A model for bridging accommodations from classroom to fieldwork

The number of students with a disability who are entering post-secondary education programs has increased, with approximately 12% of post-baccalaureate level students reporting a disability (National Center for Educational Statistics, 2023; Simon et al., 2022). The American Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are federal laws that define disability as a “physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities” (Laird-Metke & Moorehead, 2016, p. 16). Students with disabilities in occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant programs are protected under these laws, which assure equal access and opportunity for learning for students in each academic program. At any point during the academic program, occupational therapy students may seek accommodations for physical, cognitive, mental, neurodivergent, visual, and hearing related impairments (Laird-Metke et al., 2016).