In 2008, the Americans with Disabilities Act was amended, broadening the definition of disability to include more persons with non-apparent disabilities (for example, chronic health conditions and psychological disabilities). In addition, IDEA, the law that governs K-12 services for students with disabilities, has provided greater opportunity for students with disabilities to excel academically, graduate high school, and successfully matriculate to higher education.
Universities nationwide are continuing to experience growth in the numbers of students who qualify for and apply for disability services. Nationally, an estimated 21% of college students are students with disabilities. At UC Berkeley, DSP serves approximately 12.6% all students, including 14% of undergraduates and 9% of graduate students. DSP currently serves over 5,500 students. It is important to note that as the campus continues to increase enrollments, the number of students with disabilities who require services will continue to increase as well.