Gordon, Michael & Keiser, Shelby, editors (2000, paperback revision, 1998 hardcover)
Accommodations in Higher Education under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): A No-Nonsense Guide for Clinicians, Educators, Administrators, and Lawyers.
New York: Guilford Publications.
Accommodations in Higher Education under the ADA is a tightly structured sequence of articles written by leading disability service providers in higher education. Critical questions, challenges, and controversies regarding the accommodation process are addressed in this straightforward guide to the practical application of the ADA in postsecondary education. Written two years after the seminal work, this revision presents the essential principles of the ADA with heightened authority, based on judicial interpretations of the fundamental intent of the law to end discrimination without affirming entitlement.
In their preface to the revised paperback edition, Gordon and Keiser discuss the complex issues of "substantial impairment' and the "average person standard" in light of recent court cases that have widened "the gap between the legal and clinical definitions of a disorder" (p. xiii). Written as a manual for clinicians and administrators, this book presents core principles and concrete procedures to guide the evaluation, documentation, and accommodation of college students across a wide range of disabilities. Numerous diagnostic tools, sample forms, and accessible resources add to the practicality and immediacy of the contents of each chapter.
Beginning with a conceptual overview of disability law, the editors strategically enlist reputable contributors, such as Joan Maguire, Ph.D., to provide coverage of educational and testing accommodations. James Frierson, JD, clarifies the legal requirements of clinical evaluations of disability under the ADA in compliance with recent significant court cases. Key issues surrounding specific disabilities, such as Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, learning disabilities, and anxiety disorders, are boldly addressed by experts such as Kevin Murphy, Ph.D., Barbara Lorry, Ph.D., Lauren Wylonis, MD, and Edward Schweizer, MD.
This is not a theoretical book. Rather, it is a hands-on guide that will benefit administrators, educators, and clinicians in their daily implementation of disability law on college campuses. The dual role of Gordon and Keiser as editors and co-authors of selected chapters lends consistency and coherence to the text. Their stated intent, to present a well-reasoned perspective on the ADA, is orchestrated with finesse and skill. The reader, regardless of personal bias, will be impressed by Gordon and Keiser's ambitious attempt to level, but not tilt, the playing field for students with disabilities.
