Approved Arizona bill gives universities parameters to document disabilities

Estimated 24% Arizona adults have a disability

A new Arizona law is making it easier for students to have their disability recognized by universities and colleges.

“In high school when I got diagnosed with multiple chronic illnesses, I had a guidance counselor that was incredible and when I first got to college, I realized I didn’t have that support person anymore,” said Carly Wolf, founding leader of Sun Devils for Accessible Education at Arizona State University.

Wolf was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a genetic tissue disorder that affects her skin, joints, and blood vessels, her main diagnosis.
Wolf is a second year student who is studying Justice Studies with a minor in organizational leadership.

“I am incredibly passionate about civil rights issues, in particular disability rights issues,” said Wolf, her leading reason on why she started Sun Devils for Accessible Education.

Sun Devils for Accessible Education is an advocacy organization aiming to promote accessibility for Arizona State University students that started in January 2021. The organization hosts events with guest speakers, along with some mindfulness and sports.

“What we have done is we’ve brought in some of the Student Accessibility and Learning Center and they have talked about how to get accommodations, how to talk to professors about needing accommodations, which has been very helpful for our members,” Wolf said.

Students are intimidated by professors in many cases on how to get proper accommodations. Wolf knows from experience how important support is to get through higher education.

“It is difficult but not impossible,” she said.

To help address some of these hurdles Wolf points out, State Representative Michelle Udall, R-Mesa, sponsored House Bill 2031, which establishes the acceptable documentation provided by student that a university or community college must accept to document a disability. 

The bill was signed into law on June 6.

“Most of the time is proving to a college or university that an individual has a disability and this can be costly at times,” said Udall.

Under HB 2031, an individual can provide documentation that they had an individualized education program, commonly known as an IEP, in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Community colleges or universities can also ask for additional documentation who previously had an IEP but were determined ineligible for services. The documentation can include a 504 Plan, which means information describing services or accommodations provided to the individual, a plan or record of service from a private school, local education agency, a state educational agency or an institution of higher learning, an evaluation from a relevant licensed professional finding that the student has a disability, and documentation of a disability due to service in the uniformed services according to HB 2031 overview.

According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, 1.4 million adults have a disability in Arizona, this is equal to 24% or 1 in 4 adults in Arizona.

Gina Schuh was 18 years old when she suffered from a spinal cord injury from a car accident. She is quadriplegic and requires care mornings and nights, but is independent during the day. Schuh went to physical therapy and did not drive a car for two years after her accident.

Even though she required intensive care, Schuh pursued college. She majored in Political Science at Arizona State University, graduated in 2011, then went to law school at Arizona Summit and graduated 2013, which later closed down in 2018 due to being placed on probation by the American Bar Association.

“At ASU, I had a lot of resources and people that could relate, I thought they did a great job,” said Schuh.

Schuh asked for accommodations in law school because every minute counts, and it was not as accommodating as ASU.

“I had to fight Arizona Summit to make the doors accessible and I had to hire an attorney and threaten to sue, isn’t it ironic how this happened at a law school?” Schuh said.

Editor's Note: Maria Garcia is a student reporter at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications.