College Choice 2016 awards the University of Michigan ranked first as the best disability friendly university or college in the United States.
The basis of the rankings includes the programming and support for students with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder, learning disabilities, visual impairment, hearing impairment, autism spectrum disorder and other physical disabilities that require special care, access, alternative transportation or even service animals.
In addition to services, colleges and universities included in the list were also evaluated based on other characteristics such as academic reputation, affordability, student satisfaction, return of investment, and average financial aid.
The majority of schools in the US simply meet the minimum requirement set by the government in meeting the needs of disabled students. The universities included, however, are several of the best schools in the country at funding and committing resources to equip students, said the associate editor of the College Choice rankings addressing the list of best universities, University of Michigan reported.
The services offered for the disabled students in University of Michigan was highlighted as instrumental resource. The Office of Disabled Students Services in UM, which is created in 1973, hosts 2,474 registered students in 2015. The number goes up by 700 from 2014. Also, nearly 1000 students with SSD graduated from the University in 2015, Mlive reported.
In school year 2016, the office expects to support twice the number of students it supported in the schoolyear 2010- 2011. SSD Office services nearly 6 percent of all students, both graduate and undergraduate, including professional students in the University of Michigan.
These efforts have been set as an example of many major colleges and universities all around the United States. The SSD also features Modern Language Aptitude tests all year round. It also maintains a well-resourced digital library, HathiTrust Digital Library.
Through this ranking, colleges and universities that devote resources to ensure that students, able or disabled, have equal access to high-quality education.
