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The Advisor

and

the Student

Presentation by Jamila Singleton

Sharing My Story

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My Journey For Accessibility

“What starts as support for one person can transform opportunities for everyone.”

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Why Students Don't Ask for Accommodations

However, only about one-third actually informed their college of their disability (NCES).

In a survey of 471 students, Mental Health America found 70% of students with mental-health disabilities did not register for accommodations. In many cases students didn’t feel they were “sick enough,” didn’t know accommodations existed, or were afraid to disclose.

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Section 508: The Legal Foundation

Section 508 ensures electronic and IT systems are accessible to all.
Established under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Provides training via the DHS Trusted Tester program.

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Accessibility For One

Means Access For All

There Is No Gatekeeping in the Disability Community Because…

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Edward Verne Roberts

UC Berkeley College

(January 23, 1939 - March 14, 1995)

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Assistive Tech as Universal Design

Accessibility → Innovation → Universal Use

For example : Although subtitles were initially created for the hearing impaired

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- CLOSED CAPTIONS ARE USED BY ALL.

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Assistive Tech as Universal Design

Accessibility → Innovation

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READ EMAIL AND AUDIOBOOKS

Universal Use

“This slide is really important to me on a personal level because I use accessibility tools like Text-to-speech since reading long emails or dense academic articles can be incredibly draining. Executive functioning — the ability to process written information, plan, organize, and respond — is not the same every day.

Text-to-speech can bridge that gap. It allows the information to come to you, instead of you struggling to keep up with the text.

“But here’s the part people forget: text-to-speech is also a major productivity tool.

Students, professionals, and even creators without disabiltes use it to speed-read emails, reports, and assignments.

It helps you multitask, absorb information faster, and take care of things you need to read when your energy is low.”

“Some people use it to listen to required readings while cooking, commuting, or getting ready for the day. And sometimes it’s just a way to relax and listen to an audiobook when reading visually feels like too much.”

But so do so many others. For example, students with ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, or other mental-health conditions

it represents something people don’t always realize about accessibility tools: they are universal tools.

Text-to-speech isn’t just for people with disabilities — it helps everyone.”

For students with ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, or other mental-health conditions, reading long emails or dense academic articles can be incredibly draining. Executive functioning — the ability to process written information, plan, organize, and respond — is not the same every day.

Text-to-speech can bridge that gap. It allows the information to come to you, instead of you struggling to keep up with the text.

⚙️ For Productivity, Speed, and Everyday Life

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So, What Is In Your Toolbox?

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Learn how to file for reasonable accommodations

How to request disability services, what documentation you need, and steps to take if you are denied:

🔗 https://includenyc.org/help-center/resources/college-accommodations-for-students-with-disabilities/

⚖️ Know your rights

Understand federal protections, accessibility laws, and the standards colleges must meet to support you:

🔗 https://www.section508.gov/manage/laws-and-policies/

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•Click on the statements below to explore accessibility tools and resources:

• 🧭 I’m interested in organizing my time or improving focus. → https://reclaim.ai

•💼 I’d like to learn about accessibility careers or certification. → https://www.dhs.gov/trusted-tester

•🌐 I want to understand accessibility law and Section 508. → https://www.section508.gov/

•💬 I want to know how empathy drives inclusion. → https://www.w3.org/WAI/

When you explore accessibility tools, you don’t just support others—you discover new ways to empower yourself.

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•Click on the statements below to explore accessibility tools and resources:

•🗣️ I use voice-to-text tools or captioning in my daily life. → https://speechify.com and https://otter.ai

•🧮 I’d like to know how students access math formulas digitally. → https://www.texthelp.com/en-us/products/equatio/

•📝 I want tools that can help me read or write more effectively. → https://www.texthelp.com/en-us/products/read-and-write/

Here How To Get Started