To help you from feeling overloaded by the details of the above laws, we’ve put together a Q&A to break them down more simply.

What do the laws mentioned earlier mean for college students with disabilities?

Put generally, the ADA and Section 504 protect students by ensuring that institutions cannot discriminate on the basis of disability. The specifics cover admissions, programming (including extracurricular activities), housing and other services. Overall, institutions must provide necessary adjustments or accommodations for students with disabilities who need them.

Which institutions do these laws apply to?

The ADA applies to all public and private institutions, with the exception of those affiliated with religious organizations. Specifically, Title II of the ADA relates to state-funded schools (universities, community colleges, vocational schools, etc.), while Title III covers private colleges and vocational schools.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act applies to any institution that receives federal dollars for any program or service — whether that institution is private or public.

Which students qualify for accommodations under these laws?

In order to receive academic or other accommodations from an institution, students must identify themselves to the institution as having a disability and may need to provide documentation.

The laws protect those with physical, sensory and health-related disabilities, psychological disorders or attention disorders and some learning disabilities — anything that might prevent the student from participating fully in the life of the campus community.

Students are not required to inform colleges of their disability if they would prefer not to do so, but this means that they will not be eligible for accommodations.

How do these laws affect college admission?

Postsecondary institutions covered under these laws may not deny admission to any qualified candidates on the basis of disability.

What are some of the accommodations postsecondary institutions must make?

These accommodations fall into a number of categories. A few of these categories include:

• Architectural: Construction of new buildings must be accessibility compliant; classes or programs must be relocated to an accessible building if necessary.
• Academic: Substitution of certain courses in programs, extended time for testing and early enrollment options.
• Communication-related: Interpreters, assistive listening systems, captioning, audio recordings, Braille and large-print materials.
• Housing: Comparable accessibility housing for students with disabilities must be provided at the same cost, quality and variety as to other students.

What if I acquire a disability after graduation? Do I still have to repay my loans?

If you become disabled or impaired after graduation and you’re repaying federal tuition assistance, you might be eligible for a total and permanent disability (TPD) discharge. A TPD discharge applies to the following federal loans:

• Direct Loans.
  • Includes Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Direct PLUS Loans.
• Perkins Loans.
• TEACH Grant Program.
• Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL).

To apply for a TPD discharge, you must provide the U.S. Department of Education with information that documents your total and permanent disability. For specific information, check out StudentAid.gov’s page on TPD discharges.

Forgiveness of private student loans may be more difficult to resolve. Private loan forgiveness varies by lender and by loan. The first step is to speak with your lender — many organizations are willing to work with you if you come to them in good faith. Even if you can’t get your loans completely forgiven, lenders may be willing to forgive part of the loan, or at least offer a lower rate.

If all else fails, look for other lenders that may be more flexible. It’s possible that you could consolidate or refinance your existing loan with a new lender.