A Guide To Accommodating Housing For Disabled Students

Providing disabled students with ongoing housing support can enhance their college experience and ensure your institution complies with accessibility standards and regulations. The latest technology lets you achieve these goals by improving roommate matches and collecting relevant information from those with specific accommodation requirements. 

Learn more about supporting residents with disabilities and how Housing.Cloud can help in this guide. 

The Needs of Disabled Students

Disabled students make up 19% of undergraduate and 12% of graduate students, so it's important to satisfy the needs of these individuals if they move into campus housing. Here are two ways you can do this.

Meet The Specific Accommodation Requirements of People With Different Disabilities 

Each student with a physical, mental, or learning disability has unique accommodation needs. For example, someone in a wheelchair might need a first-floor housing unit with ramps, wide doorways, and grab bars in their restroom. A student with a visual impairment, on the other hand, might require a well-lit apartment. Understanding these different housing requirements improves the living environment for every disabled student residing on campus. 

Fulfilling these conditions can be challenging. However, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides guidance for supporting disabled residents with different needs. You should also consult with your housing team about accommodating those with disabilities while meeting the preferences of other students.

Comply With Accessibility Standards And Regulations In Student Housing

There are several laws and standards at the federal level that protect disabled residents, including:

• The Fair Housing Act

• The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)

• Section 504

You might also have to comply with state or local legislation when accommodating students with disabilities. 

Adhering to all relevant laws and guidelines is imperative when placing disabled students in campus accommodation. Failing to provide reasonable accommodations for these individuals can jeopardize your institution's reputation and result in legal complications. For example, federal legislation allows penalties of up to $75,000 for a first ADA violation and $150,000 for additional offenses. 

To stay out of hot water, familiarize your team with the law and work with a housing attorney if necessary. You can also consult charities and nonprofits that work with disabled people to ensure your accommodation is legally compliant. 

Create Inclusive And Accessible Living Spaces

Offering inclusive and accessible spaces makes the lives of disabled students much easier. For instance, you can allocate a portion of your housing stock to those with disabilities to ensure you meet accessibility standards. Here are some changes you can make to your campus accommodation: 

• Laying down flooring for wheelchair users

• Designating parking spaces for people who can't walk long distances to their homes

• Building accessible bathrooms

• Installing lever handles instead of door knobs throughout a residence 

• Providing assistive technology to students who need it

Many accommodation provisions for disabled students are required by law. However, you can go one step further by installing non-slip floors, adding extra grab bars throughout residences, investing in voice-activated assistant technologies, and making other adjustments to your accommodation. These additional features can provide residents with an even better living experience. 

Ensure Support And Assistance

Some disabled students will require ongoing support and assistance throughout their lease. For example, an individual might need transportation to get to educational programs from their accommodation. Another student might require a sign language interpreter during lessons. While it's not your team's responsibility to provide these specialized services, you can tell students with disabilities about college community resources that might provide assistance. These resources might include on-campus organizations that advocate for disability rights, technology for disabled students, and information about financial aid for disabled students. 

Always communicate with disabled student residents during their lease. You can set up clear communication channels that allow these individuals to share information about their living experience, such as a dedicated email address. That way, you can respond to any requests they might have, such as fixing old grab bars or other fixtures. You should respond to any communication from disabled students quickly. Students might not be able to carry out day-to-day tasks in their residences if they face challenges. 

Leverage Technology For Accessibility

The latest digital tools can help you provide better housing services to residents with disabilities. Student housing platforms, for example, let you train staff so they can accommodate these individuals more effectively and improve their campus experience. Your team can also report any challenges residents experience during their lease, ensuring a safe and inclusive living environment. 

Another way technology can help improve services for students with disabilities is through improved room assignments. Prospective residents can list their preferences for college housing and request accommodation that meets their specific needs. For example, someone with a walking impairment can ask for a first-floor apartment next to a parking space. 

The newest technology also enhances roommate selection. Disabled students can choose the people they want to live with based on their interests and personality traits, which can prevent conflicts from happening in the future. 

How Housing.Cloud Can Help With Student Accommodation

Accommodating residents with disabilities is not only a legal requirement but the right thing to do. Every student in your university community deserves to have a positive and safe experience and not have to worry about their living environment. Using student housing technology can help your housing team satisfy the needs of these individuals.

Housing.Cloud is an online tool that streamlines accommodation management for disabled students. Purpose-built with today's technology, this cloud-based platform enhances roommate matches and room assignments, allowing those with disabilities to choose who they live with and where. Housing.Cloud also makes it easier for your staff to collect information from residents before they move into your accommodation and during their lease. Individuals can complete forms from a single platform rather than print out documents, fill them in, and send them to you in the mail. Plus, Housing.Cloud's affordable price makes it a great solution for all institutions, even small schools. 

Want to enhance university life and college housing for students with disabilities? Request a demo of Housing.Cloud now, and sample its many features.