Accommodating
Students with
Psychological Disorders

at Florida Atlantic University

An Informational Brochure from the
Office for Students with Disabilities
Division of Student Affairs

A psychological disorder is defined as any persistent emotional or mental illness that substantially diminishes educational, social, or vocational functioning, as reported by a mental health professional and based on a diagnosis from the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). This manual is a classification system of diagnoses and symptomatology for psychological disorders. Some disorders included in the DSM are major depression, bipolar disorder, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), agoraphobia, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and schizophrenia.

People who have been diagnosed with a psychological disorder may experience symptoms such as changes in observable behavior, perception, thought processes, emotional states, and/or energy level. Although diagnosed with a psychological disorder, an individual’s functioning may be extremely variable relative to medication, stress, or factors associated with the disorder.
 
A person may experience symptoms of illness, but it may not be observable to others. One may also mistake a person as being abrupt, absent minded, and/or “odd,” when in fact the person is exhibiting symptoms of a psychological disorder. Many of these disorders are treated with medication and/or counseling, which can help to maintain a “normal” range of functioning.

Attitudinal barriers can have a direct impact on providing services to students with psychological disorders. Stereotypical beliefs and sensationalized events contribute to an increased bias against individuals with psychological disorders. While some believe people with psychological disorders are dangerous, research has determined that they do not commit more crimes or act more violently than the general population.

Some well known individuals with psychological disorders include:

Mike Wallace – TV commentator

Jackson Pollack – Artist

Winston Churchill – Prime Minister

Sir Isaac Newton – Scientist

Charles Dickens – Author

Patty Duke – Actress

WAYS A PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPAIRMENT MIGHT AFFECT A STUDENT’S EDUCATION

• • Contributions that are highly creative
  • Difficulty with time management and organization (e.g., performing multiple tasks, meeting deadlines, prioritizing assignments)
  • Complications in filtering out external stimuli which can affect one’s concentration and performance
  • Limited communication skills
  • Difficulty reading social cues, which can lead to an intensified sense of anxiety when participating in class
  • Difficulty establishing and/or maintaining appropriate relationships with faculty, staff, and peers
  • Inconsistency in attendance due to effects of disorder itself or side effects of medication
  • Possible discomfort engaging in group work/activities

  These functional limitations may appear more pronounced at a given time due to the cyclical nature of some psychological disorders.

  SUGGESTIONS FOR FACULTY

  • Provide a detailed course syllabus with clear explanation of course expectations and adhere to it as closely as possible
  • Be empathetic when a student is expressing concerns related to her/his disorder and its impact on academics
  • Have a flexible approach to students’ needs while maintaining consistent standards and/or expectations
  • Consult with and refer to other support services on campus when unsure how to handle a situation (e.g., OSD, Counseling Center, Dean of Student Affairs)
  • Be aware that periods of academic instability may be related to the student’s disorder
  • Take into consideration that you may not know a student’s thoughts, feelings, and reasons for a behavior

  COUNSELING SERVICES AT FAU

  Counseling services are available free of charge through the Counseling Center to all registered FAU students. Services include individual counseling, couples counseling (your significant other need not be a student), family counseling, stress management, time management, and medication management.

  For information about the Counseling Center on Boca campus contact office personnel at:

  SS 229
  561. 297.3540

  For information about the Counseling Center on Davie campus contact office personnel at:

  SD 206B
  954. 236.1210

  For information about the Counseling Center on Jupiter campus contact office personnel at:

  SR 274
  561. 799.8621

  DOCUMENTATION

  To be eligible for services at Florida Atlantic University, a student must provide appropriate documentation of a psychological disorder to the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD). The documentation must be in the form of a psychological, or psychiatric, report or comprehensive doctor’s letter. The diagnosis must be consistent with the diagnostic criteria found in the DSM  and must be made by a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, licensed clinical social worker, or other practitioner qualified to make the diagnosis. The documentation must include the student’s symptoms, medication regimen, and functional limitations. The documentation must also include anticipated effects of the student’s functional limitations within the academic setting as well as suggestions for accommodating the student.
  

  The evaluation must have been conducted within the last year; however, the OSD reserves the right to make modifications to this time frame.
  

  For general documentation guidelines please refer to the OSD Documentation Guidelines brochure.
  

  GENERAL ACCOMMODATIONS

  After a student has submitted appropriate documentation of a disability and an Application for Support Services to the OSD, an OSD counselor will review this information and then contact the student for an intake interview. At the intake, accommodations are determined. The student, depending on documentation of the disability, may be eligible for one or more of the following accommodations:

  • Advocacy
  • Professor notification
  • Notetaking assistance
  • Audio recording of classes
  • Breaks during class
  • Exam adaptations (e.g., extended time to take exams, distraction-reduced setting)
  • Excused absences (Students who miss a reasonable number of classes due to medical necessity will not be penalized for missed classes as long as assignments and tests are completed in a timely manner.)
  • Time management, study skills, and social skills training

  These accommodations are necessary for ensuring complete access to, and full participation in, the educational process. Academic standards are not to be lowered, nor should there be an alteration in the essential nature of the course or degree requirements.
  

  For more information:
  

  National Institute of Mental Health www.nimh.nih.gov

  National Mental Health Association www.nmha.org
  

  Note: Professors will be notified of the student’s approved accommodations in an OSD Letter of Notification presented by the student. If the student is not registered with the OSD, please refer her or him to the office.

   

  
  Boca Raton Campus:
  777 Glades Road, SU Room 133
  Boca Raton, FL 33431
  tel: 561.297.3880     fax: 561.297.2184
  tty: 561.297.0358

  Broward Campuses:
  2912 College Avenue, LA Room 240
  Davie, FL 33314
  tel: 954.236.1222      fax: 954.236.1123
  

  Jupiter Campus:
  (Diversity Student Services)
  5353 Parkside Drive, SR Room 117
  Jupiter, FL 33458
  tel: 561.799.8585     fax: 561.799.8721
  tty: 561.799.8565

  Treasure Coast Campus:
  500 NW California Blvd., JU Room 312
  Port St. Lucie, FL 34986
  tel: 772.873.3441     fax: 772.873.3444

  Website address: http://osd.fau.edu

  Alternate format available upon request
  

  Rev 07/09