Schools are required to provide certain kinds of basic assistance to ensure that disabled students can get a good education. Other resources, such as grants, may also be available. Most colleges have an office of disability services which monitors the school's legal compliance and assists students in obtaining assistance. The financial aid office, campus organizations and community organizations may offer other resources and support, including social support from the college community and other disabled students.
With a few possible exceptions, disabled students must have access to the same facilities that other students have. Exceptions exist for older buildings until they are remodeled, but a student can still lobby for access in the spirit of fairness as well as the ADA and Section 504, federal law that provides access requirements. An alternate solution might involve moving a class to an accessible classroom.
Students are entitled to materials in a format they can use, which includes large print or material on tape. They may also have a tutor or reader who helps them study the material. When exam time comes, students who require more time to complete a standard exam because of their disability may request and receive extra time or even an untimed exam.
The ADA, formally Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, known as Section 504, apply to most colleges and universities because of their receipt of federal funding through student grants and aid. They give disabled students rights as well as the muscle to make sure the school grants those rights. Schools are usually very helpful, but if not, an attorney can help.