Columbus Technical College Office of Disability and Special Services SEMN Presentation

1. DISABILITY
INFORMATION
OLIVE VIDAL-KENDALL-DIRECTOR OF COUNSELING
AND SPECIAL SERVICES
MELINDA DELBRIDGE- DISABILITY ADVISOR
/INTERPRETER
DAWN EVANS- SPECIAL POPULATIONS
COORDINATOR

2. IT’S THE LAW…
TITLE IX OF THE EDUCATIONAL AMENDMENTS OF 1972
• “NO PERSON SHALL, ON THE BASIS OF GENDER, BE EXCLUDED FROM
PARTICIPATION IN, BE DENIED THE BENEFITS OF, OR BE SUBJECTED TO
DISCRIMINATION UNDER ANY EDUCATION PROGRAM OR ACTIVITY RECEIVING
FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.”
AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990(ADA)
• THE ACT PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY IN ALL
SERVICES, PROGRAMS, AND ACTIVITIES OF THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR
REGARDLESS OF THE FUNDING SOURCE.

3. IT’S THE LAW…
SECTION 504 OF THE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973
• “NO OTHERWISE QUALIFIED PERSON WITH DISABILITIES SHALL, SOLELY BY REASON OF
THEIR DISABILITY, BE EXCLUDED FROM PARTICIPATION IN, BE DENIED THE BENEFITS
OF, OR BE SUBJECTED TO DISCRIMINATION UNDER ANY PROGRAM OR ACTIVITY
RECEIVING FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.”
TITLE VI OF 1964 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT
• “NO PERSON IN THE UNITED STATES SHALL, ON THE GROUNDS OF RACE, COLOR OR
NATIONAL ORIGIN BE EXCLUDED FROM, BE DENIED THE BENEFITS OF, OR BE
SUBJECTED TO DISCRIMINATION UNDER ANY PROGRAM OR ACTIVITY RECEIVING
FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.”

4. DISABILITY SERVICES
• COLUMBUS TECHNICAL COLLEGE IS COMMITTED TO
PROVIDING A WELCOMING, ENCOURAGING, AND
EMPOWERING ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS WITH
DISABILITIES TO ENSURE EQUAL ACCESS, FULL
PARTICIPATION AND REASONABLE
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THEIR ACADEMIC PURSUITS.

5. WHAT ARE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS
• REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS ARE ADJUSTMENTS TO
“LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD” FOR STUDENTS WITH
DISABILITIES AND PROVIDE EQUAL ACCESS TO CTC
PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES.
• THIS ADJUSTMENT MUST BE MADE WITHOUT ALTERING
THE FUNDAMENTAL GOALS OF A COURSE OR LOWERING
THE STANDARDS IN A CLASS.

6. ADA & SECTION 504
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES/ HOW DO I REGISTER
WITH THE DISABILITY SERVICES OFFICE
• MUST MEET CTC’S STANDARD ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL
STUDENTS. (GET ADMITTED TO THE SCHOOL)
• MUST MEET CTC’S ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR COURSES OR
PROGRAMS EITHER WITH OR WITHOUT REASONABLE
ACCOMMODATIONS. (BE ELIGIBLE TO TAKE THE CLASSES)
• MUST DISCLOSE THEIR DISABILITIES TO INITIATE DISABILITY SERVICES.
(VISIT THE DSO OFFICE AND DISCUSS YOUR CHALLENGES)
• MUST PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION RELATED TO SUBSTANTIAL
FUNCTIONAL LIMITATIONS IN A MAJOR LIFE ACTIVITY TO DETERMINE
QUALIFICATION FOR SERVICES. (PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION)

7. ACCOMMODATION LETTERS
 AFTER REGISTERING WITH DISABILITY SERVICES, AND DISCUSSING
YOUR SCHEDULE, STUDENTS RECEIVE ACCOMMODATION LETTERS
BASED ON YOUR CHALLENGES
 STUDENTS CAN RECEIVE ONE SEMESTER OF COURTESY
ACCOMMODATIONS AFTER AN INTERVIEW IN THE DISABILITY AND
SPECIAL SERVICES OFFICE (DSO)
 STUDENTS GIVE LETTERS TO THEIR INSTRUCTORS
 A CONVERSATION WITH INSTRUCTORS IS RECOMMENDED
 NO ACCOMMODATIONS CAN BE GRANTED RETROSPECTIVELY

