This collection of resources for postsecondary institutions is designed to assist in planning for a successful and equitable return to schools and campuses. The resources include fact sheets, Q&As, letters to educators, and other materials explaining the obligations that postsecondary schools have under the federal civil rights laws enforced…

For decades, postsecondary institutions have focused more on the line between compliance and noncompliance, balancing the rights and responsibilities of institutions with those of students with disabilities. The danger for postsecondary institutions in focusing on a "line in the sand" approach was to further perceptions that students…

On June 30, 2008, the "21st Century GI Bill" was signed into law by President Bush, providing veterans the financial means to attend any public college in the nation as well as benefits for those who choose to attend private colleges. This paper provides an overview of veterans' education issues, discusses the implications of the new GI…

Colleges and universities are currently experiencing the greatest influx of student veterans with disabilities in the past several decades. These numbers will continue to increase substantially. Student DS providers must be prepared to understand and respond to the often unique and challenging disclosure, documentation, and accommodation issues…

In September 2008, while the national spotlight was on the economic crisis, the Iraq war, and the presidential election, Congress passed by acclamation, and President Bush signed without fanfare, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments (ADAA). Effective Jan. 1, 2009, the ADAA not only significantly reversed major judicial interpretations of…

Disability is not something one experiences in isolation of other characteristics. Sociocultural characteristics, such as race, class, gender, sexual orientation, age and disability, interact with each other in various combinations forming unique adults. When interacting with other characteristics, disability can dominate the other…

Over the past 60 years, veterans with disabilities have been a catalyst in the development of services for students with disabilities in higher education. Current converging factors, including anticipated large numbers of veterans with disabilities enrolling in postsecondary education, Office for Civil Rights directives, and the passage of the…

This article reviews the growing numbers of returning military personnel attending higher education based on emerging national trends, including the new GI Educational Bill, amendments to the ADA, and the rising unemployment rate. The trauma of war and the high survival rate have resulted in a high percentage of veterans returning from the Global…

Strong mental and behavioral health supports on campus can improve the academic performance of students and increase their resilience and ability to handle stress, with reduced suicide rates, substance abuse, and eating disorders, but this study reveals that students with mental health disabilities continue to face barriers to accessing counseling…

Veterans with disabilities constitute a vast, capable, deserving, and under-utilized workforce, and many successful hiring campaigns have targeted the employment of veterans. Colleges offering comprehensive, individualized transitional services have proven successful in supporting veterans with disabilities reentering the civilian workforce. With…

Despite a dark history marked by the eugenics movement, increasing numbers of people with disabilities are choosing to become parents. Recent research reveals that more than 4 million parents--6 percent of American mothers and fathers--are disabled. This number will unquestionably increase as more people with disabilities exercise a broader range…

Over the past several years, a number of new programs, policies, and initiatives designed to promote the employment of people with disabilities have been implemented by state and federal agencies, and are being evaluated to greater and lesser degrees. The purpose of this report is to provide a review of the recent evaluation activities being…

Research suggests that more students with disabilities are pursuing higher education than in years past, and recent legislative changes, such as those in the Higher Education Opportunity Act and Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, have the potential to increase the number and diversity of this population. GAO was asked to…