• Faculty & Staff Responsibility
• Guide for Faculty, Staff & Administrators
• Specific Disabilities & Accommodations
  • Cardiovascular & Plumonary Disorders
  • Diseases of the Blood
  • Bone & Joing Disease
  • Multiple Organ System Disorders
  • Special Senses
  • Upper Motor Neuron Syndromes
  • Lower Motor Neuron Disorders
  • Psychological Disabilities
• Learning Disabilities
• Interacting with People with Disabilities
• Sign Language Interpreters

Psychological Disabilities

• Tourette’s Syndrome

• Panic Disorder

• Anxiety Disorder

• Bipolar Disorder

• Disassociative Disorder

• Schizophrenia

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

 

Tourette’s Syndrome

The common symptoms of this disease are motor and phonic tics. Staring, repetitive behaviors or blurting out of inappropriate language may occur. Stress is known to exacerbate symptoms. Medications are available to control the symptoms of Tourette’s but may have sedative qualities. Tape recording of lectures and taking exams in a private area may be appropriate accommodations.

Panic Disorder

This disorder is characterized by an overwhelming experience of fear, often without a known cause. Physiological responses may cause immobility or hysteria. Side effects from medications may interfere with some cognitive processes. Seating in specific areas of the classroom and testing in a private area may be appropriate accommodations to reduce fears and distractions and allow for privacy to practice panic reduction techniques.

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Anxiety Disorder

A severe state of apprehension, often without a specific cause, characterizes this disorder. As with the Panic Disorder, physiological changes may occur. Medications can have a negative impact on the thought processes. Testing and seating accommodations may be appropriate.

Bipolar Disorder

This mental disorder is characterized by episodes of mania, excessive responses, depression and a dejected state of mind. Medication used to control the disorder may cause excessive sweating, shakiness, excessive thirstiness and various other problems. Accommodations may include a notetaker, private testing area and accessibility to fluids.

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Disassociative Disorder

This is a disorder characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personalities in the same person. Each personality has a well-developed set of behavioral patterns and mental and emotional processes. A private area to take exams may be the most effective and only academic accommodation that will benefit the student.

Schizophrenia

Some of the characteristics of schizophrenia are distortions of reality, fragmenting of mental functions, and withdrawal from social contact. As with each of the disorders in this category, side effects of the medication and the behaviors brought about by stress need to be taken into consideration when setting accommodations. A note taker and testing accommodations may be the most appropriate academic accommodations.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

This disorder is characterized by the uncontrollable need to repeat certain acts or rituals, which may interfere with normal relationships and behaviors. Note-taking, testing accommodations, and taped textbooks may be appropriate accommodations.

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