Important Information
Laws and Regulations
UAF Disability Services (DS) ensures that academic services are accessible to students with disabilities. Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended, prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities.
As an individual in a supporting role towards a student it is important to understand that the laws that protect students with disabilities are different at the high school and post-secondary levels. High schools are governed by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Post-secondary institutions are governed by the ADA and by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Universities do not offer the same services and accommodations to what may have been available during your students time in high school. At the higher education level students are responsible for the successful completion of all courses, as accommodations do not alter the content of classes or the homework loads. Accommodations are designed to help students succeed on their own by offering support.
FERPA and Confidentiality
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) deals specifically with the education records of students, affording them certain rights with respect to those records.
FERPA gives students who reach the age of 18, or who attend a postsecondary institution, the right to inspect and review their own education records. Furthermore, students have other rights including the right to request amendment of records and to have some control over the disclosure of personally identifiable information from these records.
FERPA does not allow faculty or others to access disability related information.
DS is required by law to have written approval by the student before obtaining or releasing information. DS can only release information generated by DS and will not release information obtained from other sources.
For questions and assistance regarding confidentiality, please Contact Us and we will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you might have.
Supportive Services
If you or your student are looking for additional resources, supportive services or have questions please review some of the additional resources below or Contact Us! DS will be happy to answer any questions, concerns or provide you with more information on potential resources and supportive services that may be available to you or your student.
If you have questions about laws, regulations and responsibilities your student might encounter when transitioning to college, please review the U.S. Department of Educations page on . Additional information and recommendations towards a successful transition can be found there as well.
Supporting your student through highschool and college can be challenging. The National Alliance on Mental Illness has additional resources for on how to support your student in changing times.
The can assist students and their families/caregivers navigating through learning differences and mental health issues. On their website you can also find information on the transition process from highschool to college, as well as information on how to support students and families.
has some more information regarding supportive services that are available to students with disabilities and their family members. Additional information regarding national and state supportive services for children with disabilities can be found on their website.
Additionally, there are many local support services available here in ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø, Alaska. We recommend you review the so you and your student can find a full list of local community resources that are available to them.
Emergency Preparedness
Lastly, we request that all UAF students, faculty and staff review our Emergency Preparedness Guide. We recommend family members and friends review the Emergency Preparedness Guide as well. In a case of emergency it is vitally important that all students, especially students with disabilities, are prepared for potential emergency situations and managing a crisis. If you are concerned or have questions about the Emergency Preparedness Guide, or how you can help your student prepare for this, please contact our office to set up a meeting.