8. DISABILITY SERVICES
PROVISION OF REASONABLE
ACCOMMODATIONS
• EXTENDED TIME FOR EXAMS
• STUDENTS MUST INITIATE COMMUNICATION WITH
INSTRUCTORS
• STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO SCHEDULE EXAMS WITH
DISABILITY SERVICES IF THE INSTRUCTOR IS NOT ABLE TO STAY
WITH STUDENT BEYOND NORMAL CLASSROOM HOURS
• DISABILITY SERVICES WILL THEN CONTACT INSTRUCTOR FOR FURTHER
INSTRUCTIONS
• TEST SHOULD BE SCHEDULED FOR THE SAME DAY/TIME AS CLASS IF
POSSIBLE
• EXTENDED TEST TIME IS FOR UP TO DOUBLE THE REGULAR TESTING TIME

9. • UN-TIMED TEST ARE NOT CONSIDERED
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS, BUT
EXTENDED TESTING TIME, SUCH AS UP TO
DOUBLE TIME, IS ALLOWED.
• ACCOMMODATIONS IN HOW TESTS ARE GIVEN
(E.G., EXTENDED TIME, TEST PROCTORS) ARE
AVAILABLE WHEN SUPPORTED BY DISABILITY
DOCUMENTATION.

10. DISABILITY SERVICES
PROVISION OF REASONABLE
ACCOMMODATIONS
• DISTRACTION-REDUCED ENVIRONMENT
• THE STUDENT IS TESTED IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHICH
MINIMIZES DISTRACTIONS FOR THE STUDENT.
• A DISTRACTION-REDUCED ENVIRONMENT DOES NOT
NECESSITATE THE STUDENT'S TESTING IN A PRIVATE ROOM,
NOR DOES IT MEAN THAT AN ENVIRONMENT IS COMPLETELY
DISTRACTION-FREE.

11. DISABILITY SERVICES
PROVISION OF REASONABLE
ACCOMMODATIONS
• PREFERRED SEATING
• THE STUDENT IS ALLOWED TO SIT WHERE HE/SHE
CAN BEST OBTAIN THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN
CLASS. ARRANGING PREFERENTIAL SEATING SHOULD
BE A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS BETWEEN THE
INSTRUCTOR AND THE STUDENT.

12. DISABILITY SERVICES
PROVISION OF REASONABLE
ACCOMMODATIONS
•READER FOR EXAMS
• A PERSON OR COMPUTER SOFTWARE PROGRAM
READS THE TEST (WORD FOR WORD) TO THE
STUDENT. TYPICALLY, A LIVE PERSON READS A
TEST FOR DISABILITY SERVICE STUDENTS WITH
THIS ACCOMMODATION.

13. DISABILITY SERVICES
PROVISION OF REASONABLE
ACCOMMODATIONS
• ALTERNATIVE TEXT
• HANDOUTS ARE ENLARGED TO THE FONT SIZE NEEDED TO
ENABLE THE STUDENT TO SEE AND UNDERSTAND THE
HANDOUT MATERIAL
• ODS CAN AID IN THE ACQUISITION OF TEXTBOOKS, AND
ARTICLES IN ENLARGED PRINT/YOU WILL BE ASKED TO SUBMIT
YOUR TEXTBOOK DETAIL (PROOF OF PURCHASE RECIEPT)
• ACCESSIBILITY OF ELECTRONIC BOOK READERS TO INDIVIDUALS

14. DISABILITY SERVICES
PROVISION OF REASONABLE
ACCOMMODATIONS
• VOICE RECORDERS ARE ON LOAN FROM THE OFFICE
OF DISABILITY SERVICES
• INSTRUCTORS MAY ALSO CHOOSE TO POST THEIR
NOTES ON-LINE, OR PROVIDE THE STUDENT WITH A
COPY OF HIS/HER NOTES FOR THE CLASS

