The Accommodation Process

Any student with a documented disability is eligible to receive accommodations. The purpose of accommodations or modifications is to reduce or eliminate any disadvantages that may exist because of an individual’s disability. The law does not require the College to waive specific courses or academic requirements considered essential to a particular program or degree. Rather, the College is mandated to modify existing requirements on a case by case basis in order to ensure that individuals are not discriminated against on the basis of their disability. Students wanting to access such services must identify themselves and provide appropriate verification of their disability to the Director of Disabilities Services. Eligibility for reasonable and appropriate accommodations will be determined on an individual basis.

Appropriate documentation will assist the student and the College in determining reasonable accommodations as stipulated under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other pertinent state and federal regulations.

Students requesting accommodations of either an academic or personal nature must meet with the Director of Disabilities Services and present appropriate documentation prior to receiving services. Documentation must be current (in most cases within three years of the current date or as prevailing scientific knowledge warrants) and must be submitted by a qualified practitioner. This documentation must be a comprehensive assessment including recommendations for accommodations. Students must present evidence of a clinical interview by a qualified professional, their complete medical and educational history, and evidence of a diagnosis that substantially limits one or more of the major life functions.

It is the responsibility of the student requesting accommodations to do so and present documentation in a timely manner prior to the beginning of each academic semester.