From Policy to Practice: Supporting Students with Mental Disabilities

This panel examines faculty and institutional responsibilities to students with mental disabilities—including bipolar disorder, autism, anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia—under ADA Titles II/III and Section 504. Panelists discuss evidence-based supports for severe conditions; accessible course design and reasonable accommodations; crisis-response and referral practices; and confidentiality considerations (FERPA). The session highlights partnerships among institutions, faculty, and students to reduce stigma, promote inclusion, and ensure equal access consistent with disability law and campus policy. Moderator: Glenda R. Balas, University of North Texas - Dallas Panelists: Glenda R. Balas; Access, Inclusion, and Care: Faculty and Institutional Duties under ADA Desiree Hill, University of Oklahoma; Leveraging Established University Programs to Support Students with Different Needs Tony R. DeMars, Lamar University & Paul Hemenway, Lamar University; Identifying and Addressing Stress Factors with Student Media and Student Assignments Donna J. Koskela, Pinkerton Academy; Accommodations that Matter: Case Examples, Pitfalls, and Best Practices