Under federal and state laws, children with learning disabilities in school receive accommodations, longer times to take exams, paid services, etc. When they graduate and go to college, the law changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Learn about the financial ramifications of college special needs accommodations and how to advocate for your college student and teach them to advocate for themselves in college. Presented by Donna Drumm, an attorney, adjunct professor at Mercy College and Certified Americans with Disabilities Advocate
By attending this webinar you will gain a deeper understanding of:
I. The legal differences of high school accommodations and college accommodations
II. The financial differences of high school accommodations and college accommodations
III. College Student’s Rights & Responsibilities
In these different phases of attending college
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School search, School selection, applying for accommodations, continuing the process after admission, enforcing accommodations, grievance procedures
IV. College’s responsibilities toward student
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Cannot discriminate during the application process
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Accommodations requirements and review
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Office of Accessibility
About Donna:
Donna Drumm is the principal of DrummAdvocacy. (www.drummadvocacy.com) Her civil rights practice is devoted to assisting court users, students and hospital patients with obtaining accommodations for their visible and invisible disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. She is an adjunct professor at Mercy College presenting coursework in the Masters of Health program. She also teaches Civil Litigation and Law Office Management courses to students in Mercy’s paralegal program.
Ms. Drumm’s passion for serving persons with invisible disabilities began when she met her realtor (Ms. C), who was being sued by a state security commission for $1.25 million dollars. The fine was incurred by her ex-husband who was imprisoned for his participation in a Ponzi scheme. “During her seven-year legal ordeal, I observed this vibrant and intelligent woman suffer bouts of depression and PTSD before court hearings and after court hearings which rendered her unable to get out of bed for weeks.” Ms. C. emerged victoriously and was released from the $1.25 million fine. Still suffering from her disabilities, she fought to change the law which resulted in severing liability for an for ex-spouse to pay fines for the wrongdoings of a former spouse. And she won!
“Seeing first hand the devastation a court case can have on a person’s emotional state, I searched for a body of law that would support litigants’ well-being during the litigation process. “ Ms. Drumm found Dr. Karin Huffer, author of “Unlocking Justice” which explained the bridge of the Americans with Disabilities Act and courtroom accommodations. Ms. Drumm completed her certificate as an Americans with Disabilities Advocate in 2014. Her advocacy practice was published in the September 2016 edition of the New York State Bar Association’s Bar Journal. She has spoken on ADA Advocacy at Mercy College, before the New York State Bar Association at its annual meeting in 2017 and for the Westchester Women’s Bar Association.
As an associate at the law firm of Boies, Schiller & Flexner, she worked on international cases in antitrust, products liability, bankruptcy and other civil litigation in federal and state courts throughout the United States. Her affiliation with bar associations became professional when she joined the staff of the Westchester County Bar Association as the CLE & Publications Director and then Executive Director until 2014. Her experience in running her practice began in 2008, Discoverlaw and as of 2015 DrummAdvocacy.
Professional Affiliations
COPAA, member, 2017
Disability Rights Bar Association, Member, 2017
New Orleans Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
American Bar Association
Federal Bar Council
Westchester Women’s Bar Association
Westchester County Bar Association (former Executive Director) ; present attorney member
Ms. Drumm is admitted to practice in New York State and the United States Supreme Courts. She is a certified Americans with Disabilities Advocate.
