December 25, 2008

 

ODS 2008 Holiday Newsletter

 

 

 

ODS Celebrates 35 Years at Ohio State!

 

ODS Celebrates 35 Years!

Greetings Everyone!  2009 will be a very special and exciting year for the Office for Disability Services (ODS) as it celebrates 35 years of providing support services for students with disabilities.  ODS is one of the oldest disability support programs in the country and serves one of the largest populations of students with disabilities.  ODS was established just one year after the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and years before the passage the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

This anniversary offers opportunities to reflect on the past, take a look at where we are presently and also to look to the future.  I have a 23-year perspective of the office so I’ve witnessed the office developments in regards to increasing numbers of students served from 400 in the early ‘80s to approximately 2,000 students today. Improvements and changes in service delivery and technological advancements have allowed students served by ODS to reach their academic and career goals and be successful at The Ohio State University. 

As a kick-off to the ODS anniversary, we are sending you this newsletter that provides information about the history of ODS and office updates.  We look forward to you celebrating with us by attending the activities and programs that we will have during our celebratory year.

On behalf of the Office for Disability Services, have a wonderful holiday season and may you have a very Happy New Year!

 

Lois J. Burke

Director

Office for Disability Services

 

 

The History of ODS

 

1970 - OSU starts to remove architectural barriers

 

1973 - Library for the Visually Impaired established

 

1973- Adapted transportation system started

 

1974 - Office for the Physically Impaired is created in Personnel Services and located in the Student Services Building

 

1977 - First student with a learning disability identified

 

1977 - 504 Regulations published

 

1978 - Office moves to Baker Systems Engineering Building

 

1979 - Office becomes part of Student Affairs

 

1980 - Compliance deadline for Section 504

 

1981 - Name changed to Office for Disability Services

 

1981 - Service population exceeds 200

 

1983 - Learning disabled population exceeds 200

 

1984 - Disability Services given responsibility for diagnostic testing and services for learning disabled students

 

1984 - Grant establishes services for learning disabled students on the regional campuses and ATI

 

1986 - Learning disabled population exceeds 400

 

1987 - Office moves to Pomerene Hall

 

1988 - Total student service population exceeds 850.

 

Present - ODS now serves between 1800-2000 students per quarter. The highest population of students served is students with ADD/ADHD, followed by Learning Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders, Medical Conditions, Visual Impairments, Deaf/ hard of Hearing, Mobility Impairments, Temporary Impairments, and Autism Spectrum

 

 

Dear ODS

 

 

Dear ODS,

For the past few quarters, I have tried really hard to get good grades in my courses. I have met with my professors, gone to tutoring sessions and study groups, and completed extra practice problems while studying before exams. I have given it my best effort and my grades are still not that great. I’m not registered with ODS, but I’m not sure what else to do!

 

Sincerely,

Disappointed

 

Dear Disappointed,

At ODS, we have a learning disability screening process. The first 2 sessions are free for Ohio State students and last about 1 ½ hours each. This is a comprehensive procedure so that we can assess whether or not we think that you should proceed with further diagnostic testing. The testing does not register you with our office, but helps us point you in the right direction. If you are later diagnosed, you can register with us and receive appropriate accommodations. Call our office to make an appointment to begin the screening process so that we can determine how to help.

 

Best of luck,

ODS

 

Dear ODS,

I was recently diagnosed with Depression. I was prescribed a new medication that helps somewhat, but I think I’m a lot more distracted since I’ve taken it. I go to class and try to listen, but in the end, I only have a paragraph of notes and can’t remember anything the professor said. I’m also not finishing my exams on time. I can’t focus on the questions and answer them quickly enough before my time is up. It seems like as soon as one thing starts to get better, I have a new problem! Is there something that can help me?

 

Yours truly,

Stuck in a Rut

 

Dear Stuck in a Rut,

Have I got news for you! You have definitely come to the right place for help! As a student with a diagnosis of Depression, you can register with our office. Our documentation guidelines are located on our website – www.ods.osu.edu. Once you become eligible, your assigned counselor will authorize you for appropriate accommodations, which could include a note-taking assistant, a distraction-reduced testing environment, and extended time on exams. Submit your documentation as soon as possible and stay in contact with us to check the status of your documentation while we determine your eligibility.

 

Here to help,

ODS

 

 

Winter Quarter 2009 Open House

 

Celebrate our 35 year anniversary at our Winter Quarter Open House on Tuesday, January 27th, 2009!  We will have warm cider, hot cocoa, and plenty of winter weather snacks! Take a tour of our Assistive Technology Training Center (ATTC) and our remodeled front office, and visit with members of our student groups UNITY and Sports FUSION!

 

The Open House will begin at 1:00pm and will end at 4:00pm. Stop in when you can - no RSVP needed!

 

 

UNITY Invites You to Pizza and Games!

 

UNITY invites you to kick off the new quarter with a fun-filled evening of pizza and games, on Wednesday, January 14th, 2009! The fun will begin at 5:30pm! This event is free and is open to everyone

 

 

Sports FUSION Announces its First Winter Activity!

 

Sports FUSION, Finding Unified Sports in OSU’s Networks announces its first Winter Quarter 2009 activity!

Come bowl with us on Friday, Feb 27th, 2009 at Sawmill Lanes (4825 Sawmill Rd, Columbus, OH 43235) from 5pm-7pm!

A Shuttle is also available for those who need a lift! For more info, email us at

    

osusportsfusion@gmail.com !

 

 

 

Holiday Word Search!

 

 

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Word Bank

Accommodations, resources, testing, ADHD, ADD, ADA, low vision, blindness, hearing loss, ODS, services, counselors, newsletter, Unity, FUSION, Santa, elves, snow, gift, wreaths, ribbon, cards, bows, season, ham

 

 

 

The Office for Disability Services would like to wish you a very safe, healthy, and happy holiday season and New Year!