ABSTRACT
In the developing area of higher education and disability, the United States of America has made some notable contributions through the enactment of landmark legislation for people with disabilities and the development of service delivery systems for students with disabilities. This chapter examines the major pieces of federal legislation affecting higher education and disability, reviews the most prevalent models of disability service delivery in post-secondary educational institutions, and concludes by discussing issues of contemporary concern to service providers. Built on the foundation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and previous vocational rehabilitation legislation, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 significantly improved access to society for individuals with disabilities, especially to employment and education. The centralised services model provides institutional access by meeting all needs for students with disabilities within one department. The issues in serving this growing population of students with disabilities are varied and complex.
