Your Office for Disability Services

 

     College students face a number of challenges during their university studies, and those challenges are even more arduous for people with disabilities. In response to this issue, almost every university in the United States has made an effort to reasonably accomodate students with disabilities. At George Mason University, that is the Office of Disability Services

      

     According to their official website, The Office of Disability Services (ODS) is an on-campus department that is trained to assist students that qualify for aid. This qualification is based on the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation  Act.

      

     “A person has a disability if he/she has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such impairment, or is regarded as having such impairment," according to the Eligibility for Services page on the website.  

      

     Students that qualify can receive a wide range of benefits from the department, such as housing and academic accommodations as well as priority registration for classes.

     Sarah Vasilakos is a sophomore at George Mason University who has had a gastrointentinal disorder her whole life. She was granted both priority registration and housing accommodations for her condition, and since then she says her student life has greatly improved.

     “I have a single room in Northern Neck, and I have later classes so that if I am having a bad health-spell I don’t have to wake up early, therefore comprising my health even more,” she said in an interview.

     Like Sarah, I also received priority registration for my Type 1 diabetes, and my student life has greatly improved as well. For others that have similarly chronic conditions, I would highly recommend visiting your disability services on-campus.

     For students at George Mason University, the following is a link to the ODS website.   
     http://ods.gmu.edu/