Access Services recognizes the important role parents play in a student’s life. In the K-12 public education setting in the United States, schools are legally obligated to provide a free and appropriate public education through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). In college, students seek accommodations through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); therefore, students must self-identify as having a disability. Employees of Minot State are also bound by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which prevents the sharing of academic and financial information with parties other than the student. To protect student privacy and promote self-advocacy in students, Access Services will not discuss student accommodations with a parent without the student present. However, students are welcome to have support people at the meeting. If you would like to help your student prepare for an accommodation meeting, consider the following:
- Does your student have access to documentation to substantiate a disability?
- What accommodations were used in high school?
- Does the student understand the expectations in the syllabi? Do these documents present any tasks that may need accommodations?
- Is the student aware of local disability resources?