15. DISABILITY SERVICES
PROVISION OF REASONABLE
ACCOMMODATIONS
• SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETING
• INTERPRETERS ARE PROVIDED TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE
SUBSTANTIAL HEARING LOSS WHICH PREVENTS THEM FROM
HEARING THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN CLASS.
• AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS
• SIGNING EXACT ENGLISH
• PIDGIN SIGN LANGUAGE
• LIP READING/ORAL INTERPRETING

16. DISABILITY SERVICES
PROVISION OF REASONABLE
ACCOMMODATIONS
• SERVICE ANIMALS
• ANY ANIMAL THAT IS INDIVIDUALLY TRAINED TO DO WORK
OR PERFORM TASKS FOR THE BENEFIT OF AN INDIVIDUAL
WITH A DISABILITY, INCLUDING A PHYSICAL, SENSORY,
PSYCHIATRIC, INTELLECTUAL, OR OTHER MENTAL DISABILITY.
• IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES
ACT (ADA), A SERVICE ANIMAL IS PERMITTED ON CAMPUS
AND WITHIN SCHOOL BUILDINGS

17. DISABILITY SERVICES
PROVISION OF REASONABLE
ACCOMMODATIONS
• WHILE A STUDENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO SUBMIT AN
ACCOMMODATION REQUEST TO BRING A SERVICE
ANIMAL INTO A BUILDING, HE OR SHE IS STRONGLY
ENCOURAGED TO AFFILIATE WITH THE OFFICE OF
DISABILITY SERVICES

18. DISABILITY SERVICES
PROVISION OF REASONABLE
ACCOMMODATIONS
• PHYSICAL BARRIERS
• IMPROVE ACCESS OVERALL FOR STUDENTS
• WHEELCHAIR ACCESS
• MAINTAIN ACCESSIBLE FEATURES (DRAGON NATURALLY
SPEAKING, ZOOM TEXT, ETC.)
• RESPOND TO INDIVIDUAL REQUESTS IN A TIMELY WAY
• UNIVERSAL DESIGN

19. • TUTORING DOES NOT FALL UNDER DISABILITY SERVICES.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES MUST SEEK OUT TUTORING
RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ALL COLLEGE STUDENTS.
• MATH SUPPORT LAB
• WRITING LAB
• CLICK LAB
• SCIENCE SUPPORT LAB

20. •INSTRUCTORS ONLY KNOW WHICH
ACCOMMODATIONS THEIR STUDENTS
WITH DISABILITIES REQUIRE IN THEIR
CLASSES.
•INSTRUCTORS CAN BE OPEN AND
HELPFUL, BUT MOST EXPECT STUDENTS
TO INITIATE CONTACT AT THE START
OF THE SEMESTER

21. DISABILITY SERVICE STATEMENT
• WE SERVE YOU BY:
• HELPING YOU TO DETERMINE AND ACCOMPLISH YOUR GOALS;
• ENSURING THAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AT
COLUMBUS TECHNICAL COLLEGE;
• PROVIDING SERVICES AND INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP YOU TO BE
SUCCESSFUL AS A STUDENT;
• SUPPORTING YOU IN YOUR EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVORS;
• SUPPORTING YOUR GROWTH AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

22. RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• COLUMBUS TECHNICAL COLLEGE CONSIDERS ITS
STUDENTS ADULTS; THERE IS NO CONTACT WITH
PARENTS UNLESS THE STUDENT SIGNS A
CONFIDENTIAL RELEASE FORM
• PARENT DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO STUDENT
RECORDS AND CANNOT REPRESENT THE STUDENT
WITHOUT THE STUDENT’S WRITTEN CONSENT

23. DISABILITY SERVICE STATEMENT
• YOU ARE THE REASON WE EXIST; YOU ARE NOT
AN INCONVENIENCE. DISABILITY AND SPECIAL
SERVICES STAFF MEMBERS ARE HERE TO SERVE
YOU. AS WE DELIVER THESE SERVICES, IT IS OUR
INTENTION TO TREAT YOU WITH RESPECT,
DIGNITY, AND UNDERSTANDING.