Tell Virginia Legislators: Remove Barriers to Disability Services for College Students

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Problem:	Many colleges require students with disabilities to undergo a new psychological evaluation in order to receive disability accommodations, even if the student has a documented record of their disability, such as a 504 plan or an IEP.
Solution:	SB 21/HB 509 would require public colleges to accept a diverse form of documentation, such as a 504 plan, an IEP, or record from a previous institution or private school, in order to establish eligibility for disability services.

Why is SB21 / HB509 Necessary?

Eliminating Financial Burdens: Many colleges require expensive psychological evaluations for disability accommodations, a cost not covered by many insurance plans. Students with a documented disability are often forced to undergo additional new diagnostic testing. The cost of a evaluation for a student with a learning disability ranges from $500 to $2,500.
Addressing Discrepancy in Accommodation Rates: While 94% of students with specific learning disabilities receive accommodations in high school, only 17% receive some kind of accommodations in college. Many students with disabilities struggle to find information about the college accommodations process, and others simply cannot afford a new evaluation.

Specifics of SB21 / HB509

Diverse Documentation Acceptance: This bill would require public colleges to the accept the following documents as a documentation of a disability: An Individualized Education Program (IEP), a 504 Plan, documentation from a private school, local education agency, or institution of higher education, an evaluation from a medical professional finding the student has a disability, and documentation of a disability due to service in the Armed Forces.
Flexibility in Documentation: Institutions can request additional documentation if the primary documentation, like an IEP, was not in effect immediately before high school graduation.
Transparency and Clarity: This bill requires each college to establish a clear process for determining eligibility for accommodations, with information made available to students, parents, and faculty in a publicly accessible format, including on the website.