation or political beliefs, to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Reed does not consider any of the above attributes in administration of its educational politices, admission policies, scholarships and loan program, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Pursuant to Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the 1972 educational amendment, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, equal opportunity is national policy. Inquiries on the application of Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504 may be made to Edwin O. McFarlane, Reed College, or the director of the Office for Civil Rights.
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